Dingle International Film Festival (Dingle IFF) 2017 has announced that Pat Shortt—legendary Irish comedian—will be visiting Dingle for the screening of his latest feature film Twice Shy, at The Phoenix Cinema on Sunday 26th March. With over 30 years experience in the entertainment industry, and with huge success in television, film, and live shows, Pat Shortt will be an honoured guest at Dingle IFF 2017. His film, Twice Shy, will also go down in Dingle IFF history as one of its most poignant and socially relevant screenings.
Pat started in comedy from an early age when he left Art College. With Jon Kenny, he created D’Unbelievables, Ireland’s most popular comedy duo. Together, they performed their unique brand of comedy in theatres all over Ireland, the UK, and the United States. They produced four critically acclaimed and sell-out shows, as well as writing and producing chart-topping videos.
Pat was also a major character in Ireland’s favourite comedy series Father Ted, where he played the deranged Craggy Island local, Tom. Pat was the driving force behind the success of the hit RTÉ comedy series Killinaskully, where he wrote nine episodes and played five distinct and memorable characters. Killinaskully was nominated three times by IFTA for ‘Best Entertainment Programme’, and was also nominated in the ‘Best Entertainment’ category at the Monte Carlo Television Festival. The 2005 holiday special A Killinaskully Christmas Carol brought in 825,000 viewers and was Ireland’s top-rated programme during that festive season.
In 2007, Pat broadened his range from belly-laughs to quiet contemplation, where he played the lonely, but good-natured, protagonist of Lenny Abrahamson’s award-winning film Garage. For his sensitive performance, Pat won an IFTA Award for ‘Best Actor in a Lead Role in a Feature Film’, and also won an Evening Standard British Film Award for ‘Best Actor’.
In Twice Shy, Pat plays the charming and caring father of Fiona, who sets off on a road trip to London with her boyfriend because of an unplanned pregnancy. Fionn Greger, the fim’s producer, thinks that Twice Shy will be the most-talked about new film of the year, stating that the script was “written for the likes of Ardal O’Hanlon and Pat Shortt. Once they read the script, they were immediately involved. It’s a very endearing story full of charm, and romance, and drama.”
Twice Shy and Pat Shortt will be at The Phoenix Cinema on Sunday 26th March. Tickets.
