Exciting Line-Up of Irish Film at Kerry Film Festival This Weekend
There is a great Irish line-up at this year's Kerry Film Festival which takes place 29th October to 5th November including the feature SENSATION, the documentaries CONGO - AN IRISH AFFAIR and DREAMING THE QUIET MAN and the short films CROSSING SALWEEN and PENTECOST to name a few. There will also be a PJ Dillon tribute and Fionnula O'Flanagan will be awarded the Maureen O'Hara Award.
SENSATION, Tom Hall's darkly comedic story of prostitution, money, love and sensation starring Domhnall Gleeson (When Harvey Met Bob, True Grit) will have its Kerry premiere at the festival on November 3rd ahead of its Irish cinema release on November 4th.
The critically-acclaimed film had its international premiere at the world renowned Toronto Film Festival last year as well as screenings in Rotterdam and London. Variety magazine said... "it has a sense of pace and energy that sets it apart and should certainly turn the spotlight on young stars..."
Directed by Brendan Culleton and Irina Maldea, CONGO AN IRISH AFFAIR follows A Company, 35th Battalion of the Irish Army United Nations contingent, sent to the Congo in 1961, who became involved in war with mercenary-led Katangese separatists funded by a multinational mining company.
Sé Merry Doyle's feature documentary DREAMING THE QUIET MAN, looks at John Ford's struggle over twenty years to get The Quiet Man shown in Ireland after it had been banned.
MY BROTHERS and REWIND will screen as part of the PJ Dillon Tribute. The thriller REWIND is the directorial debut of PJ Dillon and stars Allen Leech, Amy Huberman and Owen McDonnell. PJ was Cinematographer on Paul Frasers off beat moving comedy MY BROTHERS which takes place over the Halloween weekend of 1987 when 17-year-old Noel accidentally breaks his dying father's most prized possession -a cheap wristwatch. He and his two younger brothers "borrow" embark on a quest to replace it but what begins as a quick road trip soon turns into an emotional odyssey for the boys.
There is a great mix of animated, live action and documentary short films included in the festival programme with MISS REMARKABLE AND HER CAREER directed by Joanna Rubin Dranger, Matthew Darragh's THE MONK AND THE FLY, Nick Kelly's SHOE, Peter McDonalds humorous PENTECOST, Claire Dix's DOWNPOUR, Brian O'Malley's CROSSING SALWEEN and Ken Wardop's THE HERD all screening.
Finally, the recipient of this year's Maureen O'Hara Award for women who have excelled in the art of film is Fionnuala O'Flanagan. Described as one of the most varied actresses in film history she has made an impact on stage, in feature films and on the small screen. Her most recent role was in THE GUARD alongside Brendan Gleeson.
The Kerry Film Festival will take place 29th October - 5th November.
About SENSATION
SENSATION details the relationship between Sligo farmer Donal and a veteran Kiwi escort, Kim. They begin as client and call-girl, evolve into genuine lovers, then business partners and finally co-defendants. It is a relationship based less on desire or mutual attraction than on urgent need. They give each other something no one else can, a sense of meaning and belonging, a way into a society that had hitherto shunned them. In this way the narrative touches on another new theme in Irish life. The corrupting effects of power and money on someone who's never had any of either.
Donal longs for love and meaning but settles for sex and status. He will come to realise that they're not the same thing and will ultimately be faced with the prospect of betraying Kim to save himself. The question is, save himself for what?
The film was produced by Katie Holly and Kieron J. Walsh for Blinder Films.
About DREAMING THE QUIET MAN
The documentary features an exclusive interview with Maureen O' Hara, who gives us a powerful insight into the director John Ford and her co-star John Wayne and tells us the film was a "love letter to Ireland". It was produced by Vanessa Gildea for Loopline Films and was co-funded by BSÉ/IFB, TG4 and BAI.
About CONGO - AN IRISH AFFAIR
The film uses previously unseen film archives and interviews with participants to present a fast paced and riveting account of a time when Irish soldiers and diplomats were at the centre of world events. It was produced by Brendan Culleton for Akajava Films and was co-funded by BSÉ/IFB, TG4 and BAI and was developed with the support of the MEDIA Programme of the European Union.
About REWIND
REWIND tells the story of Karen who lives a straightforward and happy life in a small town with her well-to-do husband and young daughter. One day an old acquaintance, Karl, turns up unexpectedly. With him he brings memories of Karen's shady past, invading and shattering her new idyllic present. The debut feature from PJ Dillon, REWIND was written by Roger Karshan, Ronan Carr and PJ Dillon. It was produced by Alex Jones and John Wallace for Carbon Films and stars Allen Leech, Amy Huberman and Owen McDonnell.
About MY BROTHERS
My Brother's was written by Will Collins, who won the Galway Film Fleadh Pitching Award in 2007, and was produced by Rebecca O'Flanagan and Rob Walpole with Rubicon Films. It stars newcomers Timmy Creed, Paul Courtney and TJ Griffin as well as a supporting cast including Kate Ashfield, Don Wycherley, Sarah Green and Eamonn Hunt. It had its world premiere at the highly renowned Tribeca Film Festival. It was co-financed by the IFB, RTÉ and Windmill Lane and was shot entirely on location in Cork last year.