KFF Films Selected for New Zealand

Kerry Film Festival (KFF) is delighted to announce that two of last year's films have been selected to screen at the Show Me Shorts Film Festival in New Zealand. The news further confirms KFF as an increasingly effective career spring-board for emerging Irish filmmakers.

The selected short films are CROSSWORD, directed by Vincent Gallagher, and COLD TURKEY, directed by Gavin Keane.

CROSSWORD by Vincent Gallagher

Cold Turkey by Gavin Keane

"We are pleased to have formed a relationship with the Kerry Film Festival, and impressed with the range of shorts being produced in Ireland," said Gina Dellabarca, director of the Show Me Shorts Film Festival in New Zealand. "CROSSWORD and COLD TURKEY are irreverent, original and witty short films that make great ambassadors for the Irish film industry. We believe the New Zealand audiences will respond warmly to the quirky sense of humour and lyrical whimsy that both encapsulate. We look forward to seeing more Irish films in our programme in future."

"We're delighted that both films were selected for the Show Me Shorts Film Festival," said KFF's Jason O' Mahony. "We absolutely love the short films that we screen and we want the whole world to love them too! Offering young up-and-coming Irish film makers a hand and helping them get their work seen at other festivals is what we're all about."

Over the past four years, KFF has forged links with a variety of international film festivals transforming KFF into an event that not only offers young Irish filmmakers an opportunity to screen their films at home but serves as a portal to festivals abroad.

"Our job is actually quite easy, given the quality of the short films that are currently being made in Ireland!" added O' Mahony with a laugh. "CROSSWORD and COLD TURKEY are wonderful little films that are expertly crafted and an absolute joy to watch. Everyone involved in the shorts from Vincent and Gavin, the directors, to Filmbase and RTE, who helped fund the films, deserve huge credit. For our part, we're just happy to be able to promote work of such quality. I've no doubt that Vincent and Gavin are directors to watch out for and I'm pretty sure both have a very bright film-future!"

Show Me Shorts is an annual, national film festival showcasing the best new short filmmaking talent. Launched in 2006, it screens every November in cinemas across New Zealand.

A particularly discerning festival, Show Me Shorts selects just 40 films from the hundreds of entries submitted. The final selection covers a diverse range of themes and subjects, including horror, drama, animation, comedy and everything in between.

Show Me Shorts offers a series of awards with adjudicators from the film industry helping to decide on the winners, with judges looking for high production values and originality. The festival awards are presented to the winning filmmakers at the opening night in Auckland. For more information on Show Me Shorts, please log onto www.showmeshorts.co.nz

Kerry Film Festival is supported through grant aid from The Arts Council, Kerry County Council and Failte Ireland and by the generous sponsorship of more than 70 small businesses from all over Kerry.

KERRY FILM FESTIVAL’S CLASSIC SCREENINGS TO CONTINUE WITH ARSENIC & OLD LACE (1944)

An afternoon of classic cinema on a big screen and refreshments beforehand, all for two Euro? Where would you get it? At the monthly Kerry Film Festival Active Retired Screenings, that’s where.

Kerry Film Festival has delved deep into its archive to continue the series at Siamsa Tire on Wednesday 3^rd August at 2pm, with ARSENIC AND OLD LACE.

Starring Cary Grant and Priscilla Lane, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE tells the story of drama critic who learns on his wedding day that his beloved maiden aunts are actually homicidal maniacs and that insanity runs in the family. Although the film was released in 1944 it was actually filmed in 1941 making it seventy years old this September! Described as ‘good macabre fun’ in contemporary rewiews, Frank Capra’s hilarious production certainly stands the test of time.

Last month the KFF Active Retired screening featured Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in Michael Curtiz’s, 1944 Oscar-winning masterpiece CASABLANCA. A must-see for all film lovers, the screening attracted a great number of afternoon film-goers leading to a wonderful atmosphere in Siamsa Tire.

Kerry Film Festival holds active retired screenings on the first Wednesday of each month in Siamsa Tire, Tralee. Aimed at the seasoned film enthusiast, admission to the screenings is just €2 for anyone over the age of sixty-five, and refreshments are provided free of charge by Kerry Film Festival. Recent screenings have included, NATIONAL VELVET starring a young Elizabeth Taylor, and the previously mentioned 1944 Oscar winner CASABLANCA.

“The selection of films for this year’s series of Active Retired Screenings has been truly outstanding, and they just seem to get better and better”, said KFF Coordinator Niall Burman-Roy. “In this age of computer generated special effects it is astonishing to see the innovative techniques which film-makers were employing long before the days of the micro-chip and the blue screen. While for many patrons the screenings offer a chance to take a walk down memory lane, for others it is a great opportunity to see true classics for the first time.”

Screenings will continue throughout the summer, taking place on the first Wednesday of each month, and all are welcome to attend.

Upcoming KFF Active Retired Screenings:

August 3^rd ARSENIC & OLD LACE (1944)

September 7^th ROMAN HOLIDAY (1953)

October 5^th GILDA (1946)

For more information on the Kerry Film Festival Active Retired Screenings contact 066 7129934 or email info@kerryfilmfestival.com

Kerry Film Festival Children's Workshops

Listowel Presentation Primary Schools 4th Class enjoying the recent KFF workshops

Kerry Film Festival has been on the road in recent months bringing a series of film appreciation workshops to primary schools across the county. The workshops gave pupils an opportunity to view a selection of the winning short films from last year's Kerry Film Festival and award stars to their favourites. They were also encouraged to think about various aspects of film-making and have a go at designing their own movie characters.

The free workshops have been tailored to suit primary school children from first to sixth class and are designed to encourage an enthusiasm for film. It's hoped that instilling a love of film as young as possible will inspire the next generation of Irish film makers and maintain Ireland's and Kerry's reputation as a hub of creativity and imagination.

"Ireland has always been known for its literary output and Kerry has produced more than its fair share. If Ireland can produce would class writers then there's no reason on earth it can't produce world class film makers," said Kerry Film Festival Director, Jason O' Mahony.

"If you listen to directors like Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg they always say that their love of film making started when they were kids, and that's exactly what we're trying to engender - a love of film making in children. We want the next generation's Spielberg to come from Kerry!"

Kerry Film Festival's Education Coordinator Edwina Neilan, says she has been very impressed with the enthusiasm and creativity of the students especially when designing their characters. "It's very inspiring to witness the students' imaginations at work and we hope to include as many of their designs as possible in this years festival programme."

Due to the overwhelming interest from primary schools all over County Kerry the workshops are due to resume after the summer break and Edwina is encouraging interested primary schools to get involved.

For more information on Kerry Film Festival's education programme please contact 066 7129934 or email Edwina on edwina@kerryfilmfestival.com

KERRY FILM FESTIVAL CONTINUES CLASSIC SCREENINGS AT SIAMSA TIRE

Rose O Connor, Margaret Sheehan, Nora Rooney and Aishling Hayes get ready to take their seats at the KFF Active Retired screening of NATIONAL VELVET

Lovers of classic cinema are in for a treat next Wednesday at 2pm as Kerry Film Festival continues its programme of Active Retired Screenings with CASABLANCA at Siamsa Tire.

Winner of the Oscar for best picture in 1943, CASABLANCA is consistently voted as one of the top-ten movies of all time. Directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart, the film is set in unoccupied Africa during the early days of World War II. It is an excellent example of Bogart at his best, playing an American expatriate who meets a former lover (Bergman) with unforeseen complications.

Last month the KFF Active Retired screening featured Clarence Brown’s NATIONAL VELVET, a full colour feature dating back to 1944. Leaving the auditorium, much of the conversation focussed on the quality of the performances of both Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney, and how the film had kept patrons on the edge of their seats.

Kerry Film Festival holds active retired screenings on the first Wednesday of each month in Siamsa Tire, Tralee. Aimed at the seasoned film enthusiast, admission to the screenings is just €2 for anyone over the age of sixty-five, and refreshments are provided free of charge by Kerry Film Festival. Recent screenings have included, THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER starring Robert Mitchum, and the previously mentioned 1944 Oscar winner NATIONAL VELVET.

“When we get a bit older we’re probably not too pushed about going to see a computer-generated vision of the apocalypse, or a teenage flesh-fest, or to take a three-dimensional trip to the intergalactic jungle home of extra-terrestrial smurf-like creatures,” said KFF Coordinator Niall Burman-Roy. “So the KFF Active Retired screenings at Siamsa Tíre are a great opportunity for seasoned film enthusiasts to see a classic movie on a big screen.”

In addition to featuring movies which are rarely seen on a big screen, Kerry Film Festival’s Active Retired Screenings are also a great social occasion offering an opportunity to chat with other film-lovers and catch up with friends. There is always a friendly atmosphere reminiscent of the golden age of cinema-going, from the plush red seats in Siamsa to the tangible sense of anticipation before the feature begins to the appreciative round of applause when the credits roll.

Screenings will continue throughout the summer, taking place on the first Wednesday of each month, and all are welcome to attend.

Upcoming KFF Active Retired Screenings:

July 6^th CASABLANCA (1942)

August 3^rd ARSENIC & OLD LACE (1944)

September 7^th ROMAN HOLIDAY (1953)

For more information on the Kerry Film Festival Active Retired Screenings contact 066 7129934 or email info@kerryfilmfestival.com

KERRY FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATES AS WINNING FILMS HIT LONDON’S WEST-END

Director David Freyne on the set of PASSING which will screen at RSSF

Kerry Film Festival is celebrating the inclusion of six of last year's winning short films in the Rushes Soho Shorts Festival (RSSF). The shorts will form an entire programme, curated by Kerry Film Festival, at the RSSF which will be held in London's West-End from the 20^th to the 29^th of July.

“We're constantly pushing for our winning directors’ work to be screened at as many international film festivals as possible, and it's fantastic to see a festival like the Rushes Soho Shorts Festival dedicating an entire programme to KFF shorts,” said KFF Director, Jason O' Mahony. “While we’ve always been committed to bringing film and film makers to Kerry, one of the world’s most beautiful locations, we’re equally as enthusiastic about bringing the fantastic short films that screen here to as wide an audience as possible.”

Kerry Film Festival is continuing to forge partnerships with film festivals across the world to find outlets for emerging Irish film makers. Over the last four years an extensive network has developed and continues to help promote the work of Irish film makers abroad. “We absolutely love the films that we screen and we want the world to love them as much as we do. One of the hardest things for film makers to do is to create an audience for their films and at KFF we try to make that task a little bit easier,” continued O’ Mahony.

Anna Rodgers, Director of IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK, which won Best Documentary Short at KFF 2010 said, “I'm absolutely thrilled that my film is to be screened at this year's Rushes Soho Short Film Festival. It's a great credit to Kerry Film Festival that a screening there can lead to so much more exposure,” she continued.

The news of the KFF programme being included at RSSF comes only weeks after it was announced that winning Irish shorts from KFF 2010, RUNNERS and PASSING are also to screen at the Nickel Film Festival in Canada this month.

Kerry film maker, Keith Mannix, who directed the Audience Award winning short film at KFF 2010 is similarly thrilled to have his film screen in London. His film, THE CHRISTMAS SWIM, which documents the traditional Christmas dip in the sea at Banna Strand, Co. Kerry is a real crowd-pleaser. Keith said “I'm delighted that my film will be shown at the Rushes Soho Short Film Festival. It was quiet an experience making the film and I wonder what the reaction in London will be to our Christmas tradition.”

Rushes Soho Shorts Festival is a not-for-profit festival celebrating the wealth of talent working across all genres of short film including live action drama, documentary, animation, music video, and broadcast design including online or mobile content, title sequences, and idents. Productions entered consistently feature a host of recognisable names and faces alongside gifted ‘unknowns’, showcasing global filmmaking talent. The work of newcomers and established film makers is promoted by screening work at cinemas, screening rooms and cafes throughout Soho and London’s West End.

KFF Seeking new Director

Kerry Film Festival is looking for a new full-time Festival Director. The role of the Kerry Film Festival Director is to maximise the impact of Kerry Film Festival. The new director will be charged with leading Kerry Film Festival forward and will have ultimate responsibility for all aspects of the festival including its planning, programming, marketing and financial well being.

The Kerry Film Festival Director will be employed in the Kerry Film Festival office in The Windmill, Blennerville, Tralee. This is a full-time position and salary will be in the region of 30K per annum.

A full job spec is available via email from jason@kerryfilmfestival.com

To apply please send a CV and cover letter via email to jason@kerryfilmfestival.com by July 1st citing KFF Director Position in the subject heading.

A short list of applicants will be drawn up and interviews will take place on Thursday July 7th. Interviewees will be asked to present a 10 minute presentation on “The Future of Kerry Film Festival” at interview. The presentation will be followed by a 30 minute interview.

How to Deal with Annoying Cinema Customers

The Alamo Drafthouse, an American theatre chain, has come up with a way of dealing with customers that talk or text on their phone – kick them out!

Tim League, the founder of the cinema, says that the woman in question was warned twice about texting during the film and then was escorted out of the cinema without a refund.

The woman then called the cinema and left a long, rambling message complaining about her treatment, not to be outdone, however, the cinema is now using that voice message as a warning to all other customers not to use their phone or they’ll be turfed out too!