Galway Film Fleadh

Galway Film Fleadh Announces Four New Irish Premieres, Plus Nominees for the Bingham Ray New Talent Award

Oliver MacMahon — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 22:51:04 GMT

The Galway Film Fleadh announced today the five nominees for the Bingham Ray New Talent Award. They are: producer, Anne Marie Naughton for "The Canal;" actor, Moe Dunford for "Patrick's Day;" director, Niall Heery for "Gold;" actor, Tara Breathnach for "A Nightingale Falling;" and actor, Dara Devaney for "An Bronntanas." The winner will be announced at the closing night awards ceremony, which takes place in the Town Hall Theatre.

The new premieres announced are for "Patrick's Day," "Gold," "A Nightingale Falling" and "The Canal."

- Directed by Terry McMahon, "Patrick's Day" follows the story of Patrick (Moe Dunford), a warm-hearted 26-year-old virgin schizophrenic, who falls in love with a soon-to-be alcoholic air-hostess, Karen.

- A shocking journey into the unknown, Ivan Kavanagh's "The Canal" follows a family slowly growing a part due to suspected infidelity and nightmares of an evil presence that might live within their house.

- IFTA-winning Niall Heery's new film "Gold" is an offbeat comedy on a wandering loner, Ray (played by David Wilmot) who tries to track down his estranged ex-partner (Kerry Condon) and teenage daughter played by Maisie Williams ("Game of Thrones"), so that his dying father can get to see his granddaughter one last time

- Based on the novel of the same title by PJ Curtis, "A Nightingale Falling" is a historical drama set against the backdrop of a turbulent, war-torn Ireland in the early 1920s. Starring Tara Breathnach, Muireann Bird and Gerard McCarthy, it was filmed entirely on location in Co Offaly.

The upcoming festival, takes place from Tuesday, July 8th to Sunday, July 13th. For further details and information, log onto their website.

John Carney's 'Begin Again' to Begin Galway Film Fleadh

Oliver MacMahon — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 21:19:21 GMT

The Galway Film Fleadh, Ireland's leading film festival, today announced its opening and closing films: Taking place from Tuesday, July 8th to Sunday, July 13th, the festival will open with musical romantic-comedy "Begin Again," and finish up with celtic noir thriller "An Bronntanas."

"Begin Again," featuring music from New Radicals' Gregg Alexander, stars Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfield, Adam Levine and James Corden. Directed by John Carney ("Once", "Zonad"), it premiered at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival and, according to a statement, "is devoted to the beauty of music and power of chance encounter." Eric Kohn gave the film a B grade in his review, writing that it was "a fairly mannered treatment of an expressive medium."

"An Bronntanas," directed by Tom Collins, revolves around a rescue crew who receives a distress call on a stormy night, and discovers a fishing boat with some very interesting cargo. For tickets, further details and information check out their website, chat to the Galway Film Fleadh team on Facebook or Tweet @FilmFleadh.

"My Brothers" Among the Many Irish Films Playing at Galway Film Fleadh

Nigel M Smith — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 06:22:32 GMT

The Galway Film Fleadh (Irish/Gaelic for "festival") announced its lineup for their 22nd edition, which runs in Galway, Ireland from July 6 - 11. This year, out of the 100 feature films and 115 short films to be screened, the Fleadh will play host to eight world premieres.

Kicking off Galway will be Paul Fraser's directorial debut, "My Brothers," written by Will Collins, which played at this year's Tribeca. The script itself won the Pitching Award at Galway three years ago. Fraser's film follows three young brothers as they embark on a quest to replace their dying father's watch. Capping off the festival will be Oren Moverman's Spirit Award-winning "The Messenger," starring Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson.

World premieres this year include a slate of promising films. Richard Domhnaill's topical documentary "The Pipe," examines what transpires when a local community is faced with the prospect of a gas pipeline in their town. The sexually charged Irish comedy "Sensation," from director Tom Hall, centers on a young entrepreneur who partners with an ex-call girl in his new venture. Another Irish entry, Ian Power's "The Runaway," recounts the story of a west Cork community coming together to help a Cuban pilot return home.

Another film making its world premiere will be Maurice Linnanes documentary "Stand Up: My Best Friend," as part of Galway's Out on Film section, which provides a platform for LGBT themed films. In an effort to highlight how far Ireland has come in the fight for equality, Linnanes's film is composed of a series of interviews with young Irish LGBT people and their families and friends.

In addition to the Out Film section, the festival presents their Wild Card section, now in its third year. Wild Card is slated to host the world premiere of six low-budget Irish films made without assistance from outside funding sources.

"The Cove" Triumphs in Galway

Brian Brooks — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:39:20 GMT

Louie Psihoyos' "The Cove" won best feature documentary prize at Ireland's Galway Film Fleadh, which took place on the Emerald Isle July 7 - 12. The 2009 Sundance audience award winner revolves around the shocking case of animal abuse and cover up in the small Japanese town of Taijii. Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renown dolphin trainer and former "Flipper" producer Ric O’Barry, infiltrate the site in order to focus world attention to the death of thousands of dolphins off the coast of Japan.

Oscar nominee and fellow Sundance alumn "Frozen River" by Courtney Hunt, about a struggling family living on the Canadian border, won best first feature, while Sean Mullen and Ben Harper's "Blip" took best first animation. Alice Lyons and Orla McHardy's "The Polish Language" won best animation.

In other awards, Conor McCormack's "Christmas with Dad" took best short documentary; "Thursday Afternoon" by Manus McManus won best first short drama; Rory Bresnihan won best short drama and Gary Mitchell received "The Pitching Award" for "Get the Pope."

Galway Fleadh & Fair Kicks Off With Loach's Latest

Indiewire — Tue, 06 Jul 2004 06:00:00 GMT

Galway Fleadh & Fair Kicks Off With Loach's Latest

by Adam Burnett

A scene from Ken Loach's "Ae Fond Kiss," the opening-night film at the 16th Galway Film Fleadh. Photo courtesy of the filmmakers.

The 16th Galway Film Fleadh opens today with a program showcasing the best of Irish cinema, along with films from around the world. Ken Loach's latest "Ae Fond Kiss" will open the festival, and Paddy Breathnach's "Man About Dog" will close Galway.

The six-day event features 20 Irish features, documentaries, and animated films and 120 shorts. Amoung the Irish films to be screened are Stephen Kane's "Starfish," Tamar Simon Hoffs' family drama "Red Roses & Petrol," Margo Harkin's Belfast drama "You Looking at Me?," Lance Daly's second feature "The Halo Effect," Alan Gilsenan's road movie "Timbuktu," and Pete Travis' recreation of an actual IRA bombing "Omagh." Films by first-time Irish filmmakers include Lenny Abrhamson's "Adam & Paul," Ciaran O'Connor's human-traffiking story "Capital Letters," and Corkman Joseph Murphy's hometown-filmed "Grey."

Irish documentaries to be included are Colum Stapleton's look at The Church of the Eclectic Universal Flowing Light "Empire of Juramidam," Hillay Dully's look at Ireland's high suicide rate "Tollain Dhubha," Vinny Cunningham's anatomy of a riot "Battle of the Bogside," and Desmond Bell's investigation of Irish miners in the United States during World War I, "Rebel Frontier."

Notable films not coming from Ireland include Jonathan Demme's "The Agronomist," Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni's "The Story of the Weeping Camel," Brett C. Leonard's "Jailbait," and Guy Maddin's "The Saddest Music in the World." The festival will also offer programs of classic and new British films and a Latin American series. Ken Loach's latest "Ae Fond Kiss" will open the festival, and Paddy Breathnach's "Man About Dog" will close Galway.

The Galway Film Fair, one of the festival's most popular features, will be returning this year. The Galway Film Fair arranges meetings between filmmakers with projects in development and invited film financiers, distributors, and producers. Participating financiers this year include IFC Entertainment, Magnolia Pictures, United Artists, Beyond Films, Fortissimo Film Sales, and Renaissance Films. The Fair will also host a one-day seminar entitled "Film Financing: Terms and Conditions Apply," discussing such issues as "hard" and "soft" money agencies, the decline of television-funded film, and the market for Irish film in England and America.

Galway's Fleadh will honor classic Hollywood actress Maureen O'Hara this year. There will be a special public interview with O'Hara, as well as screenings of her films "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "The Quiet Man." Other special guests will be Stanley Tucci, who will host a masterclass to discuss the craft of filmmaking, and Paul Laverty, screenwriter of "Sweet Sixteen" and "My Name is Joe," who will lead a scriptwriting workshop.

Galway Set to Open 15th Film Fleadh Tonight in Ireland

Indiewire — Tue, 08 Jul 2003 06:00:00 GMT

Galway Set to Open 15th Film Fleadh Tonight in Ireland

by Eugene Hernandez

Zooey Deschanel and Paul Schneider in David Gordon Green's "All the Real Girls." Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

The Galway Film Fleadh in Ireland kicks off its 15th edition today with a screening of the controversial new film, "Conspiracy of Silence." The U.K. first feature, its Irish premiere, is a new film from John Deery. In the words of the festival, it "challenges the notion of celibacy within the Catholic Church."

Closing the festival on Sunday the 13th will be Ian Fitzgibbon's "Spin the Bottle." The film, which is also having its Irish premiere, stars the late Pat Leavy as well as Michael McElhatton.

Among the films to be showcased in the world cinema section are Baltasar Kormakur's "The Sea" from Iceland, Liz Garbus' "Girlhood" and David Gordon Green's "All The Real Girls" from the U.S., Nir Bergman's "Broken Wings" from Israel, Gyorgy Palfi's "Hukkle" from Hungary, Jens Lien's "Jonny Vang" from Norway, Lucas Moodysson's "Lilja 4 Ever" from Sweden, Lone Sherfig's "Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself" and Susanne Bier's "Open Hearts" from Denmark, and Michael Winterbottom's Berlinale winner, "In This World."

A number of industry reps will be in Galway this weekend for the Galway Film Fair, which will match filmmakers with invited financiers, producers and distributors. Among those headed for Ireland are Brigette Suarez from Bavaria Film International, Sofia Sondervan from Content Film, Ashley Luke from Fortissimo Film Sales, Penny Wolf from HBO Film London, Madeline Elles-Hill from Miramax, Norman Brock from the UK Film Council and Jack Turner from United Artists.

Also on tap for the festival this year are showcases of new work from Germany and South Korea. Included will be Wolfgang Becker's "Good Bye Lenin" and Hans Christian Schmid's "Distant Lights" from Germany, while Im Kwon-Taek's "Chiwaseon" and Kim Di Duk's "The Isle" will screen from South Korea. "The Isle" will be shown in a special "Extreme Cinema" section highlighting work that is only for an adult audience.

This Friday, Agnieszka Holland ("Europa, Europa") will present a special masterclass in directing, while Pierce Brosnan ("Evelyn," "Die Another Day") will host an acting masterclass on Sunday morning.

[For more information, please visit: http://www.galwayfilmfleadh.com.]