We’ve reported on some these already but IFI international has released details of its support for screenings of over 50 new and classic Irish films drawn from the IFI Irish Film Archive and elsewhere at over 20 events in 16 countries. IFI International, which is supported by Culture Ireland, provides Irish film programming services for cultural exhibitors worldwide.
Reflecting the global interest in Irish cinema, this year Irish films have been subtitled in Russian, Serbian, Ukrainian, Italian and Spanish. Calendar highlights include events in Berlin, Belgrade, Boston, Kiev, Moscow and Rome, with new programmes launching in Sydney, Ottawa, Denmark, and Mexico.
Ireland’s European neighbours have a range of Irish cinema in their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. In Rome, the 8th Irish Film Festa (26th-27th) March features a programme of Irish language films, a screening of Terry McMahon’s Patrick’s Day, and a Lenny Abrahamson retrospective. Berlin’s ‘Shebeen Flick’ (11th-17th March) has a strong programme with German premieres of Standby, Pilgrim Hill, and Gold, as well as classics I Went Down and the 25th Anniversary screening of My Left Foot. A real treat for audiences will be a rare opportunity to see the silent Come on Over at the historic Stummfilmkino Delphi with live musical accompaniment. In Denmark, IFI International partners with the Danish Film Institute to host a season of Irish feature and documentary film (5th– 15th March).
Further East, the Irish Film Festival in Moscow (11th-22nd March) will present recent hit documentary One Million Dubliners,award-winning animation Song of the Sea, Ken Loach’s Jimmy’s Hall (with actress Aisling Franciosi in attendance), and documentary Broken Song in the presence of rapper Costello who will perform two concerts at the festival. The Irish Pub director, Alex Fegan, travels to Kiev for the 5th Molodist Kyiv Irish Fest (12th – 18th March) which is also showing comedies Life’s A Breeze, Standby, and The Stag. The third Belgrade Irish Fest (14th – 24th March) opens with Frank and features the classic titles Angel and Once.
In the Americas, IFI International will present a major retrospective of Irish cinema (12th-19th March) with the Embassy of Ireland at the prestigious Cineteca Nacional, Mexico, with a programme that includes Song of the Sea, Price of Desire, Calvary, His & Hers and In the Name of the Father.
Up in Boston, the Irish Film Festival (19th-22nd March) is now in its 15th year and presents over 30 films. The Festival award winners have already been announced and include a Best Feature award for Gold, with Niall Heery in attendance and the special Jury Prize winner An Bronntanas. Documentaries include Blood Fruit and Director’s Choice Award Winner One Million Dubliners which will be accepted at the screening by director Aoife Kelleher and producer Rachel Lysaght.
Further north again there’s a new IFI International partner, the first Irish Film Festival Ottawa (27th-29th March) introducing new audiences to the best of Irish cinema with Song of the Sea, The Stag, Pilgrim Hill, An Píopa, and Kisses.
And finally, way down south there’s another new partner, the inaugural Sydney Irish Film Festival (26th-29th March). The festival will present Australian premieres of Out of Here, Living in a Coded Land, and director Paula Kehoe will attend and present An Dubh ina Gheal (Assimilation) about the connection between Irish and Aboriginal people in Australia.
In all, it’s a huge global celebration of Irish film. So, wherever you are in the world there could well be an opportunity to see great Irish films brought to you courtesy of IFI International and its world-wide network of exhibition partners.