Major Focus on the Irish Film Industry in Los Angeles and New York with New Festivals Celebrating Irish Film
This weekend the cities of Los Angeles and New York will play host to the Irish film industry, with two exciting Irish film festivals opening simultaneously. The fourth edition of Los Angeles Irish Film Festival and the new screening series Irish Film New York will take place from September 30th - October 2nd, 2011 and Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) is delighted to be the industry sponsor for both events.
Commenting on the sponsorship James Hickey, Chief Executive, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) said "The Los Angeles Irish Film Festival and the Irish Film New York screenings are a great opportunity for filmmakers to present their work to a wider international audience. They also present an opportunity for the IFB to build a strong profile for the Irish industry in the US and promote Irish film in these two major entertainment industry cities, creating positive publicity for Irish culture abroad and the Irish film industry. These festivals act as important
ambassadors for Irish film in the US."
Highlights at the New York Film Screenings include the New York premiere of the hit documentary ‘Knuckle' about bare-knuckle fighter James Quinn McDonnagh. Both the main subject of the film and the director will attend Q&A session after the screening. Audiences will also have a opportunity to see the most recent Irish feature films and documentaries including Marian Quinn directorial debut ‘32A', written and directed by Ian Power ‘The Runway', ‘Parked' directed by Darragh Byrne, ‘Pyjama Girls', and ‘Sensation' written and directed by Tom Hall. IFNY screenings will be followed by Q&A sessions hosted by Irish directors Darragh Byrne, Ian Power, Tom Hall, Marian Quinn and actor Aidan Quinn.
John Michael McDonagh's comedy-thriller THE GUARD will open the LA Irish Film Festival during the Opening Night Gala on Thursday, September 29 at the Linwood Dunn Theatre in Hollywood. The festival will screen a host of Irish films and will this year honour the renowned Irish actress Fionnula Flanagan (The Guard, The Others, Some Mother's Son).
The four day festival will screen a host of IFB-funded Irish features, documentaries and shorts including Knuckle, Parked, The Runway, Dreaming the Quiet Man, The Pipe, Bye Bye Now and Pentecost. These screenings will take place at the Aero Theatre, Santa Monica.
The New York Irish Film Screenings event is supported by NYU's Glucksman Ireland House, the IFB, Culture Ireland, the Irish Film Institute and is curated by Niall McKay. The LA Irish Film Festival is programmed by Lisa McLoughlan and takes place at Aero Theatre with support from the IFB, Culture Ireland and the Irish Film Institute.