September 30, 2020
The Film Festival that Commemorates the Very Best of Contemporary Irish Cinema is Adjusting to a Drive-In Format at the Irish Cultural Center in Canton, MA
Boston, Mass., (September 29, 2020) – The Irish Film Festival Boston will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with its first ever two-day drive-in event on October 9 – 10, 2020, at the Irish Cultural Center (ICC). Beginning both nights at 7:00 p.m. EST, the event will showcase a selection of the new talents, voices and perspectives that have emerged from the Irish film industry in recent years.
The Irish Film Festival Boston has attracted many talented filmmakers and a diverse audience over its 20-year history. The festival continues to introduce patrons to all facets of Irish cinema with a focus on films that challenge traditional conceptions of Irish culture. They will also offer a virtual screening event later this year to showcase more of its program from the original lineup in March.
Irish film fans can look forward to the U.S. premiere of The Last Right, featuring Golden Globe winning and Emmy nominated actor, Brian Cox, for his role in HBO’s television series Succession, and the New England Premiere of A Bump Along the Way, starring Bronagh Gallagher, best known for her roles in Pulp Fiction, The Commitments and Sherlock Holmes. The two-day schedule of film screenings include:
Friday October 9th
● Breakthrough Feature, A Bump Along the Way, kicks off the two-day drive-in event. This female-led, feel-good comedy set in Derry, Northern Ireland focuses on a middle-aged woman whose unexpected pregnancy after a one-night stand forces her to finally take control of her life and become the role model her teenage daughter craves. This will be the film’s New England premiere starring Irish Film and Television Academy nominee, Bronagh Gallagher. Opening night will also feature the festival’s Most Inspiring Short awardee, The Bird and The Whale. The nationally recognized animated film written and directed by Carol Freeman tells the inspirational story of a young whale struggling to find his voice with a caged songbird as they struggle to survive while lost at sea.
Saturday October 10th
● Night two of the drive-in event will kick off with the North American premiere of the Director’s Choice Feature, The Last Right. Directed by Aoife Crehan with links to Quincy, Mass., this comedy tells the story of a man bringing the body of someone he barely knows for burial with his family. The man’s good intentions are motivated by trying to patch up the relationship between him and his brother. During his long journey, however, both romance and family secrets arise to complicate the trip.
● This year’s Director’s Choice short film will also play on Friday evening. Audiences will have the opportunity to see a story about love, death and crap anniversary gifts in the short film, Ruby. The film was directed by Oscar nominee, Michael Creagh.
“We are honored to continue the tradition of bringing the best of Irish film to New England audiences during our 20th anniversary year,” said Dawn Morrissey, Executive Director of the Irish Film Festival. “It makes our team proud to be able to collaborate with the Irish Cultural Center, and the Irish Consulate, during the pandemic, to present the first ever Irish Film Festival drive-in experience in the U.S. We hope our followers will appreciate being able to see new Irish cinema during this time. We are also keen to continue our mission of supporting films written and directed by women, and this is reflective in our programming in general.”
By collaborating and forging ties between the Irish Consulate General and Irish Cultural Center (ICC), the festival can carry on this year and present two nights of Irish Contemporary cinema at the ICC.
“This is an extra special year for the Irish Film Festival as they celebrate their 20th Anniversary,” said Laoise Moore, Consul General of Ireland at the Irish Consulate Boston. “We could not be happier to see the Irish Cultural Center step in and partner with the Irish Film Festival to ensure these screenings go ahead this year. We’re bringing together a much-loved American tradition of the drive-in movie with contemporary Irish film and hospitality from the Irish Cultural Center.”
“We are delighted to be hosting the Irish Film Festival at our first drive-in event at the Irish Cultural Center,” said Stephen Burke, Executive Director of the ICC. “We have attended the festival in Somerville for many years, so when Dawn approached us to host a drive-in this year we jumped at the opportunity to partner with the Irish Film Festival and the Irish Consulate. We look forward to welcoming audience goers to the ICC here in Canton.”
The drive-in is $50 per car to attend. For the full details of the Irish Film Festival drive-in and ticket pricing, please visit www.irishfilmfestival.com. Follow the Festival on Instagram and Twitter and Facebook.
About the Irish Film Festival and Awards
The Boston Irish Film Festival Awards were inaugurated in 2003 to honor those filmmakers whose work represents the very best of Ireland and the Irish on screen. Brought in part by the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme the festival is also supported by Culture Ireland, The Department of Foreign Affairs, The Irish Arts Council, Screen Ireland and Irish Consulate, Boston. Irish Film Festival Boston is a partner of IFI International. The program, run by the Irish Film Institute and supported by Culture Ireland, aims to strategically build an audience for Irish film through worldwide cultural exhibition. https://ifi.ie/irish-film/international/ https://www.cultureireland.ie/
Founded in 1999, the festival has screened over 600 Irish films since its inception and is the go-to for sneak peaks and US distributor-sponsored screenings. The Festival has played host to some of the greatest names in Irish cinema, including Jim Sheridan, Gabriel Byrne, Brendan Gleeson, Domhnall Gleeson, Terry George, Colm Meaney, Fionnula Flanagan, John Boorman, Aidan Quinn, Stephen Rea, Ruth McCabe, Dylan Moran and Pat Shortt. For more information, please visit www.irishfilmfestival.com.
Irish Consulate
The Consulate-General of Ireland in Boston works with the Embassy and our other Consulates-General and State Agencies in the United States to promote ties between our two nations. We help maintain and enhance links with our Irish-American diaspora, promote Irish culture in new and traditional forms, as well as provide consular services to Irish citizens in New England. To learn more, please visit our website https://www.dfa.ie/boston/
Irish Cultural Center
The mission of the Irish Cultural Centre of New England is a large and crucial one - to promote and organize Irish cultural, educational, sporting and social events. The center aims to establish and sustain a facility where current and future generations of the New England community can participate in activities that promote Irish culture and heritage. The ICCNE does this in collaboration with other Irish related organizations, with individual artists and performers, educational and cultural institutions. For more information please visit www.irishculture.org
