Are you in the mood to see some fine Irish filmmaking? Here is your opportunity. This year’s Irish Film Festival, which recently concluded, has decided to put some of the finest films from the Festival online for people to stream.
Irish Film Festival Director, Dr Enda Murray said, “I’m delighted to be able to provide an online program to meet the needs of our audiences in far-off places in Australia and allow them to join our film community after our cinema festival concludes.”
Following a successful festival in cinemas finishing up in Canberra, from 22nd Sept – 25th September, the Irish Film Festival will launch online from 30th September – 16th October.
The online program includes 6 films that were part of the cinema festival – Love Yourself Today, Steps of Freedom, The Cry of Granuaile, Who We Love, You Are Not My Mother and Young Plato. There will be 6 additional titles. They are, Bicycle Thieves: Pumped Up, Breaking Out, How To Tell A Secret, Keep It A Secret, Untold Secrets and Ulysses.
“I’m delighted Bicycle Thieves: Pumped Up is going to be available as part of the Irish Film Festival on demand in Australia, because an Australian person saw it and tweeted me to say it was ‘an absolute ripper’, which I believe is high praise and bodes well. If that was in fact an insult, please take that as fair warning.” Director, Conor O’Toole.
“Film as a medium, film as an art-form and film as entertainment is unique in its ability to bring us inside another culture. When you marry Irish people’s ability to tell stories; our need to share enjoyment and our strong connection to our heritage, you achieve the irresistible cocktail of culture and craic that is the Irish Film Festival.
I hope the films on show finds their audience in Australia. Pick your favourites or binge them all. I am sure that any time invested in each and all the titles will be well-rewarded.” Irish Ambassador to Australia, Tim Mawe
ONLINE PROGRAM
Steps Of Freedom. Additional content included: Q&A with director Ruán Magan. Steps of Freedom is Writer/Director Ruán Magan’s award-winning documentary of how Irish dance has developed to become a global phenomenon. Beautifully shot and mesmerising to watch, Steps of Freedom traces the history and development of Irish dance over the past 2,000 years. Steps of Freedom was the WINNER – Best International Feature Film and WINNER – Best Original Music Score at the International Black and Diversity Film Festival in Toronto in February.
Love Yourself Today. Additional content included: Q&A with director Ross Killeen. Damien Dempsey’s inspiring mix of Irish folk and social commentary strikes a resonant chord, exploring themes of addiction and trauma, positivity and hope. This film is about the power of music to heal. It examines the relationship between the artist and his audience by focusing on the lives of three individuals who’ve been affected by Dempsey’s music. It has recommendations from both Brian Eno and Christy Moore.
You Are Not My Mother. Additional content included: Q&A with director Kate Dolan and actor Hazel Doupe.
In a North Dublin housing estate Char’s bedridden mother, Angela goes missing. When Angela the following evening without explanation, it becomes clear that something is amiss. Char is determined to uncover the truth of her disappearance and unearth the dark secrets of her family. WINNER – Discovery Award, Dublin International Film Festival 2022 and WINNER – Best Film Gérardmer Film Festival 2022.
Young Plato. Additional content included: Q&A with director Neasa Ní Chianáin. In Belfast’s Ardoyne, Kevin McArevey, a primary school headmaster is determined to change the fortunes of an inner-city community plagued by urban decay, sectarian violence, drugs and poverty. McArevey and his dedicated team illustrate how philosophy can encourage children to question the mythologies of war and violence and challenge the narratives of their families, peers and socio-economic status. WINNER – Human Rights Film Award, Dublin International Film Festival 2022. WINNER – Social Impact Award, Greenwich International Film Festival 2022. WINNER – Best Feature Documentary, Irish Film and Television Awards 2022.
The Cry Of Granuaile. Additional content included: Q&A with director Dónal Foreman.
An American filmmaker reeling from the death of her mother enlists the help of a young Irish academic on a trip to the west of Ireland to research a film about Granuaile, the legendary 16th century pirate queen and “nurse to all rebellions.” As the two women journey towards a remote Atlantic Island, lines begin to blur between memory and history, dream and reality. WINNER – EX AEQUO Award for Best Performance and WINNER – Best Music at the Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema 2022.
Who We Love. Additional content included: Q&A with director Graham Cantwell and actors Clara Harte and Amy Joyce-Hastings & Peaches Queen of Éireann. The story of Lily, a girl with a secret, on the cusp of becoming a young woman. With her best friend, the fiercely loyal and flamboyant Simon, she navigates the treacherous waters of school life. When a misunderstanding with the beautiful and popular Violet leads to a vicious attack, Lily is faced with the greatest challenge of her young life. WINNER – Best Narrative Feature Kerry Film Festival 2021. Playing with Who We Love is the short documentary, Peaches Queen of Éireann which explores the life of outrageous Ireland born Sydney based drag queen Peaches Queen.
Bicycle Thieves: Pumped Up
Mags has a bicycle, an anger-management issue and a dead-end job as a pizza delivery driver. She struggles to pay exorbitant Dublin rent on a meagre income. Just when things look utterly dismal, Mags’ beloved bike is stolen. Feisty Mags resolves to get it back. Comedian Conor O’Toole’s directorial debut, Bicycle Thieves: Pumped Up is a free-wheeling action-packed, magical-realist absurdist-comedy that takes you on a feel-good ride.
Ulysses. Additional content included: Q&A with director Alan Gilsenan. A haunting interpretation of Joyce’s Ulysses. Intended as a creative echo of Joyce’s work and life, this non-narrative work is neither a film of the book nor a visual illustration of the novel. It is instead a personal interpretation of the book and an invitation to read or re-visit this seminal piece of literature.
Breaking Out. Additional content included: Q&A with director Michael McCormack. Breaking Out is the extraordinary story of a life lived against the odds, and the importance of never giving up. Shot over a period of ten years, it details the life of the late, highly influential Irish singer / songwriter Fergus O’Farrell, and his battle with muscular dystrophy.
Untold Secrets. Additional content included: Q&A with director Teresa Lavina. An unflinching documentary detailing the atrocities that occurred in the Mother and Baby Homes, brought to light by a recent parliamentary enquiry. Director Teresa Lavina interviews survivors of institutional abuse, who continue to seek recognition and justice.
Keep It A Secret
A documentary by Irish-American surf-enthusiast Seán Duggan, Keep It A Secret follows the pioneers of Irish surfing and how despite differences in opinions between those who wanted to promote surfing in Ireland, and those who wanted it to remain a secret, Irish surfing became a unifying force at the height of the troubles, when surfers from around the globe descended upon the village of Lahinch for the 1972 Eurosurf Championship.
How To Tell A Secret
A creative exploration of HIV disclosure, How to Tell a Secret is a hybrid documentary film which uses experimental storytelling methods to represent the experiences of people who are HIV positive in Ireland today. This unique collaboration between directors Anna Rodgers and Shaun Dunne results in a form flipping film with a highly emotive story at its core with contributions from people who have never previously spoken publicly about their HIV status and who are using this film as a platform to do so for the first time.
FESTIVAL DETAILS
When: Online September 30th – October 16th
Where: Available via online streaming. The watch window is 72 hours once playback has commenced.
Tickets: Single ticket: $11
Full Festival Bundle – 12 films – $79
Documentary Film Bundle – 7 films – $45
Online Exclusive Film Bundle – 6 films – $39
Women’s Voices Bundle – 4 films – $25
Ticket sales: http://www.irishfilmfestival.com.au
Featured image : A still from the Irish film ‘Keep It Secret’
