Kerry Film Festival

KFF Films Selected for New Zealand

2011-08-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

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)

2011-07-21T04:12:00.000-07:00

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

2011-07-20T09:59:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-23T01:50:00.000-07:00

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 Wednesdayat 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

2011-06-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-21T03:31:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-08T04:38:00.000-07:00

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!

KERRY FILM FESTIVAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION CONTINUES COUNTY-WIDE TOUR IN KENMARE

2011-06-07T04:15:00.000-07:00

Frank McGonigle, Mary O Reardon, Marie Leahy and Eileen O Connor, Bank of Ireland, at the opening of the Kerry Film Festival Photographic Exhibition in Kenmare.

It’s the turn of Kenmare to enjoy a feast of photography as top snaps from Kerry Film Festival’s Photography Competition go on display in Bank of Ireland’s branch in the town. Kerry Film Festival has teamed up with the Bank of Ireland in an initiative which will see the exhibition cropping up in branches across the county throughout the coming months.

The works on show are entries in a photography competition which was held to highlight the fundamental connection with film, in the run-up to the Kerry Film Festival in October.

The photographs on display follow two themes; Portrait and Action, and Landscape and Wildlife, and organisers are thrilled with the quantity and quality of submissions. “The photo competition was a huge success. The quality and variety of photographs received was simply astonishing.” said Mike Foley, Kerry Film Festival coordinator. “We were absolutely thrilled with the work submitted and pleasantly surprised that entries came in from all over Ireland and abroad”, he added.

There was such interest in the competition that selecting the pieces for the exhibition was no easy task, so Kerry Film Festival enlisted the skilful eye of top fine-art photographer Andre Corvin to help with the process. “We’ve worked with Andre in the past”, said Mike, “and always found him to be an amazing professional. His fine art photography is outstanding. Andre is known nationally and has wide critical acclaim.”

Due to unprecedented interest, the exhibition enjoyed an extended period on display at the Dingle branch of Bank of Ireland before being carefully dismantled and transported to the beautiful and much photographed town of Kenmare where it will remain on display for the next two weeks. The next stop on the exhibition’s tour of Kerry will be Bank of Ireland’s Killarney Branch.

For more information on the Kerry Film Festival please log onto www.kerryfilmfestival.com or call +353 66 712 9934.

For more information please on Andre Corvin please log onto www.andrecorvinphotography.com

KFF Films Selected for Canada

2011-06-05T01:15:00.000-07:00

Rob and Ronan Burke Directors of RUNNERS

Kerry Film Festival is delighted to announce that two of last year's winning films have been selected for screening at the Nickel Film Festival in Newfoundland, Canada. The news further confirms KFF as an increasingly effective career spring-board for emerging filmmakers in Ireland and internationally.

The selected short films are RUNNERS, directed by Dublin-born Ronan and Rob Burke, which won the award for Best Irish Short at last year's KFF, and PASSING, directed by David Freyne, which won the award for Best Overall Short. Lead adjudicator at KFF 2010, Noel Pearson, said at the time that "this was the best selection of short films I've ever seen screened together, let alone had to adjudicate. It was very tough to choose a single winner."

"I never expected that having Kerry Film Festival screen my film would mean I'd end up getting a call from half way across the world," said David Freyne on hearing of the selection of Passing at the Nickel Film Festival. "The links which Kerry Film Festival have made with other film festivals mean that it really punches above its weight when it comes to getting your film seen by an international audience."

Ronan and Rob Burke are equally pleased that KFF has led to further interest in their film. "We're delighted that RUNNERS has been selected for the Nickel Film Festival. It's amazing to get such a good reaction from as far away as Canada and it just shows how a relatively small festival like Kerry Film Festival can spark international interest in your work," they said.

Over the past few 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 allowing Irish filmmakers the opportunity to screen their films much further afield.

"We're a director's film festival," said KFF's Jason O' Mahony. "We love the short films that we screen and we want the whole world to love them too! We're delighted to be able to offer young up-and-coming film makers a hand and to help them get their work seen at other festivals. Having said that, it's important to remember the reason the films are so popular in the first place and that's because the films are individually brilliant. Everyone involved from the directors to the producers, from the writers to the cast and crew and the IFB deserve great credit for making the films. For our part, we're just proud to be able to promote work of such quality abroad. Rob, Ronan and David are definitely directors for the future and my fervent belief is that they'll go on to win awards and play at festivals that will dwarf any honour KFF can bestow."

The Nickel Film Festival takes place in Newfoundland, Canada and runs from June 21st to June 25th and will see the screening of 55 films over five days. For more information please log onto www.nickelfestival.com

Upcoming events at Galway Film Centre

2011-06-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

The good folks at Galway Film Centre have a couple wonderful events lined up in the coming weeks. For More Info on any of these events please contact Galway Film Centre's Mary Deely at education@galwayfilmcentre.ie

30 Minute Film Festival in Galway

Have you got a minute?? A one minute film perhaps... Well, Galway Film Centre and Input Media are running an exciting new event in association with the Galway Film Fleadh that could be for you... The 30 Minute Film Festival.

Filmmakers are invited to make a one minute HD film, which can be uploaded onto Youtube. 30 x 1 minute films will be selected by a panel of judges and they will be screened at a special public event on July 10th of the Fleadh 2011. What better way to spend the last day of the Fleadh than discussing the finer points of some one minute flicks from around the world?

2 awards will be given, the Judges Award and the Audience Award. Prizes will be announced shortly. The winning films will be available to watch on the websites of all organisations involved for some time after the Festival.

This is a great opportunity to get your work seen by an audience at this international festival. Entry is a recession busting €0! WOW, says you! That’s what we said too!! All genres are welcome including documentary. Animation is also welcome. The only condition is that the film is one minute, in HD and uploaded to Youtube. The HD format is even available on many mobile phones and pocket cameras so there's no excuse for not making a one minute masterpiece!

Deadline for Entry is 5pm (GMT) on Friday June 24th and to enter just go to http://www.inputmedia.ie/ and follow the instructions!

Engine Room Pitch Workshop

"A perfectly focused workshop that helps even the most unorganised thinkers find clarity and direction with their ideas. It is essential learning for anyone who wants to find the heart of their proposal and the words to convince others to invest in it." CONOR O’MAHONY – Director

Screen Training Ireland and Galway Film Centre are running this 2 day workshop, which is a unique project development and pitching event aimed at documentary filmmakers seeking Irish and international commissions and market intelligence.

Created by leading international pitch trainer Christina Burnett of Wide Eye Pictures, it will be an exceptional networking opportunity which has been successful in the UK, Brazil and Abu Dhabi. THE ENGINE ROOM PITCH WORKSHOP develops real projects which are then presented to two Irish commissioners for feedback. Delegates range from award winning senior producers and directors to first-timers and the structure will enable professionals at any stage of their careers to better understand the key elements of a successful project. Attendees can attend with a project or simply as an observer.

Participant Profile: This workshop is aimed at producers, directors, researchers and development personnel who wish to refine their proposals and explore the commissioning process.
Dates: 23rd - 24th June
Venue: Galway
Cost: 150.00 euro
Application Procedure: Please send a one page proposal and a CV to Criona Sexton at criona.sexton@fas.ie

Comedy Feature Writing Workshop and Consultations

Galway Film Centre and Screen Training Ireland are running a 2 day comedy writing workshop in Galway in July 2011.

Course Profile:
The aim of this workshop is to examine the nuts and bolts of successful comedy writing. The workshop will take the form of lectures and practical exercises.

About Tutor:
Steve Kaplan is a US based consultant and script doctor for comedy writers in the area of Features and TV. He has worked in this area for 15 years and his clients include companies such as Dreamworks, Disney, HBO, Paramount, Touchstone and others. Steve has also taught at UCLA, NYU, Yale and other universities. Steve Kaplan created the HBO Workspace, the HBO New Writers Program and was co-founder and Artistic Director of Manhattan Punch Line Theatre. While at the Punch Line Theatre, he developed writers such as Peter Tolan (Analyze This), writer and producer David Crane (Friends, Joey, The Class), writer/producer Tracy Poust (Ugly Betty, Will & Grace), Michael Patrick King (Sex and The City, Will & Grace), Lisa Loomer, Tom Donaghy, Sandra Tsing Loh (CHICKEN LITTLE), Kenneth Lonergan and Mark O'Donnell (HAIRSPRAY starring John Travolta).

Participant Profile: Emerging and experienced screenwriters
Date: July 1st and 2nd, 2011
Duration: 2 Days
Venue: Galway
Cost: 150 euro
Please note for more info, contact Mary Deely at education@galwayfilmcentre.ie

KFF Issues Call for Entries for 12th Edition

2011-05-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

Juliette Binoche pictured with Maureen O'Hara after receiving the Maureen O' Hara Award at last year's KFF

KFF offers thousands of Euro in cash prizes and a prestigious showcase for new film makers

Kerry Film Festival (KFF), the biggest little film festival in the world, has issued a call for entries for the 2011 edition of its prestigious festival. KFF will run from October 29th to November 5th, and is offering thousands of euro in cash prizes to up and coming film makers.

The main feature of Kerry Film Festival is a short film competition that focuses on young film makers and awards prizes in a number of different categories including Best Irish Film, Best International Film, Best Documentary Film and Best Animated Film. Winning films are selected by a world class panel of adjudicators, with KFF adjudicators including such leading lights as Jeremy Irons, Noel Pearson, Liam Neeson and Gabriel Byrne. KFF also presents the Maureen O' Hara award to a lady that has excelled in film, with Oscar winning actress Juliette Binoche picking up the award in 2010, which was presented by Maureen O' Hara herself.

KFF has, over the last four years, increased audience numbers from 1,500 in 2006 to close to 10,000 in 2010, making it one of the premiere film festivals in Ireland. KFF is celebrating its 12th birthday this year and will bring films and film makers to the most beautiful location. There has been particularly strong international interest in KFF over the past few years, with film makers from all over the globe submitting work. In fact entries for the 2011 edition have already come flooding in from as far away as Brazil and Korea and from as close to home as Ballina and Killarney. KFF director, Jason O' Mahony, is delighted with the response so far and is hopeful that 2011 will be another bumper year for entries. "Last year we received 548 entries, which was fantastic for us. We've had a wonderfully strong response so far this year with close to 200 movies already received and we're still months away from the deadline. I'd love to see an increase in the number of films submitted and would encourage all film makers to send in their work. KFF is a special little festival, we've screenings all over the Kingdom with films showing in Tralee, Killarney, Dingle, Listowel, Kenmare, Waterville and Caherciveen, which makes us one of the most geographically dispersed festivals, not only in Ireland, but in the whole world, but we're still an intimate little festival and all the filmmakers that come have a wonderful time."

The focus of Kerry Film Festival is, as always, on young, up-and-coming filmmakers, giving the KFF audience an opportunity to see and love the work of directors before they become widely known. "Because the film making process is such an expensive one, and because the money for film making is so tightly controlled, most directors cut their teeth on the short film format," said O' Mahony. "In 2009, for example we screened The Crush – it was the world premier of a film which went on to garner awards and accolades from festivals all over the globe – including being short listed for an Oscar. Our audience had a chance to see the film before anyone else and the response to the film was phenomenal."

While KFF is an intimate little festival, the quality of both the films and the panel of adjudicators consistently punch above the festival's weight. Having such well respected adjudicators view and select the winning films is a huge advantage to winning filmmakers. "It's one of the unique strengths of KFF," added O' Mahony, "We offer young filmmakers a chance to have their work seen by respected pros and, if their film is selected, then the kudos which goes along with having their film selected will hopefully help them take the next step in their careers."

KFF also has an extensive partnership with festivals around the globe with festivals in the US, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Finland and the UK all screening the winning shorts from Kerry. As winning film maker Declan Cassidy explains, "Kerry Film Festival is the film festival which just keeps on giving! It was a wonderfully warm experience. The staff and organisers are genuinely concerned about ensuring that we, the film makers, had a wonderful time."

"The award I won there has commanded a lot of respect in promoting the film to industry and other festivals. But it didn't stop there. Festival Director, Jason O' Mahony, has forged an extremely impressive network with other festivals and he worked tirelessly to promote my film to them. As a result my film played in a number of festivals it would not have otherwise reached and, to my surprise and delight, the film picked up another award at one of these in Italy. Kerry Film Festival is the kind of festival you want to go back to again and again."

For more information and to download an application form please click here. The closing date for submissions is August 1st.

Thoroughly civilised afternoon at the pictures enjoyed by seniors at Siamsa Tíre

2011-05-17T09:04:00.000-07:00

Marie Duffy and Cathy Kelliher get ready to take their seats at Siamsa Tíre

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. Our appetite for hot-dogs, nachos, titanic sized portions of popcorn and buckets of fizz will perhaps diminish somewhat as we advance in our years, and we may wish for a more elegant and demure way to enjoy a great movie on a big screen in the company of our peers.

If that does happen to me someday, I hope that Kerry Film Festival's active retired screenings are still being held at Siamsa Tire.

In spite of my tender years I was lucky enough to be present Wednesday afternoon’s screening of The Night of the Hunter, a classic dating back to 1955 starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters and Lillian Gish. There was a great atmosphere as film lovers gathered for tea, coffee and biscuits, chatting to friends and admiring some of the artwork on display around Siamsa Tire, prior to the film.

The monthly active retired screenings will continue at 2pm on June 1st with 1944 classic National Velvet starring Mickey Rooney and Elizabeth Taylor. All films cost just €2 to anyone over the age of sixty-five and refreshments are provided by Kerry Film Festival.

It’s a great social occasion as well as a unique opportunity for seasoned film enthusiasts to see some fantastic films on the big screen, and without a smurf in sight.

For more information, please call Kerry Film Festival on 066 712 9934.

KERRY FILM FESTIVAL BRINGING FILM APPRECIATION WORKSHOPS TO PRIMARY SCHOOLS

2011-05-11T04:09:00.000-07:00

Kerry Film Festival bringing film appreciation workshops to primary schools

Kerry Film Festival is on the road, bringing a series of film appreciation workshops to primary schools across the county. The workshops which will run until the end of the school term, will give 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 will also be encouraged to consider various aspects of film-making and have the chance to design their own 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 world 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 already had a great response from primary schools across the county. "It's been terrific to get such a good reaction to the education programme and I'd encourage all Kerry primary schools to get involved", she said.

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

Indian Film Festival comes to Siamsa

2011-05-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

A unique and exciting collaboration between Siamsa Tire and the Indian Film Festival of Ireland will bring an Indian film to Tralee on Friday, May 13!

RAJNEETI, which literally means "politics", is a film by Prakash Jha and it will be the center piece of an exotic evening of events.

The evening kicks off with a delicious tasting of Indian food, which will be followed by an inspirational Indian classical dance performance by the well known artist Ashwani Kalsekar.

Then renowned Indian Directors, Vishal Bhardwaj, Anusha Rizvi, Rekha Bhardwaj and Atul Tiwari will introduce the film. They'll be joined on stage by Siraj Zaidi, the Director of the Indian Film Festival of Ireland.

Tickets for the whole evening are available from the box office at Siamsa Tire on 066 712 3055 and are reasonably priced at just €6 to €11 per person. Fantastic offers and deals are also available for families and group packages.

FILM & PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS HELD AT ST BRENDAN’S COLLEGE, KILLARNEY

2011-05-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

Budding paparazzi from St Brendan's College, Killarney enjoyed a lesson with a difference on their return to school this week when Kerry Film Festival and the Irish Film Institute presented a morning of workshops on the history and basic principles of photography and film appreciation.

Mike Foley, of Kerry Film Festival and Foghlú Foto, first explained the development of photography, displaying an array of cameras ranging from one of the earliest models to modern digital equipment. Students learned about the influences of early cameras on 16th century art and were invited to compare the merits of digital Vs traditional film. They learned more about composing a photograph and some of the tricks of the trade from seasoned snapper Mike.

Baz Al-Rawi of the Irish Film Institute then gave the students a fascinating presentation into just how much work and thought is involved in film-making, focussing on the ways in which various aspects add meaning and symbolism which extend far beyond the dialogue. The reaction of the students to Baz and Mike’s workshops revealed fascinating insights into the technological environment in which today’s students are learning. This was particularly evident when it emerged that only one of the students who attended the history of photography workshop had used a traditional ‘film’ camera, and that the most familiar clips shown to students at the film appreciation workshop were made using computer generated imagery (CGI), highlighting the convergence of cinematography and video-game development.

Teacher Simon Moore said the students had really enjoyed the workshops, which were a very pleasant way to return to school after the Easter break.

Kerry Film Festival and Kerry Bicycle Festival to join forces for 'Race Across America'

2011-05-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

Kerry Film Festival is teaming up with Kerry Bicycle Festival to present the feature length cycling documentary film Race Across America at 8pm on Friday 6th May at Siamsa Tire, Tralee. The screening will mark the start of a week of bicycle themed festivities which will be launched at Siamsa Tire at 6:30pm the same evening.

Race across America tells the story of one of the world's toughest sporting events where competitors pedal three-thousand miles across America. Often cycling for twenty-two hours a day with one hour of sleep, the brave souls who accept the challenge must find and crush their physical, emotional and spiritual limits or risk being left humbled somewhere on the roads of America.

"We're delighted to be bringing this fascinating documentary to the Kerry Bicycle Festival. The Bicycle Festival organisers have put together a great programme and the launch will be a fantastic evening." said Jason O'Mahony, Kerry Film Festival Director. "Thankfully, I understand that the events planned for the Bicycle Festival will be considerably more leisurely and family friendly, and will not require anyone to challenge their physical or emotional endurance," he added.

New Courses at Galway Film Centre

2011-04-28T04:08:00.000-07:00

The good folks at Galway Film Centre have come up with another couple wonderful courses for all you budding filmmakers out there!

Visual Screenwriting- Limited to 8 places
This workshop, tutored by Mark McIlrath, is aimed at writers with treatments or screenplays. It's an excellent opportunity to look at your story from a completely new perspective. The tutor will work with you by email prior to the course to develop your ideas!

The first step will be to look at your story in terms of Sequences. Next, the Dramatic Structure and the key images in your story will be examined. This will include looking at the motifs, symbols and metaphors and asking why they are necessary, how you’re using them, and how you can develop a coherent Image System which layers the themes of your film. Participants will be asked to take basic digital photos, and present the story through stills using Power Point (similar to Chris Marker’s La Jetée). Help will be given, if needed, in the use of Power Point.

Date: 3 Days, May 14, 15, 16
Fee: €295 unwaged/€315 waged. Prices include membership for year.
Members who have done a course within the last year: €225 unwaged/€234 waged. Members who haven't done a course with us in the last year: €250 unwaged/€260 waged

What are Treatments & Step Outlines?- Limited to 8 places
What are they? Why are they necessary? What they are not? The workshop will look at how the Industry uses Treatments and Step Outlines and what producers and funders expect. Is there an Industry standard or is it about what works? What about length? This workshop is aimed at scriptwriters who feel they’d like to understand these formats better. This workshop will involve in class exercises.

Date: 4 hours, Friday May 13 (11am – 3pm)
Fee: €65 unwaged/€75 waged.
Those that have done a course with us within the last year: €58.50 unwaged/€67.50 waged

To apply or for more info, contact Mary at education@galwayfilmcentre.ie or phone 091-770748.

Dance Films at New Kerry Dance Festival

2011-04-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

nMotion Dance Festival will take place at Siamsa Tire, Tralee, Tuesday April 19th and Wednesday 20th April. The nMotion Dance Festival is curated and created by Catherine Young and Siamsa Tire as part of the Dancer in Residence Programme - a partnership between artist Catherine Young, Siamsa Tire, Kerry County Council, Kerry Local Sports Partnership and supported by the Arts Council.

"Siamsa Tire will be buzzing with dance classes, talks on dance, dance films and performances," said Catherine Young, "there will truly be something for everyone."

nMotion promises something interesting for all, with open classes in a whole myriad of styles including Irish dance, Tango, African, Hip Hop and Contemporary Dancing. There will also be classes for teens, adults and for the over 50's.

The festival also has a jam packed calendar of talks and discussions while also screening a number of dance related films. Each day will culminate in an evening of performances, taking place at 8pm, and featuring a mixed bill with performers from as far off as Argentina and West Africa and from as close to home as local companies, Kerry Youth Dance Theatre and YoCo Dance Company.

"This Festival is a great opportunity to see the very best of many dance styles, it invites everyone to come and see or participate in dance," said Kate Kennelly, Kerry County Council Arts Officer. "We are delighted with the support received for this event from all partners, in particular for the funding of Catherine's time, mainly through the Arts Council."

"After each night's show there will be a chance to meet and talk with the performers, ask questions and get involved," stated Karl Wallace, Artistic Director, Siamsa Tire. "We want people to see the quality of dance that exists today as well as enjoying the fact that dance can be for everybody".

For full time table & schedule see Get Involved section of www.siamsatire.com.

To book tickets classes, workshops and performances, contact Siamsa Tire Box office: 066 712 3055

KFF to screen French Film in Kenmare

2011-04-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

Comme Une Image, to screen in The Carnegie, Kenmare, at 2:00 pm, Wednesday April 13th

Kerry Film Festival (KFF) is delighted to announce a screening of COMME UNE IMAGE, a wonderful French Film which picked up the Best Screenplay Award at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. Working in close collaboration with the Irish Film Institute (IFI) and Kerry County Council the film will screen in The Carnegie in Kenmare on Wednesday, April 13th at 2:00 pm.

"We're thrilled to be in a position to screen a film for French students and it's an amazing film," said Kerry Film Festival Director, Jason O' Mahony. "The education screenings that take place during the Kerry Film Festival are always a success and we're delighted to be able to extend those screenings throughout the year. We're also indebted to the support we receive from the IFI and Kerry County Council, which makes the screening possible."

The winner of the Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004, COMME UNE IMAGE is director, writer and actress Agnes Jaoui's second feature film. Co-written by Jaoui and her longtime partner Jean-Paul Bacri, the film was warmly received by audiences in France and both Jaoui and Bacri play characters in the film: Jaoui plays Sylvia who is the main character's (Lolita) singing teacher and Bacri plays Etienne Cassard.

It's a clever, dark comedy with the title coming from a French expression, 'sage comme une image'. This 'good as gold' ideal is one that Lolita rebels against in the film, which Jaoui describes as the 'tyranny of beauty'. Jaoui and Bacri offer a critique of a society obsessed by celebrity and image, yet they are themselves household names in France, which perhaps gives them some inside knowledge of the dangers of fame.

The film is part of the IFI's back catalogue and comes with study guides to help students and teachers reach a deeper understanding of the film, while providing the opportunity for appreciation and critical interaction with the film.

"We're doing an Arts week in Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine in Kenmare and wanted to screen high quality French films," said Majella Gafney-Murphy, a teacher at the school. "We attended the Kerry Film Festival last year and really enjoyed the screening so decided to get in touch to see if they could help out and we're delighted that they did - we're really looking forward to the screening of COMME UNE IMAGE in The Carnegie on Wednesday, April 13th."

Interested teachers are encouraged to contact Kerry Film Festival on 066 712 9934 to book places for students. Tickets are available at €5 per student.

News from Galway Film Centre

2011-03-29T03:54:00.000-07:00

Adsell Productions
Are looking for Camera Ops & Editors
www.wfi.ie
www.iftn.ie/jobs and Send Message
Deadline 29 March 2011

Mind the Gap Films
Are looking for a Director
www.mindthegapfilms.com
www.iftn.ie/jobs and Send Message
Deadlien 31 March 2011

Tailored Films
Are looking for Freelance Editors
www.tailoredfilms.ie
www.iftn.ie/jobs and Send Message

7 Weekend Film Foundation Course (€75 early bird discount)
Learn about the steps involved in making a short film and then make a short film over 7 weekends, under the guidance of experienced film tutors. Use the finished DVD as part of a portfolio for work or college.
Course Dates: 7 weekends; April 9-10, 16-17, May 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 28-29, June 11-12 (10am-5pm) (includes a 2 weekend break for Easter)
Course Cost: € 655 unwaged/€ 725 waged (Payment can be spread over the first few weeks and these fees include membership to the Centre for the year). To see films made on this course and for more info, go to: http://www.galwayfilmcentre.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid

Stop-Motion Animation Workshop
Make your own animation through drawings, claymation and photos using i-stop motion. Learn how to use this software and how to shoot your animation film on a movie camera, camcorder, pocket camera or even a mobile phone. This course is very practical and by the end, you should hopefully be able to go and make your own animations at home. Materials will be provided. Suitable for beginners or those with a little knowledge and class sizes are very limited.
About the Tutor: Aideen Barry is a Visual Artist, working in animation, film, drawing, performance, sculpture, photography and sound installation. Her films and video have been shown widely both nationally and internationally including at Moderna Museet, Sweden, The Other Gallery and the Walter Phillps Gallery, Banff, Canada.
Dates: 6 Tuesday evenings, 7pm - 9pm, March 29, April 5, 12, 19, May 3, 10, 2011
Fee: €225 unwaged/ €255 waged* (Includes membership. 10% discount if you have done a course with us in the last year.)
Link to animations created on a recent workshop:
http://www.galwayfilmcentre.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=90&Itemid > =

ID PROJECTS – IDENTIFYING YOUR COMMUNITY
Do you belong to a community, social or voluntary group in Galway City or County?
Do you have a unique voice which encapsulates your community, tradition, lifestyle, views or culture?
ID Projects offer groups an exciting opportunity to make their own documentary based on the theme of identity with the help of a professional documentary maker.
Galway Film Centre, the Arts Council, Galway City and County Councils would like to offer you this great opportunity to participate in ID Projects at no cost to your group.
If you would like to learn more, join us at our free information evening in:
Westside Library, Wednesday March 30th at 6.00pm
Ballinasloe Library, Thursday March 31st at 6.00pm
For more information and application forms please contact Nuala at the Galway Film Centre at 091 770748 or email: projects@galwayfilmcentre.ie
Closing date for application is April 15th 2011

RTÉ Storyland episodes two- two Galway entries

Look out for
http://www.rte.ie/storyland/episodes-the-outlaw-concy-ryan.html

http://www.rte.ie/storyland/episodes-lucky-run.html

The Kelly's Movie Table Quiz takes place on the 4th of April from 8.00pm. Once again all film fans, from the devoted to the casual, are invited to test their knowledge in the gladiatorial like arena that is Upstairs at Kelly's. Twenty euro per table of four, it was a sell out last month and it will sell out this month so get your tickets early. With audio/visual rounds, spot prizes and much much more!

‘Éalú’ Production Wraps
Magamedia are currently in production with the third series of drama-documentary series, ‘Éalú’. The new installment is at the end of its shoot and production is to wrap on Sunday, March 27th. Directed by Paddy Hayes (Corp + Anam), this series will examine the Irish republican prisoners who escaped from Irish jail
http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4283730&tpl=archnews&force=1

Human Rights Film Awards Deadline Approaches

The submissions deadline for the 2011 ICCL Human Rights Film Awards is fast approaching, those wishing to enter their projects have until Friday, April 15th to do so. Individual film students, filmmakers, and/ or those with a strong interest in human rights are invited to submit their original short film focusing on a particular human rights issue in or related to Ireland.
http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4283723&tpl=archnews&force=1

Celtic Media Festival 13-15 April
www.celticmediafestival.co.uk

Belfast Film Festival 31st March-14 April
http://www.belfastfilmfestival.org/

Cartoon Saloon goes solo with jobs boost for city
http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/local/cartoon_saloon_goes_solo_with_jobs_boost_for_city_1_2528085

Arizona Festival Selects Irish Projects

Irish feature film ‘Man Made Men’ will have its U.S. premiere at the 20th Anniversary Arizona International Film Festival. Other Irish projects being shown as part of the festival include Sean Garland’s feature doc, ‘NokotaHeart’, Risteard O’Domhnaill’s ‘The Pipe’ and Mary Redmond’s short, ‘Cured’
http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4283725&tpl=archnews&force=1

Irish Selection at Budapest's Titanic Film Fest
Organisers of Budapest’s 18th Titanic International Film Festival have introduced a new section to this year’s event entitled Irish Selection. The new section of the festival looks to celebrate the Irish film industry and will include screenings of ‘Savage’, ‘One Hundred Mornings’, ‘Perrier’s Bounty’ and ‘Essential Killing’.
http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4283727&tpl=archnews&force=1

Blinder Films See A Host of Festival Selections for ‘One Hundred Mornings’ and ‘Sensation’
Conor Horgan's apocalyptic ONE HUNDRED MORNINGS and Tom Hall's smart and sexy SENSATION are proving extremely popular on an international level with numerous festival screenings lined up in the coming weeks. Both of these features were produced by Irish production company Blinder Films.
http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/irish_film_industry/news/Blinder_Films_See_A_Host_of_Festival_Selections_for_lsquoOne_Hundred_Morningsrsquo_and_lsquoSensationrsquo/1609

Irish Documentary COLONY on DVD and Digital Release in the US from March 29th
Award-winning Colony, the Irish debut feature documentary co-directed by Ross McDonnell and Carter Gunn, is set for DVD and digital release in the US from March 29th.

This beautifully photographed film follows several American beekeepers over the course of two years, investigating the unexplainable phenomenon Colony Collapse Disorder which has seen a drop in almost a quarter of the number of bees in the United States, threatening the beekeeping industry and because agriculture depends on pollination, therefore threatening our food supplies.
http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/irish_film_industry/news/Irish_Documentary_COLONY_on_DVD_and_Digital_Release_in_the_US_from_March_29th/1608

Virtual Cinema Short ‘The Monk & The Fly’ Becomes YouTube Hit
The short animation THE MONK & THE FLY has become a YouTube hit after being selected as one of the websites ‘featured' clips on its home page and receiving over 64,000 hits overnight.
http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/irish_film_industry/news/Virtual_Cinema_Short_lsquoThe_Monk_amp_The_Flyrsquo_Becomes_YouTube_Hit/1610

Horror film WAKE WOOD goes on release today
David Keating's new horror WAKE WOOD goes on limited theatrical, digital and DVD release in Ireland and the UK from today 25th March.
http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/irish_film_industry/news/Horror_film_WAKE_WOOD_goes_on_release_today/1611

Animation Hotline

2011-03-21T05:53:00.000-07:00

Kerry Film Festival alum, Dusty Grella, whose PRAYERS FOR PEACE played in the 2010 Festival has launched a wonderfully interesting little animation project.

"Animation Hotline is a series of daily animations where I use messages left on my voicemail for content," explains Dusty. "Anyone can leave me a message about anything and I'll turn that voice message into an animation piece!"

There are no limits on the number of messages and Dusty will post a new animation, with a detailed description of each animated piece on his blog, dirty hands, every day at 11:11am. He's even set up a Skype account so international callers can call for free!

For more information please log onto The Animation Hotline

March Active Retired Screening on 2nd Wednesday of Month

2011-02-25T06:32:00.000-08:00

It's Oscar season and to celebrate Kerry Film Festival and Siamsa Tire have partnered to bring some fabulous films from the distant past and the not so distant past to a big screen in Tralee. The screenings will take place in Siamsa Tire and are for active-retired groups and all retired individuals.

"We screen films for active retired groups as part of the Kerry Film Festival," said Jason O' Mahony, Festival Director, "and, for almost a year now, we've screened films for them on a monthly basis in Siamsa Tire, which is a wonderful venue. The screenings generally take place on the first Wednesday of the month but we've had to push the March screening back a little bit."

"We're terribly sorry that we had to change from the first Wednesday of the month to the second but, I'm afraid, it's something that we simply couldn't avoid," added O' Mahony. "On the upside we do have a fantastic film in Elia Kazan's ON THE WATERFRONT, the film which won Brando his first Oscar. It won 8 Oscars all together so I think it's a brilliant film to screen so close to the Oscars, I'm really looking forward to seeing in on the big screen!"

The Kerry Film Festival Active Retired Screening will revert to its usual first Wednesday slot in April when John Huston's Classic KEY LARGO screens in Siamsa on April 6th. The 1948 film sees Bogart and Bacall threatened by a gangster and his henchmen in a hotel in the Florida Keys.

Then on the first Wednesday of May, May 4th, Robert Mitchum stars in THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, a noir classic about a religious fanatic that marries a gullible widow whose young children are reluctant to tell him where their real daddy hid $10,000 that he'd stolen in a robbery. It's such a wonderful film that, in 1992, it was deemed "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and was selected for preservation in its National Film Registry.

All films cost just 2 euro to anyone over the age of 65 and Kerry Film Festival will serve teas and coffees before the film to all attendees. The active retired screenings are a nice social occasion, as well as giving attendees the opportunity to see some fantastic films on the big screen.

All films will screen in Siamsa Tire at 2:00 pm. For more information please call Kerry Film Festival on 066 712 9934.

Active Retired Screenings

2011-02-01T07:55:00.000-08:00

ALL ABOUT EVE
February 2nd Wednesday
Dir: Joseph L Mankiewicz, USA, 1950, 138 min
Starring: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders, Gary Merrill, Celeste Holm

Bette Davis is superb as Margo Channing in this jet-black 1950's comedy which won 6 Oscar's including best picture, best director and best writing. ALL ABOUT EVE is invariably listed as one of the best movies ever made and stars the legendary Bette Davis in one of her most memorable roles. Margo Channing, elegant leading lady of the theatre, has just turned 40 and discovers Eve, a beautiful, star-struck young ingenue who yearns to be Margo's assistant, or her understudy, or perhaps more!

ON THE WATERFRONT
March 9th Wednesday
Dir: Elia Kazan, USA, 1954, 108 min
Starring: Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger

Brando at his brilliant, moving, moody best as an ex-prize fighter turned longshoreman who must stand up to corrupt union officials and mob bosses if he is to have any future. Winner of 8 Oscars including best picture, best director and a best actor gong for Brando, ON THE WATERFRONT is quite simply one of the best movies ever made. You cannot miss this on the big screen!

KEY LARGO
April 6th Wednesday
Dir: John Huston, USA, 1948, 100 min
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore

Bogart and Bacall team up in John Houston's Oscar Winning classic from 1948. A gangster holes up in a hotel with his henchmen, holding Bogie at gunpoint. Brilliant film with a whole slew of stars at the very top of their careers!

THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER
May 4th Wednesday
Dir: Charles Laughton, USA, 1955, 93 min
Starring: Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters

Robert Mitchum stars in this film noir classic about a religious fanatic that marries a gullible widow whose young children are reluctant to tell him where their real daddy hid 10,000 dollars that he'd stolen in a robbery! Not only is it a brilliant film but, in 1992, it was deemed "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and was selected for preservation in its National Film Registry. Now that's some compliment for a film!

The Pipe to Screen in Kerry

2011-01-24T08:27:00.000-08:00

Director Richie O' Domhnaill to attend Siamsa Tire Screening for Questions and Answers.

THE PIPE is a fascinating documentary that tells the story of the Corrib Gas Pipeline and its effect on Broadhaven Bay, Glengad beach and the tiny village of Rossport. The unique nature of the coastline has sustained generations of farmers and fishermen but is also, to Shell Oil, the perfect place for the Corrib Gas Pipeline.

The film follows three members of the small community and details what became of their quiet rural life after Shell Oil arrived and the resultant fear and anxiety which followed. Not only are the residents flung into a tumultuous struggle with Shell and the state, but they are also forced to battle with elements within their own campaign who seek to divide and control, as their community is torn apart by the stresses of choosing to support or oppose the oil company. Yet, despite the seriousness of the events surrounding them, their resilience and humanity never wane and, even in their darkest moments, their wit and humour shine through.

"It's a fascinating subject," says Richie O' Domhnaill, director of the film, "and probably one of the most dramatic culture clashes in modern Ireland. The rights of the local farmers to their own fields and of local fishermen to their traditional fishing grounds have come into direct conflict with one of the world’s biggest and most powerful oil companies and when the citizens looked to the state to protect their rights, they found that the state put Shell’s rights above those of its own citizens."

Richie will attend the Siamsa Tire screening of the film, which takes place on Tuesday, February 1st at 8:00 pm. The film also screens in St. John's in Listowel on Thursday, February 3rd and in The Carnegie in Kenmare on Thursday, February 17th.

THE PIPE is a story of a community which has been tragically divided and how the members of that community have dealt with a situation that could, if handled properly, bring economic prosperity for generations. Against that it will destroy the traditional way of life which has been for generations.

"And while the story is completely modern it echoes themes that have been discussed for generations," adds Richie. "For example The Field, by Kerry writer John B. Keane, plays with many of the same themes. Who really owns the fields? The farmers who work them? Or can those with the money simply buy off the state?"

And while those are very topical questions in Ireland, the film has had huge success outside the country with THE PIPE playing at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival in September 2010, while it was recently selected for the equally as prestigious Berlin Film Festival, where it will screen in February 2011. THE PIPE has been nominated for an Irish Film and Television Award in the Best Documentary Category and has also been selected for the upcoming Palm Springs Film Festival in California.

Kerry Film Festival Announces Winning Films

2010-11-08T03:35:00.000-08:00

The 2010 Kerry Film Festival Award Winners are:
Children’s Audience Award, THE END IS NIGHT, James Cotter
Audience Award, CHRISTMAS SWIM, Keith Mannix
Best Animated Short, THE POLISH LANGUAGE, Alice Lyons & Orla McHardy
Best Documentary Short, IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK, Anna Rodgers
Best Irish Short, RUNNERS, Rob & Ronan Burke
Best International Short, DROP DEAD, Arne Toonen
Best Short Film / Best Director, PASSING, David Freyne

The Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating eleven years of bringing film to Kerry, announced the winning films from the 2010 edition of the festival. Dave Fanning was MC at the Awards Ceremony, which took place at 2:00 pm in Siamsa Tire in Tralee on Saturday, November 6th.

The Award Ceremony was the culmination of a week of films at Kerry Film Festival, which began on Saturday, October 30th. The winning films were selected by Kerry Film Festival's adjudication panel which included Noel Pearson, Jane Seymour, Tomm Moore and James Marsh and by the audience at the festival.

The adjudicators and audience had the unenviable task of selecting the best films from the festival. Over five hundred and fifty films were submitted to the 2010 Kerry Film Festival, up significantly on the total number of films submitted in 2009 and more than double the number of films submitted in previous years. 92 short films screened in total at the 2010 Kerry Film Festival.

"This was the best selection of short films I've ever seen screened together, let alone had to adjudicate," said Noel Pearson. "It was very tough to choose a single winner."

The Best Animated Short Film, as adjudicated by Tomm Moore, was Alice Lyon's and Orla McHardy's THE POLISH LANGUAGE.

Tomm is one of Ireland’s leading filmmakers and he was Oscar nominated earlier this year for his debut feature, THE SECRET OF KELLS. Tomm was a guest at Kerry Film Festival in 2009 and, in a move that built on an ever-increasing collaboration with the Institute of Technology, Tralee, he delivered a guest lecture to more than 150 students in the I.T. These were joined by students from local secondary schools who wanted to learn a little more about animation from an Oscar nominated director!

Tomm chose THE POLISH LANGUAGE for, "Its always surprising, inventive and technically virtuoso use of a wide array of animation techniques that added a dimension of visual poetry to the written poem. It also expands our understanding of the Polish culture and its people's history as much as the language itself. It's a beautiful short and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did."

The Best International Film category was adjudicated by Jane Seymour. Jane is a multiple Emmy and Golden Globe winner, recipient of the Officer of the British Empire (OBE) in the year 2000, which was bestowed upon her by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. She has proven her talents in virtually all media, the Broadway stage, motion pictures and television while her love of art and colour has led to her great success as a painter in watercolours and oils and also as a designer.

The Best International Short, as chosen by Jane Seymour, was DROP DEAD and Jane had this to say about the film, "I chose DROP DEAD because it was original and perfectly fit the short story format. The characters, acting, directing and script were all excellent. It was unique and told its story with a refreshing sense of humour!"

The Best Documentary Short, which was selected by James Marsh, who won the Oscar for Best Documentary this year for the brilliant film MAN ON WIRE. James had this to say about the documentary short films, "All the films submitted were diverting and enjoyable. Special mention should go to two films. BYE BYE NOW was a charming, playful and poignant evocation of a bygone era and a much loved and sadly obsolete piece of street furniture. THE HERD was one of the shortest films on offer but it managed to quickly and sharply evoke the relationship between mother and son alongside the relationship of a confused deer with a herd of cows.

My favourite, however, and thus the winner, was IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK.

Of all the films submitted, this short film was the most inventive in its use of the documentary form and showed a real sense of cinema in its camera movement and compositions. It also maintained an intense and unsettling atmosphere. Its content was simple and powerful. We listened to the fragmented recollections of troubled minds as we beheld the crumbling ruins of an institution which, mercifully, belongs to a different era and a different way of thinking."

The next film to be honoured was Rob and Ronan Burke's RUNNERS which was selected as the Best Irish Narrative Short. The winning film was selected by Noel Pearson.

Noel has been a film and theatre producer in Europe and the US for more than 25 years. His theatre productions of DANCING AT LUGHNASA (1991–1992) and AN INSPECTOR CALLS (1993–1994) collectively won eight Tony Awards.

In 1989 Noel produced his first feature film, MY LEFT FOOT, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Brenda Fricker and Ray McAnally, directed by Jim Sheridan. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning two Oscars ®. THE FIELD in 1990 was his next production, it was nominated for an Oscar and two Bafta Awards.

1998 saw Noel produce the film version of DANCING AT LUGHNASA and, more recently, in 2007 he produced HOW ABOUT YOU. He has also produced four successful documentaries. During this year and next, Noel intends to produce Sebastian Barry’s critically-acclaimed THE SECRET SCRIPTURES with a screenplay by Johnny Ferguson.

The Kerry Film Festival Audience also had its part to play at the Awards ceremony, with CHRISTMAS SWIM, by Keith Mannix, picking up the Audience Award. The Award came with a prize of 1,000 euro, sponsored by the John Moore foundation. There was also a Children's Audience Award which went to THE END IS NIGHT, by James Cotter.

The final prize of the evening and the most prestigious going to a short film was The Kerry Film Festival Best Short Film / Best Director Award and this was also adjudicated by Noel Pearson. It came with a cash prize of 500 euro and was kindly sponsored by Cork Film Centre.

The Kerry Film Festival Best Short Film / Best Director Award, as adjudicated by Noel Pearson went to David Freyne, PASSING. Noel had this to say about the winning film, "I think PASSING is a beautifully simple story, it's wonderfully shot and acted and, while it was difficult to decide, I think it's the best film in a very good collection. I wish David Freyne the very best of luck. In fact, I want to wish all of the directors the very best of luck. And, who knows, maybe one day soon we may work with one or two of them!"

The Maureen O' Hara Award, which acknowledges women that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their respective fields in film, was presented to Juliette Binoche at the ceremony. The Award was made by Killarney Crystal.

All awards were presented at the Kerry Film Festival Awards Ceremony, which took place in Siamsa Tíre on Saturday, November 6th at 2:00 pm.

For more information on the Kerry Film Festival, please log onto www.kerryfilmfestival.com or call 066 712 9934.

Kerry Film Festival is supported through grant aid from The Arts Council, Kerry County Council, Failte Ireland and by the generous support of more that 70 small businesses in Kerry.

Maureen O' Hara to Personally Present Juliette Binoche with Award

2010-10-25T07:36:00.000-07:00

Maureen O' Hara

The Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating eleven years of bringing films to Kerry, today announced that Maureen O’ Hara will personally present Juliette Binoche with The Maureen O’ Hara Award at the Kerry Film Festival, which runs from October 30^th to November 6^th.

"We're absolutely delighted to award this year's Maureen O' Hara Award to Juliette Binoche. Juliette is an amazing actress whose talent has been recognised on the global stage. She has won a myriad of awards for acting all around the world, including the Venice Film Festival and this year's Cannes Film Festival. Juliette was also presented with an Oscar by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences," said Maureen O' Hara. "Juliette is, however, more than simply a stunningly beautiful woman and a brilliant actress; she has also displayed a devotion to a variety of good causes. I am absolutely delighted that Juliette will accept this award and I wish her the very best in her future career and, more especially, in life."

“The Kerry Film Festival is thrilled to present Juliette Binoche with the Maureen O’ Hara Award,” said Jason O’ Mahony, Kerry Film Festival Director. “She is a wonderful actress and is a true leading light. In addition to her work in film she has worked tirelessly to overcome human rights abuses and is an active supporter of many worthy causes. Her role, in particular, in securing acclaimed Iranian director, Jafar Panahi’s, release from prison earlier this year is worthy of mention. We’re delighted that Juliette will be on hand to pick up the award at this year’s Kerry Film Festival and we’re absolutely delighted that Maureen will be on hand to present the award personally. Maureen celebrated her 90^th birthday this year and to have her present the award this year shows the fortitude, resolve and determination that make her one of Hollywood’s true greats!”

The Maureen O’ Hara Award acknowledges women that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their respective fields and Juliette Binoche is a most worthy recipient. The award giving will take place at the Kerry Film Festival Awards Ceremony in Siamsa Tíre in Tralee on Saturday, November 6^th at 2:00 pm.

The Award Ceremony is the culmination of a week of films at Kerry Film Festival. The Awards ceremony will also feature the screening of award winning short films as adjudicated by Kerry Film Festival’s panel of judges that include Oscar® nominated producer Noel Pearson, multiple Emmy® and Golden Globe ® winner Jane Seymour, Oscar® nominated director Tomm Moore and Oscar® winning director James Marsh.

KFF to host county-wide Photography Exhibition

2010-10-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

Dún Chaoin by Lanka Haouche Perren

Kerry Film Festival (KFF) will be pretty as a picture during the month of November as it opens a new exhibition featuring the work of over 30 photographers. Photography is an integral part of filmmaking and KFF decided to hold the competition to highlight how fundamental photography is to filmmaking. The exhibition is the result of an open submission process with more than 30 photographers submitting more than 250 photographs. Submissions came in from all over Ireland and as far away as Alaska and Maine in the US.

In a new departure Kerry Film Festival has partnered with Bank of Ireland and will utilise its widespread branch network to display the selected photographs all over the kingdom.

"We're delighted to partner with Bank of Ireland," said Jason O' Mahony, director of Kerry Film Festival. "The bank has a wide network of branches which will allow us to reach into all corners of Kerry. KFF is one of the most geographically dispersed film festivals, not only in Ireland, but in the world with screenings in Tralee, Killarney, Listowel, Kenmare, Dingle and Waterville and it's great that we can have an equally broad reach with the photography competition."

Jim Maher, branch manager of Bank of Ireland, Tralee is also delighted to be involved. "I hold Kerry Film Festival in a high regard for all the work they do all over Kerry. As a bank we value the opportunity to get involved in community based organisations. We hope that by using our branch network this new venture will provide a platform for art across the county and, hopefully, across the whole country in future."

Mayor of Tralee Arthur Spring will officially open the competition on Wednesday, November 3rd at 2:00 pm in the Tralee branch of Bank of Ireland. The exhibition will run during the Kerry Film Festival in Tralee and will then tour selected Kerry branches of Bank of Ireland.

"The photography competition was a huge success," said Mike Foley, Kerry Film Festival coordinator. "The quality and variety of photographs received was simply astonishing. We were absolutely thrilled with the work submitted and pleasantly surprised that work came in from all over Ireland and abroad. We had two very broad themes, Portrait & Action and Landscape & Wildlife, to encourage people to take part. I'm looking forward to the opening on November 3rd."

Given the amount of work submitted, selecting the pieces for the exhibition was no easy task and Kerry Film Festival enlisted the skilful eye of Andre Corvin, a top fine-art photographer based in Dublin to help with the process.

"We've worked with Andre in the past," added Mike, "and always found him to be an amazing professional. His fine art photography is outstanding. Andre is known nationally and has wide critical acclaim."

All selected photographs will be professionally mounted and framed and the exhibition will open in the Tralee branch of the Bank of Ireland on Castle Street. The framing of winning photographs is kindly sponsored by O' Meara Fast Framing Service in Tralee Shopping Centre. The exhibition will open at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, November 3rd and runs until Wednesday, November 23rd. It will then begin its county-wide tour.

Christie Hennessy Documentary to play at KFF

2010-10-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

The 11th annual Kerry Film Festival has a jam packed calendar of wonderful events, a mix of popular old venues and screenings that offer something for everyone!

One of the highlights is sure to be the screening of MESSENGER BOY: CHRISTIE HENNESSY, a wonderful documentary about one of Tralee’s favourite sons, Christie Hennessy.

The documentary was shot by Bill Hughes in late 2007. In December of that year Christie Hennessy lost his brave battle with the disease Asbestosis. He was only diagnosed with the illness in May 2007 and he worked tirelessly and relentlessly until his last breath, writing and recording with some of Ireland's leading artists including Christy Moore, Mary Black, Tommy Fleming, Moya Brennan and Finbar Furey.

In a series of deeply personal interviews with director Bill Hughes, shot in October and November in Dublin and London, Christie opened his heart and openly discussed his illness and the prospect of dying, while also revisiting his sometimes colourful and often challenging past, particularly his chronic dyslexia, his crippling nervous breakdown and his struggle to be accepted as an artist in his own right.

MESSENGER BOY: CHRISTIE HENNESSY will be preceded by a short on-stage interview that will see Christie’s daughter, Hermione, talking to Radio Kerry’s Weeshie Fogarty. Events will kick off in Siamsa Tíre on Saturday, October 30th, at 8:00 pm.

"The Christie Hennessy documentary is sure to be a real treat for all," said Jason O' Mahony, Director of Kerry Film Festival. "It's an intimate, touching and very personal little film and will appeal to all Christie's fans, while the human story transcends the music and will appeal to all. We're absolutely delighted that Christie's daughter Hermione has agreed to do an interview before the film and would like to express our thanks to Hermione and also to Weeshie Fogarty who will interview her."

Director Bill Hughes will also be on hand to introduce the documentary. Tickets are 10 euro and are available from Siamsa Tíre on 066 712 3055 or on www.siamsatire.com

KFF Announces 2010 Adjudication Panel

2010-10-04T03:40:00.000-07:00

The Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating eleven years of bringing film to the people of Kerry, today announced the adjudicators for the 2010 Kerry Film Festival, which runs from October 30^th to November 6^th.

The adjudicators that will judge this year’s Kerry Film Festival short film competitions are: Noel Pearson, Jane Seymour, Tomm Moore and James Marsh.

"The Kerry Film Festival is delighted to announce its line up of adjudicators," said Jason O' Mahony, Director, Kerry Film Festival. "From Noel Pearson, an Oscar nominated producer and arguably the finest Irish producer of all time; to James Marsh, an Oscar and BAFTA winning filmmaker, for his delightful documentary, MAN ON WIRE, to Tomm Moore who received an Oscar nomination for his directorial debut, THE SECRET OF KELLS, to multiple Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jane Seymour, each and every member of the adjudication panel is at the very forefront of their chosen profession and we're absolutely thrilled that they will adjudicate for the 2010 Kerry Film Festival."

"This will be the eleventh year of the Kerry Film Festival and both the quantity and quality of the films has risen year on year," continued O' Mahony. "This year we received over 540 submissions for the festival and we felt it was hugely important to have an adjudication panel of the very highest standing to adjudicate the short films. We're hugely grateful to all the adjudicators for giving so selflessly of their time and for agreeing to adjudicate at this year's Kerry Film Festival."

The adjudicators have the unenviable task of selecting the best films from this year's selection. Over 540 films were submitted to the 2010 Kerry Film Festival, up significantly on the total number of films submitted in 2009, and more than double the number of films submitted in previous years.

For a brief Bio on the Adjudicators please see below:

Noel Pearson

Noel Pearson has been a film and theatre producer in Europe and the US for more than 25 years. His theatre productions of DANCING AT LUGHNASA (1991–1992) and AN INSPECTOR CALLS (1993–1994) collectively won eight Tony Awards.

In 1989 Noel produced his first feature film, MY LEFT FOOT, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Brenda Fricker and Ray McAnally, directed by Jim Sheridan. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning two Oscars ®. THE FIELD in 1990 was his next production, it was nominated for an Oscar and two Bafta Awards.

1998 saw Noel produce the film version of DANCING AT LUGHNASA and, more recently, in 2007 he produced HOW ABOUT YOU. He has also produced four successful documentaries. During this year and next, Noel intends to produce Sebastian Barry’s critically-acclaimed THE SECRET SCRIPTURES with a screenplay by Johnny Ferguson.

Jane Seymour

A multiple Emmy and Golden Globe winner, recipient of the Officer of the British Empire (OBE) in the year 2000, which was bestowed upon her by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, Jane Seymour has proven her talents in virtually all media, the Broadway stage, motion pictures and television while her love of art and colour has led to her great success as a painter in watercolours and oils and also as a designer.

Tomm Moore

Tomm founded Cartoon Saloon In 1999 with Paul Young and has worked as Director, Art Director and Animator. Tomm also illustrated several books for children and young people, including two award-winning graphic novels in the Irish language. The Oscar ® nominated THE SECRET OF KELLS (2009) was his debut as director of a feature film. He is currently developing his second feature film THE SONG OF THE SEAL. He prefers cartoons over real life!

James Marsh

James Marsh is an Oscar and BAFTA winning filmmaker of exhilarating and artistically intoxicating films. Probably best known for MAN ON WIRE (2008), a fascinating documentary telling the tale of Philippe Petit who, on August 7th 1974, stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between New York's twin towers, then the world's tallest buildings, Marsh's earlier films are held in equally high regard, particularly the cult classic WISCONSIN DEATH TRIP (1999), which starred Marcus Monroe and Sir Ian Holm, and THE KING (2005), which screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.

Juliette Binoche to Receive Maureen O' Hara Award

2010-09-21T02:25:00.000-07:00

The Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating eleven years of bringing film to Kerry, today announced that Juliette Binoche is to receive The Maureen O' Hara Award at the Kerry Film Festival, which runs from 30 October to 6 November. The award is named in honour of one of the most glamorous leading ladies of Hollywood’s golden era, Maureen O' Hara.

"We're absolutely delighted to award this year's Maureen O' Hara Award to Juliette Binoche. Juliette is an amazing actress whose talent has been recognised on the global stage. She has won a myriad of awards for acting all around the world, including the Venice Film Festival and this year's Cannes Film Festival. Juliette was also presented with an Oscar by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences," said Maureen O' Hara. "Juliette is, however, more than simply a stunningly beautiful woman and a brilliant actress; she has also displayed a devotion to a variety of good causes. I am absolutely delighted that Juliette will accept this award and I wish her the very best in her future career and, more especially, in life."

"The Kerry Film Festival is thrilled to present Juliette Binoche with the Maureen O' Hara Award," said Jason O' Mahony, Kerry Film Festival Director. "She is a wonderful actress and is a true leading light. In addition to her work in film she has worked tirelessly to overcome human rights abuses and is an active supporter of many worthy causes. Her role, in particular, in securing acclaimed Iranian director, Jafar Panahi's, release from prison earlier this year is worthy of mention. We're delighted that Juliette will be on hand to pick up the award at this year's Kerry Film Festival."

Juliette Binoche first attracted the attention of international film critics with THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING (1988). Roger Ebert, the world renowned film critic from The Chicago Sun-Times wrote that she was, "almost ethereal in her beauty and innocence."

Binoche, however, pushed the boundaries of her craft with an appearance in Louis Malle's DAMAGE (1992) and, a year later, in Krzysztof Kieslowski's THREE COLOURS: BLUE (1993), which was a massive critical success, garnering Binoche the César Award for Best Actress and the Venice Film Festival Award for Best Actress.

After a sabbatical from film-making to become a mother in 1994, Binoche was selected as the heroine of France's most expensive movie ever, THE HORSEMAN ON THE ROOF (1995). Following that she won an Oscar ® for her role in THE ENGLISH PATIENT (1996).

More recently she has starred in CACHÉ (2005), THE FLIGHT OF THE RED BALOON (2007) and CERTIFIED COPY (2010), for which she received the Best Actress Award at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, making her the first actress to win the three most prestigious European awards for acting.

While Maureen O' Hara was undoubtedly one of Hollywood's best loved actresses, she was much more than just a pretty face. When Maureen became an American citizen on January 25, 1946 she retained her Irish citizenship, which was the first time in history that the United States government recognized an Irish citizen as Irish and it led to a change in process for all Irish immigrants. Maureen was also the first female CEO of an American airline company. Whether in the movies, in politics or in business Maureen demonstrated a quality for leadership and a bravery that was extraordinary and Juliette Binoche displays many of the same characteristics.

The Maureen O' Hara Award acknowledges women that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their respective fields and Juliette Binoche is a most worthy recipient. The award giving will take place at the Kerry Film Festival Awards Ceremony in Siamsa Tíre in Tralee on Saturday, November 6th at 2:00 pm.

The Award Ceremony is the culmination of a week of films at Kerry Film Festival. The Awards ceremony will also feature the screening of award winning short films as adjudicated by Kerry Film Festival's panel of judges that include Oscar ® nominated producer, Noel Pearson, Oscar ® nominated director, Tomm Moore, double Golden Globe ® winner, Jane Seymour, and Oscar ® winning director James Marsh.

KFF Receives a Record Number of Entries

2010-09-06T09:35:00.001-07:00

Steph Green's New Boy, KFF 2007

The Kerry Film Festival (KFF), which is celebrating 11 years of bringing film to the people of Kerry, was inundated with short films for its upcoming festival. 541 films were submitted for the short film competition, with films coming from 38 different countries across the globe. The increase in submissions is testament to the work being done by the festival in both the promotion of Irish films abroad and the promotion of short-films in general.

KFF has partnered with a number of film festivals in other countries and the approach has paid dividends with the festival securing more entries than in previous years. The partnerships have also provided a perfect way for KFF to screen Irish films abroad.

"This will be the eleventh year of the Kerry Film Festival and both the quantity and quality of the films has increased every year," said Jason O' Mahony, Festival Director. "We received 541 short films this year, which is up almost 20% on last year. We've had films from as far away as Argentina and South Africa and as close to home as Cork and Killarney and we're absolutely thrilled with the response."

Festival staff now face the difficult task of whittling those 541 films down to the 60 or 70 films that will screen as part of the festival. "It's part of the fun of the job," says O' Mahony. "With such a huge number of entries the selection process will take some time but it's already well under way. We received close to 200 films from Ireland with more than 300 films coming from abroad so competition for places will be very tough, particularly given the quality of the films. It seems to rise every year!"

Films that are lucky enough to be selected will play during the Kerry Film Festival which runs from October 30th to November 6th this year. Screenings take place all over Kerry but Siamsa Tire in Tralee will be the main hub of the festival.

"We're very lucky in our partnership with Siamsa," adds O' Mahony. "It's an amazing venue and filmmakers absolutely love to have their work screened there. The venue is top-class. The screen and sound system are top-class. And the staff is always so helpful and friendly that we're really looking forward to all the screenings that will take place in Siamsa this year!"

Once the films have been selected by the festival panel, they will compete with one another for a number of prizes that will be judged by both festival attendees and a select group of film adjudicators.

"We've lined up a stellar panel of adjudicators to help select the winning films. James Marsh, the Oscar winning director of MAN ON WIRE and Tomm Moore, the Oscar nominated director of THE SECRET OF KELLS, will adjudicate the documentary and animated short films respectively."

Kerry Film Festival is quickly becoming one of the hottest small festivals on the scene, giving audience members a chance to see films by up and coming directors as well as an opportunity to interact with some of the most established names in the world. The festival also screens a number of features, while its education programme alone saw more than 2,000 students from all parts of Kerry attend screenings in 2009.

"Last year was a huge success, in terms of both the numbers of screenings and the audience that came," added O' Mahony. "But we're pretty confident that 2010 can even top that."

Irish Film Vacancies

2010-08-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

Inflight Dublin is looking for a Video Editor on a part-time basis to relieve pressure during busy periods.

Animo TV requires a Documentary Researcher

Windmill Lane Pictures is looking for: Modellers; A Texture Painter; Lighting TDs; TD Generalist; CG Effects TD; VFX Production Coordinator; Compositors & Rotoscope Artists; Matchmover

BreakThru Films is looking for A Compositor (Nuke X)

Screen Scene is looking for a Post Production Co-ordinator/Bookings

Jameson Dublin International Film Festival is looking for a Festival Administrator/Office Manager

Bits & Bobs - all the Irish Film News worth Reporting!

2010-08-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

Bits & Bobs - all the Irish Film News worth Reporting!
Celebrating Ireland’s Home Movies Saturday August 21st 12-4pm
In the first Irish event of its kind, the IFI have invited amateur filmmakers to share their celluloid memories with the public. Some of the most interesting films in the IFI Irish Film Archive collections were made by non-professional filmmakers.

Irish Baywatch coming to RTÉ 2
Mission Beach USA, a reality show about eight teens from Ireland who spend part of their summer in Fort Lauderdale training to be lifeguards is currently being made for RTÉ 2.

His & Hers Scoops Traverse Film Festival Prize
Ken Wardrop’s IFTA winning feature has claimed the Best Non-Fiction Foreign Jury Award at the Traverse City Film Festival in Michigan.

ESSENTIAL KILLING, which is co-produced by Element Pictures is to receive its world premiere screening at the upcoming 67th Venice International Film Festival

Nemeton Teo is currently enrolling for an intensive TV Presenters Course to be run over four consecutive days in its television studio.

'Every Second Sunday'
Hubbard and Banks Media goes into production with short film ‘Every Second Sunday’ this weekend. Starring Simon Delaney (Zonad) and Lee Ingleby (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) it will shoot in Dublin and Bray. Simon Hubbard (Jack) is the writer/director of the project with Fergal O'Hanlon (Yu Ming is Ainm Dom) on board as director of photography.

The short film will start production this coming Saturday, August 14th. Fergal O'Hanlon will be shooting the project on RED.

Neil Jordan Adapting ‘Skippy Dies’ Irish Shoot Planned
Neil Jordan has begun adapting, and will be directing, Skippy Dies, a feature film that will shoot in Ireland.

‘Horses’ Ride to Grierson Nomination
The feature documentary ‘Horses’, from writer/director Liz Mermin (The Beauty Academy of Kabul, Shot in Bombay), has been shortlisted for the Best Cinema Documentary award at the Grierson Awards which will take place on the 2nd November in London’s BFI Southbank.

Irish female screenwriters wanted for thesis research

Film Fest Deadlines
The deadline for the http://www.clonesfilmfestival.com/, which takes place from 20-24 October, is 31 August 2010

Exposed Film Festival has extended its deadline to August 27, 2010

News from the Galway Film Centre

2010-08-09T04:53:00.000-07:00

The Galway Film Centre is offering discounts on the following selected courses:
7 Weekend Film Foundation
4 Weekend Documentary Making

Check out other great upcoming courses & talks at the Galway Film Centre.

Industry Vacancies
Information on all vacancies is also available on IFTN's jobsite

Big Mountain Productions are looking for a Series Producer and Assistant Producer
Deadline 16-08-2010

Windmill Lane Pictures Ltd are looking for Modellers, Texture Painters, Lighting TDs, TD Generalist, CG Effects TD, VFX Production Coordinator, Compositors & Rotoscope Artists and Matchmover.
Deadline 08-08-2010

A Dublin based Production Company is looking for a Production Assistant.
Deadline 09-08-2010

Nemeton TV is looking for a Sports Producer
Deadline 13-08- 2010

Tyrone Productions is looking for an Edit Producer
Deadline 13-08-2010

KFF to screen films at Soho Shorts Festival

2010-07-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

The Kerry Film Festival (KFF), which is celebrating 11 years of bringing film to the people of Kerry, has partnered with a number of film festivals across the globe in an effort to promote the best Irish short films. This partnership has paid dividends and is a perfect means for KFF to screen films from the brightest up and coming Irish filmmakers in overseas venues and festivals.

The Rushes Soho Shorts Festival 2010, which is based in London, takes place from Wednesday, 21 July to Friday, 30 July and will screen 6 films from KFF 2009 at a number of venues throughout the city.

"It's great that these films will screen in London as it offers fantastic exposure for both the filmmakers and for the Kerry Film Festival," said O' Mahony. "This is our first year partnering with the Soho Shorts Festival and we're hoping that it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship! We're also delighted for the selected filmmakers because it's a ringing endorsement of their films!"

Filmmakers are also impressed with the work put in by Kerry Film Festival to promote and champion their films abroad.

"Kerry Film Festival is the film festival which just keeps on giving! It was a wonderfully warm experience with the staff and organisers genuinely concerned about ensuring that we, the film makers, had a wonderful time," said Irish Filmmaker, Declan Cassidy.

"The award I won there has commanded a lot of respect in promoting the film to industry and other festivals. But it didn't stop there. Festival Director, Jason O' Mahony, has forged an extremely impressive network with other festivals and he worked tirelessly to promote my film to them. As a result my film played in a number of festivals it would not have otherwise reached and, to my surprise and delight, the film picked up another award at one of these in Italy. Kerry Film Festival is the kind of festival you want to go back to again and again."

The films selected for the Soho Shorts Festival include CARDBOARD BOY, which was directed by young Kerry filmmaker, Kelley O' Sullivan. Also included are UNCLE BILL'S BARREL by Eoin Ryan; the brilliant animated IT'S ALL ABOUT GEORGE by Roy Lecane & Don Field, which recently won a festival award at the Chicago Irish Film Festival; GOD AND NAPOLEON by Ciaran Deeney; LONG IS THE WAY by Eoin Heaney and the Oscar nominated, GRANNY O'GRIMMS SLEEPING BEAUTY, by Nicky Phelan.

The 6 shorts films will screen 3 times over the course of the week on Friday 23 July at 16:00 in Curzon Soho; on Tuesday 27 July at 13:00 in the Tenderproduct Basement and on Thursday 29 July at 14:00 also in Curzon Soho.

Calling all RED dp's

2010-07-20T02:11:00.000-07:00

Have you experience on the RED ONE?

Lamorna films which recently produced the brilliant IT'S ALL ABOUT GEORGE, which screened at the Kerry Film Festival in 2009 and went on to pick up an award at the prestigious Chicago Irish Film Festival, is shooting a narrative short film on RED and needs an experienced DP.

Those interested should contact Lamorna on info@lamornafilms.com

Post Grad & Masters at IADT

2010-07-19T03:50:00.000-07:00

The National Film School (NFS) at IADT was launched in November 2003. It is a centre of excellence for education and training in film, animation, broadcasting and digital media. And it is now accepting applications to its Digital Media Post Graduate Diploma/Masters MA/MSc Programme.

For more information please contact the National Film School (NFS) at IADT.

Radharc Awards

2010-07-14T05:27:00.000-07:00

The Radharc Trust announces details of the Radharc Awards 2010 and calls for entries of documentary programming of outstanding quality in the spirit of Radharc.

The Radharc Awards were established in 2002 to honour Radharc’s achievements in religious affairs programmes for Irish television from 1962 to 1997 and to encourage similar quality documentary production in Ireland. Awards are presented every two years to the producers of documentaries of outstanding quality, which address national or international topics of social justice, morality and faith. In 2008, an additional award was introduced for similar short documentaries produced for digital media.

At the inaugural presentation of awards in 2002, the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, spoke of Radharc's programming as a "claim to excellence, to authenticity, to rigorous honesty, to the exploration of themes others wished to ignore, to the telling of stories that needed to be told boldly and told well."

The Radharc Trust is now delighted to announce details of the Radharc Awards 2010. There are two categories and the producer of the winning production in each category will receive a bronze Radharc trophy. Decorative scrolls for productions that are highly commended will also be presented.

Category One:
An award for documentaries broadcast on any channel on the island of Ireland.

Category Two:
An award for non-broadcast documentaries produced for digital media in Ireland.
The closing date for all entries is Friday 10 September 2010 at 17.00hrs

The winning entries will be announced at a lunchtime awards ceremony in Dublin in October 2010

KFF issues call for Entries to the 11th Annual Kerry Film Festival

2010-07-05T08:10:00.000-07:00

Kerry Film Festival - Things to do in Kerry

Dave Fanning; Kerry Filmmaker, Gerard Barrett; Rebecca Miller and James Christopher at the 2009 Kerry Film Festival

The Kerry Film Festival (KFF), which is celebrating eleven years of bringing film to the people of Kerry, has issued a call for entries for the Kerry Film Festival 2010, which runs from October 30th to November 6th.

"The Kerry Film Festival is committed to playing a leading role in providing a forum for emerging talent in film," said Jason O' Mahony, Director of the Kerry Film Festival. "This dedication is evidenced by both the quality of the films screened and the quality of adjudicators that select the winning films. Awards are given in a number of categories including Best Short Film, Best Irish Short, Best International Short, Best Documentary Short and Best Animated Short."

All prizes including Best Director will be selected by a jury of internationally renowned film professionals. Past adjudicators of the Kerry Film Festival Short Film Competition have included such luminaries as Jeremy Irons and Michael Fassbender in 2009, Liam Neeson in 2008 and Gabriel Byrne in 2007.

When asked what makes KFF special O' Mahony said, "I think having so many of the filmmakers on hand to speak about their films and their creative journey ensures a rewarding film festival experience for both the filmmaker and the audience. One of the advantages of KFF, I suppose, is that it's such an intimate little festival but the quality of the films and quality of the adjudicators consistently punches above its weight."

While the main focus of the festival will continue to be on shorts, this year sees an extension of the programme. "Last year was our most successful Festival so far," said O' Mahony. "We screened more films to more people in more venues that ever before and this year we're hoping to top that!" The 2009 edition of KFF saw 6,119 people attend screenings in more than twenty venues throughout Kerry.

The 2010 edition of KFF will also see more Education screenings, more active retired screenings and a larger workshop programme.

Entries should be sent to Kerry Film Festival, Unit 1, The Windmill Complex, Blennerville, Tralee, Co. Kerry by 1 August. Application forms are available online.

KFF Films make a Splash in North America

2010-06-29T02:35:00.000-07:00

The Kerry Film Festival (KFF), which is celebrating 11 years of bringing film to the people of Kerry, has partnered with a number of films festivals across the globe in an effort to promote the best Irish short films. This partnership has paid dividends and is a perfect means for KFF to screen films from the brightest up and coming Irish filmmakers in overseas venues and festivals.

"We've very proud of the films we screen and would love for them to have an audience all around the world," said Jason O' Mahony, Director of the Kerry Film Festival. "To that end we've partnered with a number of festivals in Spain, Italy, Sweden, Canada and America to promote the short films which screen at the Kerry Film Festival."

The Nickel Film Festival, which is based in Newfoundland in Canada, and took place from June 22 to June 26 screened 11 films from KFF 2009. Nickel is one of KFF's partner festivals and received a DVD compilation of the best of Irish short films from KFF. From this initial contact the programmers at Nickel picked 11 short films which all screened during the festival in Canada.

"We knew that KFF 2009 had particularly strong short films and we were really proud of them but we never expected Nickel to programme 11 of the short films," said O' Mahony. "We partnered with Nickel last year too and they screened 6 of the short films from KFF 2008, so to actually improve on that total was a joy for us and really speaks to the strength of the films. It's also a ringing endorsement of Irish filmmakers!"

The films selected for Nickel Film Festival included Conor Ferguson's THE WEDNESDAYS and Tony O Donoghue's A FILM FROM MY PARISH, which picked up prizes at the Kerry Film Festival award ceremony in November 2009. Dave Fanning was the MC at the awards ceremony, which also saw world renowned director, Rebecca Miller, on hand to pick up the Maureen O' Hara award.

CARDBOARD BOY, a film from young Kerry Filmmaker, Kelly O' Sullivan also screened in Canada. "Cardboard Boy was a particular favourite of mine," said O' Mahony. "The director, Kelly O' Sullivan, hails from Kerry and the wee film has an absolute heart of gold. It's great that the film was screened in Canada!"

The Chicago Irish Film Festival also screened a number of films that had previously screened in Kerry with Michael Creagh's THE CRUSH winning an Audience Award and Don Field and Roy Lecane's IT'S ALL ABOUT GEORGE picking up the Festival Award, both of these films also played at the Nickel Film Festival in Canada.

Castlepalooza call for Short Films

2010-06-29T02:26:00.000-07:00

Castlepalooza, which takes place in Tullamore from July 31st and August 1st, is looking for Short Films for the festival weekend!

The criteria for submissions are simple, all films must be less than 12 minutes long and the rest is up to you! All genres of film will be accepted, including drama, comedies, animation and everything else!

Selected films will be screened during the festival with prizes and an audience award for the best films, as selected by the festival attendees! One lucky filmmaker will leave the festival on a moped from UGO scooters!

The closing date for entries is 1st of July and selected filmmakers will be contacted no later than July 10th.

All selected filmmakers will receive two tickets to the festival and a chance to win one of the following prizes.
1st prize: UGO scooter worth €1,500.
2nd prize: Top of the range mobile phone.

All entries to be emailed to castleshorties@gmail.com
Or posted to:
Castle Shorties
Cherrycool Promotions,
13 Windsor Place,
Dublin 2

Galway Film Fleadh to screen best in Irish and World Cinema

2010-06-23T08:44:00.000-07:00

The 22nd Galway Film Fleadh will take place from July 6 to 11 and lovers of cinema will enjoy a feast of films as Ireland’s leading film festival rolls out a selection of world cinema, feature documentaries, Irish premieres and short films. The festival which annually attracts 15,000 cinema lovers will showcase eight world premieres, 53 Irish premieres, 100 Feature Films and 115 Short Films.

Award Winning Actress Annette Bening will give the Actor’s Masterclass and participate in the prestigious Public Interview in the Town Hall Theatre on Sunday July 11. Filmmaker, producer, journalist and activist, Lelia Doolan is the subject of the Irish Tribute and will take part in a special interview in the Cinemobile on Saturday July 10 while renowned screenwriter Sir Ronald Harwood and acclaimed director Stephen Daltry will give the Screenwriter’s and Director’s Masterclasses respectively.

The Festival will open with the screening of My Brothers which tells the story of three brothers’ eccentric quest to replace their dying father’s tacky watch. The 22nd Galway Film Fleadh will close with the screening of The Messenger which boasts an Oscar nominated performance from Woody Harrelson.

The Festival will screen an array of international features and ones to note include The Double Hour, a mysterious thriller with brilliant performances and great twists, the wonderful animated feature The Illusionist which explores the relationship between an aged magician and a young girl and The Kids are All Right which stars Annette Bening and Juliette Moore and was the most talked about film at the 2010 Sunday Film Festival.

The Men Who Will Come is a majestic film about a communities experience of the Second World War, El Secreto de Sus Ojos is the deserved winner of this year’s Oscar for Best Foreign Film while The Unloved is a remarkably assured film about a young girl in care which is inspired by her own experience. The Fleadh will screen Toy Story 3 and the screening will be attended by the film’s renowned director Lee Unkich and producer Karla K. Anderson.

It has been a great year for new Irish Cinema and this is reflected by the quality of Irish films on offer at the Fleadh. Irish features include Come On Eileen which stars Keith Allen and Noel Fielding of the Mighty Boosh fame, The Runway which recounts the story of a west Cork community coming together to help a Cuban pilot return home and Snap a taut suspense filled psychological drama about three generations of family poised to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Sensation showcases the acting talent of Domhnall Gleeson, All Good Children is a richly observed story of a childhood haunted by trauma while Outcast which stars James Nesbitt tells the story of a mother and son who use magic to stay hidden. Lovers of thrillers will enjoy Rewind while Between the Canals follows the life of three inner city Dublin criminals. The Looking Glass, Where the Sea Used to Be and Seaside Stories are but a selection of the Irish films on display.

Quality documentaries abound in this years’ Fleadh. Don’t miss the Irish produced The Pipe which describes the tensions of Rossport and the pressures and fractures within the Shell to Sea Campaign. Steam of Life explores the cultural phenomenon of how Finnish men interact with each other in saunas; Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work is a hilarious and revealing documentary of how this American icon deals with financial troubles.

The heroes of Men Who Swim invest all their mid-life neurosis into their hobby: synchronized swimming while Counting Sheep, by Galway-based filmmaker, Dieter Auner is a tender and beautifully observed documentary on Romanian rural life. Burma Soldier tells the powerful story of a Burmese soldier who risks everything to become a pro democracy activist, lovers of cakes will really enjoy Kings of Pastry while Monica and David explores the marriage of two adults with Down Syndrome and will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by Fergus Finlay.

Glimpses of Galway is a fascinating programme of silent films from the Irish Film Archive which were made in Galway and will be brought to life by pianist Elaine Brennan.

Lovers of short films will not be disappointed as the Fleadh will screen a mixture of animation, documentary and fiction shorts and short filmmakers will compete for several prestigious awards. As part of it’s Out on Film Strand the Galway Film Fleadh will once again promote the best in gay and lesbian films.

Tickets for all screenings are available from the Town Hall Theatre in Galway (Tel: 091 569777/www.tht.ie). The Full Festival Programme is available online.

Annette Benning at Galway FIlm Fleadh

2010-06-17T03:53:00.000-07:00

The Galway Film Fleadh/Hubbard Casting in association with Fás Screen Training Ireland are delighted to announce that Annette Bening will deliver the Actors Masterclass at the 22nd Galway Film Fleadh.

Annette Bening was born in Topeka, Kansas and raised in San Diego. She graduated from San Francisco State University and began her acting career with the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, eventually moving to New York where she acted on the stage. Renowned for her ability to take characters into deep, unexpected, emotional places, Annette’s years of study culminated in a Tony-nominated performance in Tina Howe's Coastal Disturbances, a New England-set summertime saga in which the newcomer starred as a passionate, free-spirited young photographer on a beach vacation.

Her formative theatrical years also included starring roles in Shakespeare, Chekhov, and other classic dramas at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and the Denver Centre Theatre Company, where she spent a year in 1985.

Early in her movie career, she made an impression as a wise-beyond-her-years sex kitten in The Grifters (1990) which earned Annette a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. She went on to demonstrate her versatility by portraying nurturing, supportive wives in Guilty By Suspicion (1991) and Regarding Henry (1991) before returning to a more seductive role opposite future husband Warren Beatty in Bugsy (1991), earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of the tempestuous and uncontrollable girlfriend of doomed gangster Bugsy Siegel, Virginia Hill. And though she never lost that cunning, brainy, sex appeal, she became more often associated with complex, professional women on the verge of self-destruction in darkly humorous dramas like American Beauty (1999), Being Julia (2004) and Running with Scissors (2006).

After appearing in Tim Burton's odd sci-fi comedy Mars Attacks! (1996), Annette starred alongside Bruce Willis and Denzel Washington in the controversial thriller The Siege (1998) and teamed with Aidan Quinn as a psychic with connections to a killer in Neil Jordan's In Dreams (1999). In 1999, she gave a stellar, career-defining performance as the domineering real estate broker married to a man in a midlife crisis in the acclaimed American Beauty (1999). For her characterization of the tightly wound, image conscious, suburban overachiever, Annette earned nominations from the Academy Awards as well as the Golden Globes.

She earned some of the best reviews of her career the following year when she starred as a diva stage actress caught up in a May-December romance with a young social climber in Being Julia (2004), a bravura turn that earned the versatile actress a Golden Globe award and an Oscar nomination.

Annette was most recently seen on the big screen in writer-director Rodrigo Garcia's Mother and Child, starring alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Naomi Watts. She will next be seen in Focus Features' The Kids Are All Right, opening July 7th, in which she plays opposite Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo

The Master Class will take place in the Radisson Hotel, Galway (date tbc) and costs €50. Please apply online at www.screentrainingireland.ie. For further information please contact Bronagh Keys at 091-562200 or email: masterclasses@galwayfilmfleadh.com or contact Criona Sexton/Sorcha Loughnane at FÁS Screen Training Ireland, 01 6077437/016077468.
Please note places are limited. Deadline for applications: Friday the 25th of June.

KFF Announces German Language Screening

2010-04-20T08:25:00.001-07:00

THE COUNTERFEITERS

Kerry Film Festival (KFF), which is this year celebrating eleven years of bringing films to the people of Kerry, is delighted to announce a screening of the 2008 Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film, DIE FALSCHER (THE COUNTERFEITERS) as part of its Education Screenings for 2010. Working in close collaboration with the Irish Film Institute (IFI), Kerry County Council and various schools throughout the county the film will screen in Tralee Omniplex on Monday 26 April at 10:30 am.

"We're thrilled to be in a position to screen a film for German students and it's an amazing film," said Kerry Film Festival Director, Jason O' Mahony. "The education screenings that take place during the Kerry Film Festival are always a success and we're delighted to be able to extend those screenings throughout the year. We're also indebted to the support we receive from the IFI and Kerry County Council, which makes the screening possible."

The winner of the 2008 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Stefan Ruzowitzky's THE COUNTERFEITERS is the first film from Austria to ever receive that prestigious honor. Based on the memoir by Adolf Burger, the film tells the inspiring story of a pre-World War II criminal whose cunning and fiery spirit enable him to overcome deadly odds and survive life in Germany's Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

Before the war, Salomon Sorowitsch (Karl Markovics) was one of the world's most ingenious counterfeiters, until he was finally caught and arrested by Friedrich Herzog (Devid Striesow). Years later, as the Nazi movement is in full swing, the nefariously charming Herzog, now a Nazi leader, recruits Sorowitsch to lead an enormous counterfeiting project called Operation Bernhard. Placed in a horrific position of moral corruption, Sorowitsch is forced to decide whether or not to save his own life or prevent the Nazis from causing further damage on an even grander scale. His fellow prisoner Adolf Burger (August Diehl) is determined to sabotage the operation, but Sorowitsch understands how dangerous a proposition this is.

While THE COUNTERFEITERS is based on real-life tragedy, it never loses its primary objective as a work of dramatic entertainment. This deft balancing act is what keeps Ruzowitzky's moving tale from becoming too bleak and depressing. The result is a deeply impressive work that addresses a topic not often explored in Holocaust cinema, the dilemma of victims who were forced to act immorally and illegally for the betterment of their captors. Powerfully acted by Markovics, THE COUNTERFEITERS is the type of film that the Oscars were made for.

Interested teachers are encouraged to contact Kerry Film Festival on 066 712 9934 to book places for students. Tickets are available at 5 euro per student or for 4 euro if paid in advance.

Granparents & Grandchildren Active Retired Screening

2010-04-04T06:44:00.000-07:00

Kerry Film Festival (KFF) screens classic films on the first Wednesday of every month in Siamsa Tire for active retired groups and individuals but the April screening is a little different. Because most children have Easter holidays for the week the organisers thought it would be a nice idea to encourage all audience members to bring their grandchildren with them.

"We have active retired screenings in Siamsa every month," said Jason O' Mahony, KFF Director, "and we thought it would be a wonderful idea to do something a little different for our April screening. Because most kids are on Easter holidays for the week, we're encouraging our audience to bring younger people with them for the screening of John Huston's ANNIE."

The screening will take place in Siamsa Tire at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, 7 April. "Siamsa Tire is a wonderful venue, the screen and sound system are top class, and the members of staff are always so accommodating," added Jason.

ANNIE is the final film in a series of John Huston films, which began with the screening of his debut, THE MALTESE FALCON, on Wednesday, 3 February. That film was one of the most assured debuts of all time and the undoubted Hamlet of Film Noir. Starring Humphrey Bogart as a detective who takes on a case that involves him with eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar, and a quest for a priceless statuette, the film also stared Mary Astor and Peter Lorre. It was nominated for three Oscars and is consistently included in lists as one of the best movies of all time. It was followed by Huston's THE MISFITS, with Clark Gable and Marylyn Monroe, a little seen film nowadays but one with megawatt star power and a brilliant script by Arthur Miller.

"Huston is such a versatile director and we wanted to show a selection of films from his oeuvre as part of the active retired programme and the third and final film in the series, is crowd-pleasing musical, ANNIE," added Jason. "It was nominated for a couple of Oscars and stars Albert Finney and Aileen Quinn as Annie, but more than that, it is a perfect film for grandparents to share with their grandchildren"

The film is an all singing look at the life of orphan Annie in 1930's America and proves the breadth of Huston's directorial talents which saw him succeed in every genre of film imaginable from Noir to Musicals.

"All films cost just 2euro to anyone over the age of 65 and Kerry Film Festival serves teas and coffees before the films to all attendees," added Jason. "And this month we're going to let all grandchildren come for free - provided they come with their grandparents! The active retired screenings are always nice, social occasions, and give attendees the opportunity to see some fantastic films on the big screen. We're hoping that by encouraging our regular audience to share the film with their grandchildren that the April screening will be even more special for everyone involved!"

The film will screen in Siamsa Tire at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, 7 April. For more information please contact Kerry Film Festival on 066 712 9934

Annie at Siamsa Tíre

2010-03-19T06:36:00.000-07:00

ANNIE,the final movie in the Huston season will screen in Siamsa Tire on Wednesday, April 7 at 2:00 pm.

ANNIE
Wednesday, 7th April, 2:00 pm, Siamsa Tire

In the depths of the 1930's, Annie is a fiery young orphan girl who must live in a miserable orphanage run by the tyrannical Miss Hannigan. Her seemingly hopeless situation changes dramatically when she is selected to spend a short time at the residence of the wealthy munitions industrialist, Oliver Warbucks. Quickly, she charms the hearts of the household staff and even the seemingly cold-hearted Warbucks cannot help but learn to love this wonderful girl. He decides to help Annie find her long lost parents by offering a reward if they would come to him and prove their identity. However, Miss Hannigan, her evil relative, Rooster, and a female accomplice, plan to impersonate those people to get the reward for themselves which put Annie in great danger.

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2010-03-18T03:23:00.001-07:00

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Scriptwriting Clinic at Galway Film Centre

2010-03-09T04:49:00.000-08:00

There's a new scriptwriting clinic starting at Galway Film Centre.

The four day course will look at how to develop a story idea. It is aimed at both emerging and experienced screenwriters working on their feature film screenplays. It is also aimed at emerging script editors.

The class is limited to four writers and two script editors and offers a great experience for emerging writers and script editors to work intensively on their stories with a professional script editor. It will cover the basics such as wants and needs, objectives, obstacles, rising action and ideas on sequencing and structure.

All participants read each other's treatments prior to the course commencing. Mark McIlrath is a script editor who works on feature film projects in Ireland, Italy, France and the UK. Each editor works with 2 writers during the course.

What participants say about this course:
As one of the script editors on the course, I was lucky enough to witness Mark work first hand with a number of writers on their chosen projects. What struck me was the simple and relaxed approach he takes which inevitably leads to invaluable round table discussions where no opinion is ever overlooked. As a guiding light, Mark helps to define and solve problems in regard to structure, character, theme and plot without ever substituting his own voice for that of the writer. His years of experience shine through and I still use his teachings in my own writing today. Highly recommend for any writer who wants to bring their project to the next level, and then some.
Matthew Roche (Writer of TILL DEATH DO US PART, Winner of RTE/Filmbase Short Script Award, 2009)

Mark's course is hugely educational and beneficial, whether you are interested in pursuing story editing or simply gaining more insight into your own writing. And Mark stays in touch after the course is over, providing highly useful tips and guidance. He is a friend and mentor as much as he is a a teacher.
Shane Perez (Writer of BLOOD AND SAND, Winner of London Independent Film Festival Best Screenplay, 2009)

How to apply:
Writers interested in this course will need to submit a CV and treatment/story outline to education@galwayfilmcentre.ie by 23rd April.

Guide length for treatment is 3 to 10 pages. 10 pages is the maximum allowable.

Editors need to submit a CV to education@galwayfilmcentre.ie by 23rd April.

Stop-Motion Animation Workshop

2010-03-03T10:03:00.000-08:00

Galway film centre is offering a stop-motion animation workshop teaching participants how to make animation through drawings, claymation and photos using i-stop motion.

The workshop will teach participants how to use the software and how to shoot animation film on a movie camera, camcorder, pocket camera or even a mobile phone.

The course is very practical and by its end, participants will be able to make animations at home! Materials will be provided and the workshop is suitable for beginners and class sizes will be small to ensure all participants benefit.

Dates: 6 Tuesday evenings, 7pm - 9pm, 23rd March to 4th May (No class Easter Week, April 6th)
Fee: 225 euro unwaged / 255 euro waged (Includes membership. 10% discount for those having done a course with GFC in the last year.)
Tutor: Aideen Barry
Link to animations created on the last workshop in Winter 2009

John Huston's THE MISFITS to screen March 3rd

2010-02-25T11:59:00.000-08:00

THE MISFITS, with Clark Gable and Marylyn Monroe, giving what many believe to be her strongest performance of all time will screen on Wednesday, March 3rd, in Siamsa Tire as part of Kerry Film Festival's Active Retired Programme.

The film saw Huston nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement by the Directors' Guild of America. It's a little seen movie nowadays but has megawatt star power and a brilliant script by Arthur Miller and its critical reputation has only improved over time. It was the last film made by Hollywood icons Gable and Monroe.

All films cost just 2euro to anyone over the age of 65 and Kerry Film Festival will serve teas and coffees before the film to all attendees. The active retired screenings are a nice social occasion, as well as giving attendees the opportunity to see some fantastic films on the big screen!

For more on the film is available here: THE MISFITS. All are welcome!

Belfast Film Festival Call for Volunteers

2010-02-24T06:57:00.000-08:00

The Belfast Film Festival celebrates its 10th Birthday this year, and to mark this significant milestone the Festival will be extended to 16 days. The Festival kicks off on Thursday, April 15th and runs right through to Friday, April 30th.

The Festival will be packed with a bold mix of international and local film premieres, art-house and socio-political films, masterclasses and industry talks and events.

Highlights this year include a screening of Ken Wardrop's HIS & HERS, a beautifully told and magical documentary that features 90 different women of all ages, who collectively chronicle the magic of human life. It recently won the coveted World Cinema Documentary Award at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. If you haven't seen it yet then definitely check it out!

The Festival has also just launched a call for volunteers. To find out more please click on the link: Belfast Film Festival

Active Retired Screenings Spring 2010

2010-01-28T09:53:00.000-08:00

Kerry Film Festival's Active Retired Screenings return with a John Huston season that sees three of Huston's movies playing on the first Wednesday of the month in February, March and April.

Beginning with Huston's debut, THE MALTESE FALCON, on February 3rd, continuing with THE MISFITS, on March 3rd and finishing with ANNIE, on April 7th the films show the director's fantastic range which encompasses everything from Noir to Musicals.

All movies screen in Siamsa Tire at 2:00 pm.

THE MALTESE FALCON
Wednesday, 3rd February

"It has rhyme and rhythm and makes the mind ask questions," said Raymond Chandler about Dashiel Hammett's novel, The Maltese Falcon. The eponymous falcon is "the stuff that dreams are made of," a priceless statuette pursued by a venomous femme fatale (Mary Astor), a scented sybarite (Peter Lorre), and a gentleman villain (Sydney Greenstreet) who oozes avuncular avarice. Caught up in their quest is private-eye Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart), who has been hired by the woman on an ostensibly innocent assignment that has led to the death of his partner. With his literary sensibility and his fascination with eccentric characterisation, Huston is in his element: this is one of the cinema's great directing debuts, and the Hamlet of film noir!

THE MISFITS
Wednesday, 3rd March

Sophisticated, but emotionally crippled Roslyn (Marilyn Monroe, giving what many believe to be her strongest performance) has come to Nevada for a quick and easy divorce. When her landlady introduces her to aging, broken cowboy Gay Langland (Clark Gable), she finally finds herself with a worthy partner. Meanwhile, Gay and his fellow horsemen Guido and Perce (Eli Wallach and Montgomery Clift) scheme to capture a herd of wild horses. With megawatt star power and a brilliant script by Arthur Miller, The Misfits critical reputation has only improved over time. It was the last film made by Hollywood icons Gable and Monroe.

ANNIE
Wednesday, 7th April

In the depths of the 1930's, Annie is a fiery young orphan girl who must live in a miserable orphanage run by the tyrannical Miss Hannigan. Her seemingly hopeless situation changes dramatically when she is selected to spend a short time at the residence of the wealthy munitions industrialist, Oliver Warbucks. Quickly, she charms the hearts of the household staff and even the seemingly cold-hearted Warbucks cannot help but learn to love this wonderful girl. He decides to help Annie find her long lost parents by offering a reward if they would come to him and prove their identity. However, Miss Hannigan, her evil relative, Rooster, and a female accomplice, plan to impersonate those people to get the reward for themselves which put Annie in great danger.

Script Out Loud - New Writing Workshop

2010-01-28T04:48:00.000-08:00

There's a new writing workshop at Galway Film Centre.

The one-day workshop will help screenwriters advance their material by exploring it 'off the page'. Participants will act out each other's work and tutor, David Keating, writer and director of The Last Of The High Kings and Wake Wood, will guide writers to improve their dialogue, action and scene descriptions. All participants will do a small amount of preparation prior to the day, which must be emailed to the tutor. This will include writing 1 or 2 pages of script and analysing each scene according to conflict, exposition and needs/wants of characters. Participants may bring a camera and ask someone to record their work being acted out.

About the Tutor:
David wrote and directed The Last of the High Kings (Miramax), starring Jared Leto, Gabriel Byrne and Christina Ricci. His latest feature, Wake Wood (Hammer/Vertigo/IFB), will be released in 2010 and stars Aiden Gillen (The Wire), Eva Birthistle (Ae Fond Kiss) and Timothy Spall (The Damn United, Sweeney Todd).
As a screenwriter, he has worked for Columbia Pictures/Sony and on Mike Newell's Into The West (Miramax). He has directed TV drama, documentaries and music videos.
He has also mentored on screenwriting labs Equinoxe Germany, Equinoxe TBC France, Moonstone and tutored writers and directors at Mira Nair's MAISHA Initiative in Kampala for East African Filmmakers.

Date: Saturday, 27th February
Fee: 100 euro for students, unemployed / 130 for others
Contact: Galway Film Centre.
Email: education@galwayfilmcentre.ie or phone 091 770 748

Galway Film Centre & RTE 2010 Short Film Awards

2010-01-28T04:42:00.000-08:00

Galway Film Centre wants applications for the 2010 RTE/GFC Short Film Awards. The awards will be given to the two best original scripts for a short drama. Designed to promote filmmaking throughout the regions, the scheme, funded by RTE, is open to filmmakers from all over Ireland. The winners will receive a production fund of 9,500 euro each, as well as the use of facilities from the Galway Film Centre. The winning films will be screened twice by RTE.

Only one script per applicant is acceptable so please submit your strongest choice and all applicants must be members of the Galway Film Centre. If you think you have a good idea for a short film then now is the time to start writing!

The closing dates for applications is 5pm Friday 26th February 2010

For further information and an application form contact the Galway Film Centre on 091 770 748 or email info@galwayfilmcentre.ie

KFF deeply saddened by Michael Dwyer's Passing

2010-01-04T01:54:00.000-08:00

John Kennedy, KFF, Michael Dwyer at the 2008 Kerry Film Festival

All at the Kerry Film Festival were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Michael Dwyer. Michael was one of Kerry's favourite sons and the leading film critic in Ireland for the past two decades. His love of film permeated his writing and, indeed, his life. Generosity is not often a word associated with critics, yet Michael was truly a generous person and his loss will be felt on a local, national and, indeed, international level.

His love of film began on the streets of his native Tralee many moons ago. As a schoolboy he would stop by each of the three cinemas that the town had at that time on his way home to see what new treats were in store. He was instrumental in the expansion of Tralee's film society. Under his guidance the society began weekly screenings, which were held in the Ashe Memorial Hall, and they often sold out.

Moving to Dublin in the 1970's, he worked for the Federation of Irish Film Societies, and became a journalist, writing first for In Dublin magazine, then for The Sunday Tribune and The Sunday Press before finally joining The Irish Times.

He was instrumental in setting up the first Dublin Film Festival and led it successfully for many years before stepping away. It later ran into financial difficulty and Michael helped set up its successor, the Dublin International Film Festival, which is running strongly to this day.

Michael was awarded the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres in 2006 by the French Government for his support of French Cinema and was undoubtedly the most prominent Irish film critic of recent times.

Despite such success on a national and international level, however, Michael was also a friend to many of the smaller festivals around Ireland and he graciously opened the Kerry Film Festival in 2008, signing copies of his movie quiz book in Polymath's in Tralee that same year. Michael's mother, Mary, and his sisters, Anne and Maria, still live in Tralee and his passing is a terribly sad loss for them. It's also a sad loss for the legions of his fans and for his many friends.

May he have the best seat of all in the big cinema in the sky.

New Courses at Cork Film Centre

2009-12-17T07:31:00.000-08:00

Introduction to Short Film Making
10 week evening course, including two weekends, starting Thursday, 28th January, from 7pm to 10pm. A very practical hands on approach, lots of fun and actually making short films. Suitable for beginners but more experienced people also welcome. Cost 295euro, deposit of 150euro to secure your place payable to the Film Centre. More information available by calling 087 7911316.

Introduction to Documentary Film Making
10 week evening course (including two weekends) starting Tuesday, 26th January, from 7pm to 10pm. A very practical hands on approach, learn lots in a relaxed friendly environment. Suitable for beginners but more experienced people also welcome. Cost 295 euro, deposit 150 euro to secure your place payable to the Film Centre. More information available by calling 087 7911316.

For more information please log onto www.corkfilmcentre.com

Aesthetica Short Film Competition

2009-12-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

Aesthetica is looking for filmmakers who are driving the genre of short film forward through inspirational and innovative works. Whether you are fresh out of film school or have been making films for years, it wants to hear from you. It will accept films in all genres: drama, documentary, music video, satire, comedy and artists' film.

The award offers winners and runners-up a fantastic prize package, bringing films to a wider audience.

Prizes
- Screenings of your film at: The National Media Museum (Bradford), Rushes Soho Shorts Film Festival (London), Glasgow Film Festival and on the Aesthetica website, Kerry Film Festival
- £500 first prize, £250 runner-up.
- 12 months membership with Shooting People.
- Collection of film books from Wallflower Press.
- Winner and 10 runners-up to be included on a DVD that will go to all Aesthetica readers.

Entry
Films can be up to 20 minutes long. For more information please log onto www.aestheticamagazine.com

Belfast Film Festival searching for Marketing Manager

2009-12-07T04:19:00.000-08:00

BELFAST FILM FESTIVAL are seeking to recruit a Marketing & Sponsorship Manager

Full-Time - 4 Month Contract
January to May, 2010
Salary range £21,412 to £26,067 (pro rata)
Commensurate with skills and experience

For an application pack by email - please send request to mave@belfastfilmfestival.org or ring +44 (0)28 9032 5913

The Blockbuster - FAS Screen Training Ireland

2009-11-19T04:28:00.000-08:00

FAS Screen Training Ireland, supported by Bord Scannan na hEireann/Irish Film Board, is seeking participants for THE BLOCKBUSTER, Visual Story Development for Animation and Live Action

Dates: 11-15 Dec (Script Analysis); 16-18 Dec (Visual Structure)
Location: Dublin, TBC
Duration: 8 days (5 days Script Analysis; 3 days Visual Structure)
Fee: 500 euro (350 euro for Script Analysis only; 225 euro for Visual Structure only)

Participant Profile
For industry professionals in animation and live action seeking to enhance their understanding of creative story and visual structure.

Course Profile
The aim of this course is to provide a creative overview of animation and live action project development from a story and visual perspective. Through two separate sessions, Script Consultant Bobette Buster and Visual Consultant Bruce Block will present a comprehensive analysis of story structure and visual structure. Over five days of Script Analysis, Bobette Buster will explore the craft of emotional storytelling, followed by Bruce Block offering his unique and structured approach to Visual Storytelling. The course will culminate in a joint visual and story analysis of a film from the Block Buster tutors.

The course will cover the following:
* Recognising and using the basic visual components: space, structure, line, shape, colour, tone, movement and rhythm
* Applying these components to story structure
* Emotionally connecting to your audience
* Analysing story structure

Applicants can choose to attend just the Script Analysis or Visual Structure elements of this course, or, at a reduced cost, both.

Tutor Profile
Bobette Buster has been a USC professor for the past eight years and is on the visiting faculty of La Femis in Paris, DFFB in Berlin and also guest lectures at film schools throughout the world. Bobette has worked in feature film development with Columbia Pictures, Steel Magnolias Producer, Ray Stark and Director of Crimson Tide, Tony Scott, and in Script Analysis with Pixar Studios.

Bruce Block is Visual/Creative Consultant, Producer, Professor USC and Guest Lecturer UCLA. Besides teaching at USC and guest lecturing at UCLA, Bruce Block regularly delivers training to employees of Pixar, Dreamworks, Disney, Warner Bros and Sony Pictures. Bruce produced Something's Gotta Give and has also worked as a Visual Consultant on As Good As It Gets and with director and animation teams on A Bug's Life and Toy Story.

Application
Please apply online for The BlockBuster, Script Analysis only, or Visual Structure only at www.screentrainingireland.ie. For further details contact Sorcha Loughnane at FAS Screen Training Ireland.
Ph: (01) 6077468.
Email: sorcha.loughnane@fas.ie
Deadline for applications: Friday 4th December 2009.

KFF Announces Winning Films 2009

2009-11-10T09:05:00.001-08:00

The Kerry Film Festival, today announced the winning films from the 2009 edition of the festival. Dave Fanning was MC at the Awards Ceremony, which took place at 4:00 pm in Fels Point Hotel in Tralee on Saturday, November 7th.

The Award Ceremony was the culmination of a week of films at Kerry Film Festival, which began on Saturday, October 31st. The winning films were selected by KFF's adjudication panel which included Jeremy Irons, Michael Fassbender, Simon Brown and James Christopher and by the audience at the festival.

The adjudicators and audience had the unenviable task of selecting the best films from the festival. Close to five hundred films were submitted to the 2009 Kerry Film Festival, up significantly on the total number of films submitted in 2008 and more than double the number of films submitted in previous years. 72 short films screened in total at the 2009 Kerry Film Festival.

"This was the best edition of short films I've ever seen let alone had to judge," said James Christopher. "It was fiendishly tough to choose a single winner."

The Best Animated Short Film, as adjudicated by Simon Brown, was Sally Pearce's ELEPHANTS.

"Its creativity and joyfulness both surprised and captivated me," said Simon Brown. "ELEPHANTS had a unique and individual vision, which I appreciated. Its exploration of imagination felt very personal yet familiar. It was fun to explore and to be a part of this world. Close runners up for me were GRANNY O GRIMM'S SLEEPING BEAUTY and SPACE TRAVEL ACCORDING TO JOHN."

The Best International Short, as chosen by James Christopher, was MOTHER MINE, by Susan Everett.

"The film I'd like to nominate for the Best International Short is MOTHER MINE by Susan Everett," said James Christopher. "It's a macabre gem that manipulates your expectations quite brilliantly. What makes it remarkable is the raw and ghastly emotions it cleverly pricks.

The awkward tension between a grown-up daughter, desperately seeking some sort of elemental connection, and the woman who gave her away at birth is just exquisite. It's also, of course, appalling and, at some depraved level, even humorous. There's a cheeky touch when the deranged daughter, Alison, is lying submerged in her bath like Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction.

Indeed what's so appealing about Susan Everett's direction is how visually 'clean' her film is, despite the murky psychology. The simple act of putting a video tape in the post acquires an almost surreal momentum as we see the parcel tumbling through a metal sorting drum at the depot like a piece of laundry. It's the hallmark of a director who can put a truly original and unsettling spin on the familiar. And that's as rare as hen's teeth.

But even a film as ingeniously twisted as this couldn't work without some serious chemistry. Marvelous performances by Kelly Harrison as the daughter Alison, and Barbara Marten as the haunted mother, Margaret, do just that. The film was a joy and thrill to watch."

The best Documentary short from KFF 2009 as adjudicated by Michael Fassbender was A FILM FROM MY PARISH - 6 FARMS by Tony Donoghue.

Michael said, "A FILM FROM MY PARISH - 6 FARMS was brilliant. I liked the composition of the piece and the command of both computer and camera. I loved the exploration and seamless joining of colour and nature as well as the computer generated world. I was very impressed and found the film a very well structured and solid piece and left me wanting to see more."

The Best Irish Narrative Short was selected by Jeremy Irons, who is one of today's most respected actors and has been honored for his work on stage, screen and television. He won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his chilling portrayal of Claus von Bulow in Reversal of Fortune and won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in Elizabeth I.

From roles in THE MISSION and David Cronenberg's DEAD RINGERS to roles in David Lynch's INLAND EMPIRE, Ridley Scott's KINGDOM OF HEAVEN and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE with Al Pacino, Irons has displayed a talent and acting range that has seldom, if ever, been matched.

Chris Hurley, from Cork Film Centre, announced the winner of the Best Irish Narrative Short Film, as adjudicated by Jeremy Irons. Conor Ferguson's THE WEDNESDAYS took the prize of 500 euro which was sponsored by The Cork Film Centre. The film's producer, Annemarie Naughton, was on hand to pick up the cheque.

Jeremy Irons also adjudicated the festival's top prize, Best Short, which went to director Rory Bresnihan for THE MAN INSIDE.

The Kerry Film Festival Audience also had its part to play at the Awards ceremony, with THE VALLEY OF KNOCKANURE, by Gerard Barrett, picking up the Audience Award, which came with a prize of 1,000 euro, sponsored by the John Moore foundation. There was also a Children's Audience Award which went to OUR WONDERFUL NATURE, by Tomer Eshed.

The Maureen O' Hara Award, which acknowledges women that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their respective fields in film, was presented to Rebecca Miller at the ceremony. The Award was made by Newbridge Silverware.

Newbridge Silverware to Design Maureen O' Hara Award

2009-11-05T03:52:00.000-08:00

The Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating ten years of bringing film to Kerry, today announced that Newbridge Silverware, a brand that is synonymous with style and quality, will handcraft the Maureen O' Hara Award which will be presented to Rebecca Miller.

The award is named in honour of one of the most glamorous leading ladies of Hollywood's golden era, Maureen O' Hara.

"Newbridge Silverware is honoured to be associated with such a prestigious award," said William Doyle, CEO, Newbridge Silverware. "Maureen O' Hara is the absolute epitome of elegance and timeless style, both values which are core to our brand. Hence this is a very fitting association for Newbridge Silverware. We congratulate this year's recipient, Rebecca Miller, and wish her continued success and happiness."

"I'm thrilled that Newbridge Silverware is crafting the Award," said Jason O' Mahony, Director, Kerry Film Festival. "The unique history of Newbridge provides a wealth of tradition, craftsmanship and experience and items from Newbridge have been presented to personalities from Paul Newman to Bill Clinton, so it makes the event doubly special for us at Kerry Film Festival."

The Maureen O' Hara Award acknowledges women that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their respective fields in film and Rebecca Miller is a most worthy recipient. The award giving will take place at the Kerry Film Festival Awards Ceremony at Fels Point Hotel in Tralee on Saturday, November 7th at 4:00 pm.

The Award Ceremony is the culmination of a week of films at Kerry Film Festival. The Awards ceremony will also feature the screening of award winning short films as adjudicated by Kerry Film Festival's panel of judges Jeremy Irons, Michael Fassbender, Simon Brown and James Christopher.

For more information on Newbridge Silverware please log onto www.newbridgesilverware.com

Dave Fanning to MC Award's Night

2009-11-04T09:23:00.000-08:00

The Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating ten years of bringing film to Kerry, today announced that Dave Fanning will MC the Awards Ceremony, which takes place at 4:00 pm in Fels Point Hotel in Tralee on November 7th.

"I'm delighted to be MC for this year's Kerry Film Festival Award Ceremony and am looking forward to seeing the winning short films, particularly those from Ireland," said Dave Fanning. "Short films are almost like an up-and-coming film director's calling card, and watching short films is a great way to keep your finger on the pulse of what's happening in film. There are many young Irish directors who are dedicated to the craft of film making and their short films promise a vibrant future for Irish Filmmaking."

"We're delighted to have Dave Fanning on board to MC the Awards Ceremony," said Jason O' Mahony, Director of Kerry Film Festival. "His knowledge of music and film is so wide as to almost beggar belief!"

The Award Ceremony will see the screening of all the winning short films from this year's edition of the Festival and the wonderfully talented director, Rebecca Miller, will also be on hand to pick up the 2010 Kerry Film Festival Maureen O' Hara Award, which is named in honour of one of the most glamorous leading ladies of Hollywood's golden era. The award will specially handcrafted by Newbridge Silverware to commemorate the occasion.

"The Awards Ceremony is always the highlight of the festival and this year that's especially the case," added Jason. "To have someone of Dave Fanning's stature will raise the Awards Ceremony to new heights. It will also add to the thrill for all our winning filmmakers."

Dave Fanning's career in broadcasting began when he left University College Dublin in 1977 with a degree in English and Philosophy and a Higher Diploma in Education. He took over as editor of Ireland's only rock magazine 'Scene', in 1977, and began as a deejay on fledgling pirate music station Radio Dublin.

Ireland's first official national pop radio station (RTE 2FM) was launched in the Summer of '79. Dave Fanning took the midnight shift five days a week and by the early '80's he was seen by the industry and music fans everywhere as Ireland's answer to John Peel, the legendary BBC Radio One presenter.

Throughout the '90's he presented almost 400 editions of The Movie Show, crossing the globe for one-on-one interviews with nearly every major movie star on the planet including Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Mel Gibson and Pierce Brosnan.

The Kerry Film Festival Awards Ceremony takes place in Fels Point Hotel in Tralee on Saturday, November 7th at 4:00 pm.

Opening Night Huge Success

2009-10-31T09:56:00.000-07:00

The opening night of the 10th annual Kerry Film Festival was a huge success with bumper crowds coming out to enjoy THE RACE.

Niamh McGirr the young star of the film received a standing ovation from the crowd who were won over by her lovely personality.

The film went down a treat and the audience went home having thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

The Race Announced as Opening Night Film

2009-10-30T07:36:00.000-07:00

Film Festivals are special places where dreams come true on the big screen and this is often as true for the filmmakers as it is for the audience. The Opening Night film at the Kerry Film Festival is a movie where dreams come true and it's suitable for all! Starring Colm Meaney and new comer, Niamh McGirr, THE RACE is an Irish Film that's both inspirational and, ultimately, uplifting.

"The opening night film this year is a little bit special," said Jason O' Mahony, Director of the Kerry Film Festival. "It's a wonderful Irish film, which reminded me a little of Billy Elliott; except the star of THE RACE is a girl! Niamh McGirr puts in a wonderful performance as the brave and plucky Mary, who has a dream and is determined to see it through."

The actress, Niamh McGirr, will be on hand at the film which screens in Siamsa Tire on Saturday, October 31st. The film screening takes place at 8:00 pm but attendees are encouraged to arrive a little early for a wine reception which begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available from the Siamsa box office on 066 712 3055 and cost 10euro, including wine reception.

The film centers around eleven-year-old Mary, played by Niamh McGirr, who lives with her estranged parents on a struggling farm in rural Antrim. With her exasperated mother and proud, stubborn father, played by Colm Meaney, constantly at each other's throats over lack of funds and the future of the farm, life at home is far from ideal.

But Mary has plans; big plans. Ever since she can remember, she has dreamed of becoming a racing driver, so when a rich local farmer sets up a go-cart race down in the valley, she can't resist the chance to enter. But with opposition from home, general scorn from the community and the fact that she is a girl trying to make it in a boy's world, the road to success is never going to be easy.

But Mary doesn't give in. With perseverance, determination and a little help from her loyal friend, Tom, she sets about building a go-cart until, eventually, her spirit and dedication win over the most unlikely hearts. The Race is an inspirational drama in the best tradition of Billy Elliot - a film guaranteed to warm the heart.

The film maintains a wonderful balance between young Mary's dream to be a racing car driver and the realism of the difficult financial times in which it is set. Because the story is relatively straightforward the brilliance comes from the performances and the subtle touches throughout the film. The movie is charming and entertaining in equal measure and will be a treat for all, young and old alike. And with the star of the film attending and a wine reception, the night is sure to delight!

Guest Lecture with Tomm Moore

2009-10-19T05:54:00.000-07:00

Room S110, Monday, November 2nd, 2:00 pm
Guest Lecture by Tomm Moore, Director and Animator

Come join Tomm Moore and The Kerry Film Festival in a discussion about Animation and Film. Lecture to take place in the North Campus of the Institute of Technology, Tralee on Monday, November 2nd at 2:00 pm in Room S110, ground floor of the North Campus Technology & Business Building.

Rebecca Miller to pick up Maureen O' Hara Award

2009-10-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

Robin Wright Penn, Rebecca Miller and Keanu Reeves

The Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating ten years of bringing film to Kerry, today announced that Rebecca Miller is to receive an award at the Kerry Film Festival, which runs from October 31st to November 7th.

The award is named in honour of one of the most glamorous leading ladies of Hollywood's golden era, Maureen O' Hara.

"It's an honour to have Rebecca Miller pick up the Award." said Maureen O'Hara. "Rebecca is a wonderful director and it is magnificent to see such a strong character having success in film. One more example of the incredible talent present in today's Ireland. I am absolutely delighted that Rebecca will accept this award and I wish her the very best in her career, in film, and most importantly, in life with her husband and young family."

Rebecca Miller worked as a painter and an actress before becoming a writer and director. She is the author of the short story collection, Personal Velocity (2001), and the novel, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee. For the film version of PERSONAL VELOCITY (2002), she won several awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. She has also written and directed the award-winning films ANGELA (1995), THE BALLAD OF JACK AND ROSE (2005), which starred her husband Daniel Day Lewis, and again premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and this year's THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE (2009).

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee was her first novel and has been published in 30 countries. The film version was released earlier this year, playing at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival, and had a cast that includes Robin Wright Penn, Keanu Reeves, Julianne Moore, Alan Arkin and Winona Ryder.

Rebecca Miller lives in Ireland and New York with her family.

While Maureen O' Hara was undoubtedly one of Hollywood's best loved actresses, she was much more than just a pretty face. When Maureen became an American citizen on January 25, 1946 she retained her Irish citizenship, which was the first time in history that the United States government recognized an Irish citizen as Irish and it led to a change in process for all Irish immigrants. Maureen was also the first female CEO of an American airline company. Whether in the movies, in politics or in business Maureen demonstrated a quality for leadership and a bravery that was extraordinary and Rebecca Miller displays many of the same characteristics.

Maureen currently lives in County Cork and to honour her Kerry Film Festival is screening the John Ford classic THE QUIET MAN.

The Maureen O' Hara Award acknowledges women that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their respective fields and Rebecca Miller is a most worthy recipient. The award giving will take place at the Kerry Film Festival Awards Ceremony at Fels Point Hotel in Tralee on Saturday, November 7th at 4:00 pm.

The Award Ceremony is the culmination of a week of films at Kerry Film Festival. The Awards ceremony will also feature the screening of award winning short films as adjudicated by Kerry Film Festival's panel of judges Jeremy Irons, Michael Fassbender, Simon Brown and James Christopher.

Jeremy Irons to Adjudicate at Kerry Film Festival

2009-10-06T09:11:00.000-07:00

The Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating ten years of bringing film to the people of Kerry, today announced the adjudicators for the 2009 Kerry Film Festival, which runs from October 31st to November 7th.

The adjudicators that will judge this year's Kerry Film Festival short film competitions are:
Jeremy Irons, Michael Fassbender, Simon Brown and James Christopher.

"The Kerry Film Festival is delighted to announce its line up of adjudicators," said Jason O' Mahony, Director, Kerry Film Festival. "From Jeremy Irons, an Oscar winning actor and one of the finest actors of all time; to Michael Fassbender, who set the film world alight with his unflinching portrayal of Bobby Sands in Steve McQueen's HUNGER, a role which, for my money at least, should have seen him win an Oscar; to James Christopher, one of the most respected film critics in the world and Chief Critic on The Times in the UK for many years; to Simon Brown, a fantastic Irish animator, who was lead animator on the recent Ice Age films and also worked with James Cameron on the upcoming AVATAR, every member of the adjudication panel is at the very forefront of their chosen profession and we're absolutely thrilled that they have decided to help adjudicate the 2009 Kerry Film Festival."

"This will be the tenth year of the Kerry Film Festival and both the quantity and quality of the films has risen year on year," continued O' Mahony. "And we felt it was important to have an adjudication panel of the very highest standing to adjudicate the short films. We're hugely grateful to all the adjudicators for giving so selflessly of their time and for agreeing to adjudicate at this year's Kerry Film Festival."

The adjudicators have the unenviable task of selecting the best films from this year's selection. Close to five hundred films were submitted to the 2009 Kerry Film Festival, up significantly on the total number of films submitted last year and more than double the number of films submitted in previous years.

For a brief Bio on the Adjudicators please see below:

Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons is one of today's most respected actors and has been honored for his work on stage, screen and television. He won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his chilling portrayal of Claus von Bulow in REVERSAL OF FORTUNE and won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in ELIZABETH I.

From roles in THE MISSION and David Cronenberg's DEAD RINGERS to roles in David Lynch's INLAND EMPIRE, Ridley Scott's KINGDOM OF HEAVEN and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE with Al Pacino, Irons has displayed a talent and acting range that has seldom, if ever, been matched.

Michael Fassbender
Michael Fassbender exploded on the Film world with his unflinching portrayal of Bobby Sands in Steve McQueen's Cannes Film Festival Camera D'or winning HUNGER. He is one of the hottest young actors on the planet with acclaimed directors lining up to work with him. Last seen in Quentin Tarantino's INGLORIOUS BASTERDS, Michael, who grew up in Killarney, is a most welcome addition to the Kerry Film Festival Adjudication Panel.

Simon Brown
Simon Brown grew up in the countryside of Co. Clare, Ireland where he read books about the space-time continuum and practiced painting. It was an ideal background for his work as a visual effects artist which has led him around the world to London, California, New York and New Zealand. He's worked on many films including MATRIX REVOLUTIONS, STAR WARS - REVENGE OF THE SITH, ICE AGE - THE MELTDOWN and the upcoming AVATAR. Simon has just been accepted into the prestigious American Film Institute Conservatory for their directing program where he will further develop his craft.

James Christopher
James Christopher is a distinguished author and critic who has contributed to numerous newspapers. He was deputy theatre editor of Time Out Magazine, theatre critic for the Sunday Express, and for many years chief film critic of The Times. He has been the subject of several BBC documentaries. His book on Elizabeth Taylor: The Illustrated Biography is a much-loved staple. He lives in Essex but has spent many happy weeks in Kerry, notably Camp on the Dingle peninsula.

New Courses in Galway Film Centre

2009-10-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

New courses in Galway Film Centre include:

Advanced Camera Course - Hi-Def XDCAM and Digibeta
This course will introduce participants to these broadcast quality cameras, through a series of practical lighting exercises, based on documentary and magazine style shooting techniques. The transfer software of the XDCAM 700 (new required shooting format for RTE), which records onto card, will also be demonstrated. The course is suited to those who have experience of shooting on other formats.

About the tutor:
Ger has worked on features films such as King Arthur, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (camera assistant/operator). He also shot the award winning TV series In the Name of the Fada. Other work includes U2 Slane Concert DVD, Hands (RTE Documentary), The Rainbow Children, Calcutta (TG4 Documentary), Eddie (TG4 Documentary), St Isidores, Rome (TG4 documentary) and outside broadcast work.

Dates: 1 weekend, 10th & 11th October
Fee: 220 unwaged / 260 waged (includes membership to the Centre)
Tutor: Ger Conway
Class size: Strictly limited to 6
Contact: education@galwayfilmcentre.ie or 091-770748 for further information or to book.

Winter Screenings at Kerry Film Festival

2009-08-27T14:21:00.000-07:00

Though the summer has been a bit of a wash out, winter is looking decidedly brighter as Kerry Film Festival, in association with Siamsa Tire, have announced a tantalising line-up of films for their Winter season of active retired screenings. The screenings will take place in Siamsa Tire in Tralee, on the first Thursday of every month, and are for active-retired groups and all retired individuals.

"We've been delighted with the turn out for the spring and summer seasons of screenings for the active retired," said Jason O' Mahony, Kerry Film Festival Director, "and we thought it would be a wonderful idea to do some additional screenings through out the Winter. Thankfully Siamsa Tire agreed and we're delighted to be able to screen classic films in such a wonderful venue!"

First out of the gates is the multi Oscar winning FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953) starring Burt Lancaster and Montgomery Clift. It also stars Frank Sinatra in possibly the best role of his career. Sinatra went on to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. The film will screen in Siamsa Tire at 2:00 pm on Thursday, September 3rd, the first Thursday in September, and it's not to be missed!

Next up, on Thursday, October 1st, is Audrey Hepburn in BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S (1961). It tells the tale of struggling writer Paul Varjak who moves into a New York apartment building and becomes intrigued by his pretty, quirky neighbor Holly Golightly. Holly's lifestyle confuses and fascinates Paul; in public she flits through parties with a sexy, sophisticated air, but when they're alone she changes into a sweetly vulnerable bundle of neuroses. Audrey Hepburn plays that daring, darling Holly Golightly and is an absolute delight in the adaptation of Truman Capote's classic novel.

Then on Thursday, November 5th, Peter O' Toole will light up the screen in the title role in LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962). David Lean's film is a brilliant and truly epic rumination on a flamboyant and controversial British military figure and his conflicted loyalties during wartime service. It won 7 Oscars and immortality for its charismatic Irish star. Because of the length of the film, the screening will start at 12 noon as opposed to 2:00 pm.

The final screening of 2009 will take place on Thursday, December 3rd, and is an all time Christmas classic. WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954) stars Bing Crosby. It's a romantic mix-up and features one of the best known and most loved songs of all time and will definitely get people in the Christmas mood.

"Our 2009 active retired screenings have been a monumental success so far and the audience begged us to keep going for the rest of the year," said Jason. "And we're delighted to oblige. If truth be told I love the screenings because it gives me a chance to see some of my favourite films on the big screen! And with a cost of just 2 euro per head that includes teas or coffees and biscuits for everyone attending we really think it's a recession busting deal!"

The films will all start at 2:00 pm sharp, with the exception of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA which begins at 12 noon because of the length of the film, and groups are encouraged to arrive half an hour before screening time to enjoy the social atmosphere, have a chat and grab a cup of tea or coffee. Interested parties are asked to contact the Kerry Film Festival on 066 712 9934 and all active retired groups and individuals are welcome at the Kerry Film Festival Active Retired Winter Season where they will enjoy their Golden Years with classic films on the Silver Screen!

All films screen at 2:00 pm, except LAWRENCE which screens at 12 noon, in Siamsa Tire in Tralee and all take place on the first Thursday of the month. For more information please call Kerry Film Festival on 066 712 9934.

For more information on the Kerry Film Festival please log onto www.kerryfilmfestival.com

For more information on Samhlaiocht please log on to www.samhlaiocht.com

Samhlaiocht is supported through grant aid from The Arts Council, Kerry County Council, Failte Ireland and by the generous corporate sponsorship of Kerry Group.

Michael Fassbender to host Actors Masterclass at Galway Film Fleadh

2009-06-19T14:31:00.000-07:00

The 21st Galway Film Fleadh and the Galway Film Centre, in association with Fas Screen Training Ireland, are delighted to announce that award winning actor Michael Fassbender is the subject of this year's Actors Masterclass.

The Master Class will take place on Saturday, July 11th and will be facilitated by leading casting agents, Ros Hubbard and Mary Maguire. The Class is open to all aspiring and budding actors and those interested should submit a CV to Mary Deely in the Galway Film Centre, Cluain Mhuire, Monivea Road, Galway. For further information please call 091 770748 or email masterclasses@galwayfilmfleadh.com

The Galway Film Fleadh will pay tribute to Michael Fassbender who is fast becoming a very respected Irish actor. He recently had main roles in two of the twenty films in competition in this year's Cannes Film Festival. These were INGLORIOUS BASTERDS, directed by Quentin Tarantino and FISH TANK, directed by Andrea Arnold. This in itself is quite an achievement.

Michael played Lt. Archie Hicox in Quentin Tarantino's INGLORIOUS BASTERDS and there is an ironic twist to this as his first acting assignment, 15 years ago, was in a stage version of Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS.

Within that fifteen-year interim, Fassbender has established himself as a serious actor, learning his craft through Band Of Brothers, Colin Bateman's MURPHY'S LAW and playing the part of Esme in Francois Ozon's wonderful ANGEL.

Little prepared the uninitiated for Fassbender's breakout, multi-award winning performance in Steve McQueen's stunning HUNGER. Fassbender only appears in the final two acts of the movie yet his portrayal of hunger striker, Bobby Sands is so complete, alive and dynamic that his performance possesses the movie.

He lost 40 pounds for this role, as the latter half of the movie chronicles Sand's physical disintegration. This is in contrast to his role as Stelios in Zack Synder's 300, the previous year, where he played a Spartan warrior.

As part of the Fleadh's tribute to Michael Fassbender, HUNGER will screen on Friday July 10th.

Christopher Hampton to give Screenwriters Masterclass at the 21st Galway Film Fleadh

2009-06-17T14:35:00.000-07:00

The 21st Galway Film Fleadh and the Galway Film Centre, in association with Northern Ireland Screen, have just announced that Christopher Hampton will give a Screenwriters Master Class at this year's Fleadh , which is open to all budding and experienced writers.

Christopher's most recently released film, Atonement, won Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards for Best Picture. Cheri, directed by Stephen Frears, premiered at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival.

His other screenplays include The Quiet American, Mary Reilly, Total Eclipse, Dangerous Liaisons, Carrington, The Secret Agent and Imagining Argentina, the last three of which he also directed.

Prizes for his film and television work include an Academy Award, two BAFTAs, a Writer's Guild of America Award, the Prix Italia, a Special Jury Award at the Cannes Film Festival, Hollywood Screenwriter of the Year 2007 and The Collateral Award at the Venice Film Festival for Best Literary Adaptation.

Christopher Hampton's plays, musicals and translations have garnered three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, four Evening Standard awards and the New York Theatre Critics Circle Award.

He has written a wide range of award winning plays including The Talking Cure, White Chameleon, Tales From Hollywood, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Treats, Savages, The Philanthropist and Total Eclipse.

Christopher Hampton also wrote the book and lyrics (with Don Black) for the musicals, Sunset Boulevard and Dracula, and the libretto for the Philip Glass operas, Waiting For The Barbarians and Appomattox.

To honour the presence of Christopher Hampton at the festival, the 21st Galway Film Fleadh will screen Atonement, Imagining Argentina and The Quiet American.

The Master Class will take place on Thursday afternoon, July 9th in the Radisson Hotel, Galway. Atonement will be screened in the morning. For further information or to apply for a place, contact Mary Deely at 091-770748 or masterclasses@galwayfilmfleadh.com Those interested should submit a CV/Biography. The masterclass costs 50euro.

KFF Films Make Splash in North America

2009-06-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

Winners at the Kerry Film Festival 2008 Awards Ceremony

The Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating ten years of bringing film to the people of Kerry, has partnered with a number of films festivals across the globe in a move to promote Irish Shorts and to advocate for screenings of films that have played at KFF.

"We've very proud of the films we screen and absolutely believe that they should have an audience all around the world," said Jason O' Mahony, Director of the Kerry Film Festival. "To that end we've partnered with a number of festivals in Spain, Italy, Canada and America to promote the shorts which screen in our Festival."

The fruits of that labour were seen in April when Declan Cassidy's short film WHATEVER TURNS YOU ON, winner of the Best Irish Short Film at KFF 2008, was selected to play in the Chicago Irish Film Festival. It subsequently went on to win an honourable mention in Chicago.

"WHATEVER TURNS YOU ON is a wonderful little film and everyone here was blown away by it, we were thrilled to be able to recommend such a scorching hot short to Chicago and delighted that it won an honourable mention from the audience," added O' Mahony. "Declan's film has a heart of gold and manages in a few short minutes what many feature-length films fail to do in as many hours!"

Next up is the Nickel Film Festival, based in Newfoundland in Canada. Kerry Film Festival recommended a number of short films to the Festival and five shorts from KFF 2008 will play in the festival which takes place from Tuesday, June 23rd to Saturday, June 27th.

Declan Cassidy's film will again feature and will be joined by Irish Shorts: Michael Lavelle's OUT OF THE BLUE; Mark Noonan's QUESTIONS and the KFF 2008 Winning Short Brian Durnin's OF BEST INTENTIONS. Also screening in Canada is German Short OUR WONDERFUL NATURE, winner of Best Animated Short at KFF 2008.

"It's such a joy to watch the audience reaction to those shorts, I really wish I was able to take the trip to Canada," laughed O' Mahony.

Samhlaiocht is supported through grant aid from The Arts Council, Kerry County Council, Failte Ireland and by the generous corporate sponsorship of Kerry Group.

For more information on Samhlaiocht please log on to www.samhlaiocht.com

For more information on the Nickel Film Festival please log onto www.nickelfestival.com

Kerry Film Festival Issues Call for Entries

2009-06-08T14:37:00.000-07:00

Decaln Cassidy's WHATEVER TURNS YOU ON

Winner of Best Irish Short KFF 2008

The Samhlaiocht Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating ten years of bringing film to the people of Kerry, has issued a call for entries for the Kerry Film Festival 2009, which runs from October 31st to November 7th.

"The Kerry Film Festival is committed to playing a leading role in providing a forum for emerging talent in film," said Jason O' Mahony, Director of the Kerry Film Festival. "This dedication is evidenced by both the quality of the films screened and the prizes on offer, with a top cash prize of 5,000 euro for KFF's Best Director, as well as a number of prizes in other categories including Best Irish Short, Best International Short, Best Documentary Short and Best Animated Short."

All prizes including Best Director will be selected by a jury of internationally renowned film professionals. Past adjudicators of the Kerry Film Festival Short Film Competition have included such luminaries as Liam Neeson, Jim Sheridan, Neil Jordan and Gabriel Byrne.

When asked what makes KFF special O, Mahony said, "I think having so many of the filmmakers on hand to speak about their films and their creative journey ensures a rewarding film festival experience for both the filmmaker and the audience. One of the advantages of KFF, I suppose, is that it's such an intimate little festival but the quality of the films and quality of the adjudicators consistently punches above its weight."

While the main focus of the festival will continue to be on shorts, this year sees an extension of the programme. "Last year was our most successful Festival so far," said O' Mahony. "We screened more films to more people in more venues that ever before and this year we're hoping to top that!" The 2009 edition of the Festival will see an expansion of the feature programme which proved so successful in 2008, KFF 2009 will also see more Education screenings, more active retired screenings and a larger workshop programme.

For more information on the Kerry Film Festival or to download application forms please log on to www.kerryfilmfestival.com

Golden Years on the Silver Screen

2009-05-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

With the Cannes Film Festival just finishing and a wonderfully successful spring season behind them Kerry Film Festival, in association with Siamsa Tire, have announced a tantalising line-up of films for their summer season of active retired screenings. The screenings will take place in Siamsa Tire in Tralee, on the first Thursday of the month, and are for active-retired groups and all retired individuals.

"We were delighted with the turn out for the spring season of screenings for the active retired," said Jason O' Mahony, Kerry Film Festival Director, "and we thought it would be a wonderful idea to do some additional screenings during the summer months. Thankfully Siamsa Tire agreed and we're delighted to be able to screen classic films in such a wonderful venue!"

First out of the gates is Billy Wilder's screwball masterpiece SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959) with Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and the immortal Marilyn Monroe handed the best comedy roles of their careers. When two musicians witness a mob hit, they flee the state in an all female band disguised as women, but further complications, as was always the way in Wilder's films, set in. The film will screen in Siamsa Tire at 2:00 pm on June 4th, the first Thursday in June, and it's not to be missed!

Next up, on Thursday, July 2nd, is Gene Kelly in SINGING IN THE RAIN (1952). It tells the tale of a silent film production company and cast that make a difficult transition to sound. It's an all singing, all swinging, glorious feeling Technicolor Musical! Gene Kelly co-directed as well as starring in this double Oscar nominated classic.

Finally on Thursday, August 6th, John Wayne stars as Ethan Edwards, a Civil War veteran that spends years searching for his young niece who was captured by Indians in the John Ford classic THE SEARCHERS (1956). As the film sweeps from the glorious, great Southwest to the Canadian border, Ethan's motivation becomes increasingly questionable. Possibly the best western ever made, starring the unquestionably greatest Cowboy of all time - John Wayne!

"Our Spring screenings were a monumental success and the audience begged us not to shut down for the Summer as had been originally planned but we were in a difficult position financially and didn't think we would be able to continue with the free screenings," said Jason. "But we examined out finances and discovered that with a nominal charge to the audience we would be able to keep going so we asked the audience and they were all for it!"

"We're delighted to be able to continue," added Jason, "and with a cost of just 2 euro per head that includes teas or coffees and biscuits for everyone attending we really think it's a recession busting deal!"

The films will start at 2:00 pm sharp, so groups are encouraged to arrive at 1:30 pm to enjoy the social atmosphere, have a chat and grab a cup of tea or coffee. Interested parties are asked to contact the Kerry Film Festival on 066 712 9934 and all active retired groups and individuals are welcome at the Kerry Film Festival Active Retired Summer Season where they will enjoy their Golden Years with classic films on the Silver Screen!

All films screen at 2:00 pm in Siamsa Tire in Tralee and all take place on the first Thursday of the month. For more information please call Kerry Film Festival on 066 712 9934.

For more information on the Kerry Film Festival please log onto www.kerryfilmfestival.com

For more information on Samhlaiocht please log on to www.samhlaiocht.com

LATEST NEWS STORIES

2009-03-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

LATEST NEWS STORIES

	Na Cloigne Heads Into Production 26 Mar 2009 Na Cloigne (The Heads), a new three part Irish language drama for TG4, directed by Robert Quinn (Cre na Cille) and produced by Ciaran O Cofaigh at Galway based production company ROSG, will commence filming this Monday 30th March until 8th May in various locations around Conamara. more

	Filming Wraps in NI on Small Island 26 Mar 2009 Filming will wrap this week on Small Island, a new 2 x 90 minute drama produced by Ruby Films for the BBC which has been shooting in Northern Ireland since mid February. The production will move to Jamaica at the end of this week. more

Graham Linehan Up for BAFTA
26 Mar 2009
Graham Linehan's The IT Crowd has received a BAFTA Television Award nomination for Best Situation Comedy. The awards will take place at the Royal Festival Hall on Londons South Bank on Sunday April 26th. more

Screen Scene Posts Recent Broadcasts
26 Mar 2009
It has been an eventful past few weeks for post house Screen Scene and outside broadcast Observe team between covering all the St Patrick Day Festivities supplying production and post production services to the to the Meteor Ireland Music Awards and creating graphics for The Scripts new video Talk you Down. more

Algar to Head High Point Media Group
25 Mar 2009
Irish Producer and former CEO of the Irish Film Board, Michael Algar, talks to IFTN on his recent appointment as the Director of High Point Media Group, Ireland, the Irish office of independent distribution and sales agency, High Point Media Group. more

Filmbase to Host Podcast Info Session
25 Mar 2009
Filmbase is to host a free info session on Podcasting at 10.30am on Wednesday 1st April at its offices in Temple Bar, Dublin, and will be facilitated by multimedia producer and filmmaker John Callaghan. more

Doc Series Mna na Mara Airs on TG4
24 Mar 2009
Doc series Mna na Mara (Women of the Sea), produced by Open Eye Television in Baile Bhuirne, Co. Cork, began airing last Friday on TG4 and will run for five more weeks until April 24th. more

Belfast Company Behind Greenest World Premiere
24 Mar 2009
NI company Switch New Media, a live video streaming company based at Northern Ireland Science Park in Belfast, is celebrating a double success after it helped to set a new world record for the biggest and greenest ever live simultaneous premiere for new documentary Age of Stupid this month. more

Irish Short Film News
24 Mar 2009
Thomas Heffrons The Confession and Brian Durnins Of Best Intentions have been selected to screen in the Tribeca Film Festival. US Festivals in Cleveland and Nashville will also feature a line up of Irish short titles as well as Finsceal Phaidí being selected for Palm Beach International Film Festival. more

Irish Grand Slam and Simpsons Entice Audiences
24 Mar 2009
Irelands Grand Slam victory against Wales last Saturday was watched by an average audience of 945,000 people on RTE Two, whilst the Irish episode of The Simpsons - In the Name of the Grandfather, which premiered on Sky One, on St Patricks Day drew 957,000 viewers across the UK and Ireland. more

Kisses Wins at Miami Fest
24 Mar 2009
Kisses, written and directed by IFTA winning Lance Daly and produced by Fastnet Films, has scooped the Audience Award at Miami International Film Festival. more

TV3 Announce Staff Redundancies and Pay Cuts
23 Mar 2009
Irish broadcaster TV3 has announced cost cutting measures aiming to reduce annual costs of the independent station by 2m euro including redundancies, pay cuts and reduced contractors fees. more

Latest news from IFTN

2009-03-05T14:40:00.000-08:00

	Tomm Moore Reveals His Secret of Kells 05 Mar 2009 Marking the second Irish feature length animation to be released in Ireland in the past year, IFTN talks with director Tomm Moore ahead of the release of his lavish debut feature The Secret of Kells. more

	Galway Film Fleadh Submissions Deadline 05 Mar 2009 Entry forms for the 21st Galway Film Fleadh taking place from 7th - 12th July 2009 are now available online with the deadline for Feature Submissions on Friday 17th April and the Shorts deadline on Friday 15th May. more

Production Depot Launches Camera Workshops
05 Mar 2009
The Production Depot is running a range of weekend Camera workshops running from April to June. These workshops aim to allow participants to improve their skills base and ensure that the Crew working within the Irish Industry is kept up to date with all the latest formats, cameras, accessories, workflows and practices. more

Jim Sheridan to present Darby O' Gill
05 Mar 2009
Irish classic Darby O Gill and the Little People is to be introduced by Irish director Jim Sheridan (Get Rich or Die Trying, In America, My Left Foot) at the IFI as the Irish Film Archive celebrates St Patricks Day. more

Piranha Bar Gets Creative In 2009
04 Mar 2009
Having come off an extremely busy year, IFTN catches up with Dave Burke and Marc Long from Dublins post and graphic boutique, Piranha Bar, to talk recent projects, getting creative with budgets and the challenges that are facing post houses in the current economic climate. more

Egoboo Creates Theme Music for TV3 News
04 Mar 2009
The new TV3 News Theme Music, which premiered last month as part of the stations re-branding, is the latest composition from music composition studio – Egoboo. Greg Malocca from the audio house talks about the Vienna Symphony Library software that was helped create the track. more

Kisses Available On DVD
04 Mar 2009
Lance Dalys Kisses, winner of two recent IFTA awards for Best Director and Best Editing, will be available on DVD from Friday March 6th. more

Splanc! Searches for Irish Filmmakers
04 Mar 2009
With preproduction beginning on Splanc! a new documentary series and feature documentary for TG4, the makers of the series, Underground Films and Odyssey Media, are looking for Irish filmmakers to take part in the programme. more

New & Returning Series Air on Irish TV
04 Mar 2009
Factual series Not Enough Hours and Showhouse will return to RTE television this week. The second installment of travel series Welcome to My World will also air as will the episode Irish writer Cecelia Ahern penned for the Golden Globe nominated series Samantha Who? - to broadcast on TG4 this Friday. more

Valley Of Knockanure Short To Shoot in Kerry
04 Mar 2009
Pre-production of the independently produced short film The Valley Of Knockanure to be directed by Gerad Barrett has begun with shooting scheduled for mid-March across various locations in Kerry and Cork. more

Virtual Cinema Film Scheme Recipients Announced
03 Mar 2009
The Irish Film Board and Wildwave have announced the recipients for their new Virtual Cinema short film scheme, with chosen films to showcase at the Darklight Film Festival in October. more

FilmOffaly Offers 8,000 Funding
03 Mar 2009
FilmOffaly is awarding 8,000 as part of its film commission to fund a project that will be filmed on location in the county. All genres of projects are invited to apply before the deadline - Friday April 3rd at 4pm. more

Latest from IFTN

2009-02-27T14:40:00.000-08:00

	Irish Film Board Welcomes New Board Members 25 Feb 2009 Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen has announced the new members of the Irish Film Board. The Minister has re-appointed current Chairman of the Board, James Morris, to this position for a twelve month period. more

	Minister Announces New RTE Authority 24 Feb 2009 Communications Minister Eamon Ryan has announced the appointment of the new RTE Authority, which includes filmmaker Alan Gilsenan and former CEO of the Arts Council Patricia Quinn. more

NFS Wins at RTS Student Television Awards
26 Feb 2009
The National Film School at IADT in Dun Laoghaire swept the boards in two out of the three sections, receiving both nominations, including the eventual winner. more

Darklights A Night of Movies and Music
26 Feb 2009
Darklight Film Festival is hosting A Night Of Movies and Music in aid of the Darklight Festival 2009 to be held on March 1st, 2009 at 8pm, in the Sugar Club, Dublin. more

Brosnan to Make Capa Biopic
25 Feb 2009
Pierce Brosnans production company Irish Dreamtime is reported to be developing a biopic of the life of Hungarian photojournalist Robert Capa. more

Deadline for Frameworks Scheme
25 Feb 2009
The deadline for the short animation scheme, Frameworks, co funded by BSE/IFB, the Arts Council and RTE has been announced for Friday, April 24th. more

Secret of Kells Wins Top Prize at JDIFF
24 Feb 2009
Irish animated feature, The Secret of Kells, from Kilkenny based Cartoon Saloon, has been selected as the best Irish film screened at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival. Swedish horror movie Let the Right One In was named as the best film and the best performance prize went to Tom Hardy for his turn as British convict Charles Bronson in Nicolas Winding Refns Bronson. more

San Francisco Irish Film Festival
24 Feb 2009
Marian Quinns 32a and feature doc Saviours are among the Irish titles that will screen at the upcoming 6th Annual San Francisco Irish Film Festival taking place on March 5th and 6th in the Roxie Theatre, San Francisco. more

Celtic Media Fest Announce Festival Programme
24 Feb 2009
The Celtic Media Festival has announced its programme of events for the festival which takes place in Caernarfon from 25 to 27 March 2009. more

Midas Idir Mna to air TG4
24 Feb 2009
Midas Productions new documentary series for TG4 Idir Mna (Amongst Women) will air this Thursday 26th February at 10.15pm with a repeat Monday at 11.00pm. more

Gildea wins Write Here, Write Now award
24 Feb 2009
Short Filmmaker Sonya Gildea has scooped the inaugural Jameson Dublin International Film Festival and Walt Disney Studios Motion (Ireland) Write Here, Write Now screenwriting award for her script Faith at this years festival. more

Dragons Den Starts on RTE Tonight
19 Feb 2009
The Irish version of Dragons Den produced by Screentime ShinAwil is due to air tonight on RTE One 10.15pm. more

Get 8 Grand to Shoot in Offaly

2009-02-26T14:41:00.000-08:00

FilmOffaly in association with Filmbase have just announced details of the FilmOffaly Award 2009.

It's a new funding initiative to foster creative, resourceful filmmaking in Offaly. They're looking for unique, original stories by talented new filmmakers, professional and novice alike. The only stipulation is that the filming must take place in Offaly. Yikes!

Much like with THE HIGHLANDER, There Can Be Only One, so competition will be tough with the one successful applicant receiving:
8,000 euro towards the cost of the production
A premier in Tullamore Omniplex Cinema
A one year Filmbase membership to the Writer, Producer and Director of the winning film
A fifty percent discount on production equipment and / or editing facilities from Filmbase for the project
Filmbase's production insurance to cover the shoot

Please submit a script including 500 word synopsis of the film project by Friday, April 3rd at 3pm to:
FilmOffaly, Offaly County Council, Charleville Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
Form More details please call 057 9357400 or email filmoffaly@offalycoco.ie

KFF presents MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS

2009-02-24T14:44:00.000-08:00

With the Oscars just over and a hugely successful screening for Active Retired Groups and Individuals in January, Kerry Film Festival and Siamsa Tire have partnered to bring a wonderful double Oscar nominated film to the big screen in Tralee. The screening of MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS will take place in Siamsa Tire on Thursday, March 5th at 2:00 pm and is absolutely free to everyone over the age of 65.

"We screened Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps last month to a rapturous crowd. Everyone that came seemed to love the movie but I think they really enjoyed the social aspect of the afternoon too," said Jason O' Mahony, Kerry Film Festival Director. The Festival offers free refreshments to the film fans before each screening.

"I haven't been to the cinema in years. It's hard to know what to see. But I love old Hitchcock films and it was nice to see an old classic film like The 39 Steps on the big screen. We got a lovely warm welcome from everyone at Kerry Film Festival too. In fact I think we enjoyed the wee chat and cup of tea every bit as much as the film," said Mary Walsh, from Tralee, with a laugh.

Mrs. Henderson Presents is directed by Stephen Frears and was nominated for two Oscars. It stars Bob Hoskins and Judi Dench, in an Oscar nominated role, and was made in 2005. It tells the true life story of Laura Henderson who bought an old London theater and opened it up as the Windmill, a performance hall which has gone down in history for, among other things, its all-nude revues!

"It sounds a little racy but isn't at all," added Jason, "I'm sure that everyone that comes will have a great time."

And while many of the attendees are from the Tralee area organizers received a call from a gentleman from Dublin who saw a piece on the January screening in the Irish Times. Apparently he'll use his free travel-pass to come down by train for this one and head home again in the evening!

The final film of the series is Sidney Lumet's 1957 classic, 12 Angry Men, starring Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb and will screen in Siamsa on Thursday, April 9th at 2:00 pm. 12 Angry Men is consistently voted among the top ten films of all time and was nominated for 3 Oscars. Henry Fonda gives an absolutely riveting performance as a dissenting juror in a murder trial who slowly manages to convince the others that the case is not as obviously clear as it seemed in court.

All films will screen in Siamsa Tire at 2:00 pm. For more information please call Kerry Film Festival on 066 712 9934.

For more information on Kerry Film Festival please log onto www.kerryfilmfestival.com

For more information on Samhlaiocht please log on to www.samhlaiocht.com

Samhlaiocht is supported through grant aid from The Arts Council, Kerry County Council, Failte Ireland and by the generous corporate sponsorship of Kerry Group.

Galway Film Centre Offers Script Analysis Course

2009-02-12T14:44:00.000-08:00

Paula Mulroe (former Head of Development at the Film Board and script editor on The Clinic) tutors this course aimed at those who want to learn how scripts are evaluated professionally by funding organisations and production companies. In each session, you will learn about a particular area for analysis by reading scripts and watching individual films. Each week, you will be asked to write a report on a script taking on board professional criteria outined and feedback will be given on these.

Course Content:
Funding organisations and production companies when analysing scripts look at the following areas of analysis when choosing scripts to fund or produce.

structure
characterisation
visualisation
style
tone
commercial viability
cultural criteria
entertainment value/intended audience

This script reading course will therefore aim to inform participants how to analyse and produce reports of a professional standard for industry organisations and companies.

Course Dates: 4 Saturdays, 28th February, 7th, 21st, 28th March (10 am to 4.45 pm daily)

Fee: 455 euro waged/420 euro unwaged (These fees include membership to the Centre for the year)

Limited Places Available.

For more information please log onto www.galwayfilmcentre.ie or call Mary on 091 770 748

Latest from IFTN

2009-02-06T14:45:00.000-08:00

IFTAs International Jury Commends Irish Creative Talent
	The voting for the 6th Annual Irish Film and Television Awards has come to a close with the winners of this year's Awards being voted for by a combination of the IFTA Academy and a selection of International Jury headed up by Oscar winning director Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings Trilogy, King Kong). more

Carson Appointed RTEs Director of Programmes
	RTE Television has appointed independent producer Steve Carson as the new Director of Programmes. Carson takes up his new role in a week's time. more

Thaddeus O Sullivan to Direct Obsession
	Irish director Thaddeus O Sullivan, Ordinary Decent Criminal, December Bride),is being lined up to direct the new psychological thriller, Obsession, adapted from Alec Coppel's novel A Man About A Dog by screenwriter Rob Green (House). more

Brown Bag's Olivia Airs on Nickelodeon
	Irish animation company Brown Bag Films has completed a 52 part CGI animation series Olivia for leading family entertainment company Chorion. The series has started to air weekdays at 11.30am on Nickelodeon in the US. more

Jenn Murray Lands Role In The Day Of The Triffids
	Teen Irish actress Jenn Murray has landed a starring role in BBC One's Latest drama, The Day Of The Triffids, alongside screen veterans Vanessa Redgrave (Julia, Howards End), Dougray Scott (Mission Impossible II, Desperate Houswives) and Joley Richardson (Nip/Tuck). more

Kerry Film Festival

KFF Films Selected for New Zealand

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

Kerry Film Festival Children's Workshops

KERRY FILM FESTIVAL CONTINUES CLASSIC SCREENINGS AT SIAMSA TIRE

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

KFF Seeking new Director

How to Deal with Annoying Cinema Customers

KERRY FILM FESTIVAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION CONTINUES COUNTY-WIDE TOUR IN KENMARE

KFF Films Selected for Canada

Upcoming events at Galway Film Centre

KFF Issues Call for Entries for 12th Edition

Thoroughly civilised afternoon at the pictures enjoyed by seniors at Siamsa Tíre

KERRY FILM FESTIVAL BRINGING FILM APPRECIATION WORKSHOPS TO PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Indian Film Festival comes to Siamsa

FILM & PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS HELD AT ST BRENDAN’S COLLEGE, KILLARNEY

Kerry Film Festival and Kerry Bicycle Festival to join forces for 'Race Across America'

New Courses at Galway Film Centre

Dance Films at New Kerry Dance Festival

KFF to screen French Film in Kenmare

News from Galway Film Centre

Animation Hotline

March Active Retired Screening on 2nd Wednesday of Month

Active Retired Screenings

The Pipe to Screen in Kerry

Kerry Film Festival Announces Winning Films

Maureen O' Hara to Personally Present Juliette Binoche with Award

KFF to host county-wide Photography Exhibition

Christie Hennessy Documentary to play at KFF

KFF Announces 2010 Adjudication Panel

Juliette Binoche to Receive Maureen O' Hara Award

KFF Receives a Record Number of Entries

Irish Film Vacancies

Bits & Bobs - all the Irish Film News worth Reporting!

News from the Galway Film Centre

KFF to screen films at Soho Shorts Festival

Calling all RED dp's

Post Grad & Masters at IADT

Radharc Awards

KFF issues call for Entries to the 11th Annual Kerry Film Festival

KFF Films make a Splash in North America

Castlepalooza call for Short Films

Galway Film Fleadh to screen best in Irish and World Cinema

Annette Benning at Galway FIlm Fleadh

KFF Announces German Language Screening

Granparents & Grandchildren Active Retired Screening

Annie at Siamsa Tíre

This blog has moved

Scriptwriting Clinic at Galway Film Centre

Stop-Motion Animation Workshop

John Huston's THE MISFITS to screen March 3rd

Belfast Film Festival Call for Volunteers

Active Retired Screenings Spring 2010

Script Out Loud - New Writing Workshop

Galway Film Centre & RTE 2010 Short Film Awards

KFF deeply saddened by Michael Dwyer's Passing

New Courses at Cork Film Centre

Aesthetica Short Film Competition

Belfast Film Festival searching for Marketing Manager

The Blockbuster - FAS Screen Training Ireland

KFF Announces Winning Films 2009

Newbridge Silverware to Design Maureen O' Hara Award

Dave Fanning to MC Award's Night

Opening Night Huge Success

The Race Announced as Opening Night Film

Guest Lecture with Tomm Moore

Rebecca Miller to pick up Maureen O' Hara Award

Jeremy Irons to Adjudicate at Kerry Film Festival

New Courses in Galway Film Centre

Winter Screenings at Kerry Film Festival

Michael Fassbender to host Actors Masterclass at Galway Film Fleadh

Christopher Hampton to give Screenwriters Masterclass at the 21st Galway Film Fleadh

KFF Films Make Splash in North America

Kerry Film Festival Issues Call for Entries

Golden Years on the Silver Screen

LATEST NEWS STORIES

Na Cloigne Heads Into Production

Filming Wraps in NI on Small Island

Latest news from IFTN

Tomm Moore Reveals His Secret of Kells