Irish Film New York has changed its name to Irish Screen America, and in doing so has broadened its remit to go coast to coast, supporting and guiding Irish media-makers by showcasing their work and fostering partnerships in the two largest cities for the entertainment industry in the United States, namely New York and Los Angeles.
The organisation aims to hold screenings, industry panels, discussions and master-classes throughout the year, with annual film festivals in both cities, held at New York University and the University of Southern California.
Activities will begin on September 25th with the Irish Screen America/Los Angeles Festival at the USC School Of Cinematic Arts. It will followed on October 2nd with the Irish Screen America/New York Festival at NYU’s Cantor Film Center.
Each festival will feature Irish films and master-classes from Irish filmmakers. The LA festival will open with the US premiere of new Irish thriller Traders, from directors Rachel Moriarty and Peter Murphy. It will also feature screenings of Frank Barry’s powerful I Used to Live Here, as well as Daisy Asquith’s BBC Storyville documentary After The Dance, and Gerard Barrett’s Sundance award-winning Glassland.
The LA festival will also feature a showcase for local Los Angeles based Irish filmmakers, a new talent showcase featuring a selection of shorts, web-series, and animations from up-and-coming Irish writers, actors, and directors. There will also be screenwriting master-class from Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Naomi Sheridan, in addition to a great sounding panel with directors Ruairí Robinson, Ciarán Foy, and Gary Shore.
Similar to the LA festival, the New York version will open with a screening of Traders, followed by screenings of Glassland, I Used to Live Here, and After the Dance on subsequent days. There will also be a special preview screening of The Christmas Star, a new family film made by the children involved with Cinemagic here in Ireland. The master-class will be in directing, and will be given European Film Academy winning director Cathy Brady. There will be a showcase for local New York based Irish filmmakers, as well as a similar new talent showcase featuring a selection of shorts, web-series, and animations from up-and-coming Irish writers, actors, and directors.
[quote title=”Teresa McGrane – Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, Deputy CEO”]The IFB welcomes the launch of Irish Screen America and we are delighted that the essential work already accomplished by Irish Film New York to support, showcase and celebrate Irish films and filmmaking talent will now extend to Los Angeles. We look forward to working with Irish Screen America in an effort to continue this work and build new networks, partnerships and audiences for Irish film.[/quote]
Irish Screen America receives funding support from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB), the development agency for the Irish film and television industry, among other government and corporate sponsorships, ticket sales and its consultancy services.
More information can be found on the ISA website.