Irish Film London St Patrick’s Day March 2020
Celebrating St Patrick’s Day at the Cinema
Irish Film London (IFL) celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a special three-day festival of screen magic, including an acclaimed gangster drama set in rural Ireland, and a sneak preview of one of the most eagerly anticipated TV series of 2020.
IFL is the official film partner of the Mayor of London’s St Patrick’s Day Festival.
Now in its tenth year, IFL returns to the Regent Street Cinema in central London with an exciting programme of features, exclusive Q&As, children and family events and a selection of original short Irish films.
The film festival opens Friday 13th March with Calm with Horses, the acclaimed screen debut of director Nick Rowland, produced by Michael Fassbender. It stars Cosmo Jarvis (Peaky Blinders, Lady Macbeth), Barry Keoghan (The Eternals, Dunkirk) and Niamh Algar (The Virtues, Pure).
This gripping thriller is set in rural Ireland where former boxer ‘Arm’ (Jarvis) becomes the feared enforcer of the drug dealing Devers family, which trying to be a good father to his autistic son, Jack. The screening is followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.
On Sunday 15th March, Oscar nominated director and IFL Patron Lenny Abrahamson will hold a Q&A session, discussing his recent work, including a sneak preview of scenes from his much-anticipated TV series Normal People.
Lenny directs the BBC and Hulu series, adapted from Sally Rooney’s acclaimed novel.
Set in modern Dublin, Normal People is a romantic love story about two teenagers who try to work through an awkward, tangled set of circumstances. It stars Daisy Edgar-Jones (Cold Feet) and newcomer Paul Mescal.
The line-up includes two programmes of original Irish short films (Friday 13th & Sunday 15th March).
Among the highlights is The Blocks, an animated film exploring the effect of addiction on family life and made by artist Gareth Gowran working with women from the Rialto Community Drug Team family support group, Step by Step.
Day in The Sun is a moving tale of friendship, GAA sports and dementia and won the Audience Award for Best Short at the Clones Film Festival.
In Twin, Ava spends her 21st birthday exploring the grief felt by the death of her twin sister and her attempts to overcome it.
The festival also includes a Saturday afternoon family film that will delight audiences, young and old, followed by a craft-based intergenerational workshop, which will be bring to life the characters from the film.
Kelly O’Connor, Irish Film London Founder, said: “St. Patrick’s Day, traditionally the time when everyone wants to celebrate Ireland and her culture, is the perfect opportunity to showcase Irish film to a wide audience. Irish Film London is here to make the most of that chance for Irish screen talent to shine here in the UK.”
The main celebration of the St. Patrick’s Festival and Parade takes place on Sunday 15th March at Trafalgar Square, with other satellite events taking place across the city, including the Camden Music Trail and Irish Music on the Underground.
IFL will be there in Trafalgar Square with their regular stall to chat about Irish Film and their exciting 10th anniversary plans and will be screening some short films up on the big outdoor screen.
The St Patrick’s Day Festival is run in collaboration with the Greater London Authority.
Mayor Sadiq
Khan said: “I’m proud that every year our celebrations for St
Patrick’s Day get better and better, and that 2020 will be our biggest yet.
“I’m particularly pleased that this year the theme will be women in sport, as
we celebrate the great impact sport has on our communities and look to inspire
the next generation of talent.
“The weekend really is a great way for Londoners and visitors to our capital to
join together and celebrate the way London’s Irish community have helped to
shape life in our city. It shows again how London is open to all.”
Tickets are on sale at: www.regentstreetcinema.com/st-patricks-day-festival-2020
Irish Film London is supported, in part, by the Emigrant Support Programme under the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland, Culture Ireland, The Ireland Funds of Great Britain and the Irish Youth Foundation.
More info is available from irishfilmlondon.com
For more information please contact:
Kelly O’Connor
Mob: 07596077011
Email: press@irishfilmfestivallondon.com
Schedule of events: St. Patrick’s Day Film Festival 13th – 15th March 2020
Friday 13th March, 17.30: Programme One of Irish short films
Friday 13th March, 19.30: Calm with Horses
Saturday 14th March, 14.00: Family film selection
Saturday 14th March, 16.00: Kids/families workshop (Green Room)
Sunday 15th March, 12noon to 16.00: Trafalgar Square celebration of St Patrick’s Day (IFL stall and showing of short films on big outdoor screen)
Sunday 15th March, 17.30: Lenny Abrahamson and Normal People, Talk & Taster
Sunday 15th March, 18:45: Irish Film London Drinks Reception
Sunday 15th March, 19.30: Programme Two of Irish short films
Irish Film London online:
Website: irishfilmlondon.com
Facebook:
@irishfilmfestivallondon
Twitter& Instagram: @irishfilmlondon
#IrishFilmLondon
Further info:
Irish Film London
IFL is a not for profit organisation, which champions Irish film, TV and animation across the UK. IFL celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.
Patrons include Colin Farrell, Lenny Abrahamson, Ros Hubbard and Moe Dunford.
Irish Film London will also run the Irish Film Festival London (IFFL) in November 2020 at the Regent Street Cinema, London.
The IFFL 2020 will include UK premieres of unique Irish films, documentaries and short films as well as exclusive events, filmmaker Q&As and the annual Irish Film London Awards.
2020 is the tenth anniversary of the Festival so look out for extra special events and surprises to celebrate the first decade of IFFL.
To be the first to know, sign up to the IFFL mailing list at www.irishfilmlondon.com