A preview of the St Patrick’s Film Festival at the Mayor of London’s St. Patrick’s Festival London: 15th-17th March 2019 at Regent Street Cinema. The festival showcases some of Ireland's finest Irish Film and Animation, with short films, comedy, drama, documentary, animation, family friendly films and a workshop for kids! More info here: www.bit.ly/19StPatricksFilmFest
We would like to send a special thanks to Irish band Pillow Queens for allowing us to use their track ‘Favourite’ in our trailer. 'Favourite' won our inaugural Best Irish Music Video Award for Bob Gallagher's music video for the song in 2018. www.pillowqueens.com
FESTIVAL PROGRAMME: Friday 15th March Venue: Regent Street Cinema 6.30pm: Opening the festival is a collection of short films from Ireland, including Hugh O’Connor’s beautiful animation The Overcoat, which was voiced by Peaky Blinders’ Cillian Murphy. The film tells the story of a young outcast clerk who desperately seeks the approval of the popular office group by spending his every last penny on an impressive new overcoat, only to find it brings him more attention than he bargained for. The shorts programme also includes Ireland’s first ever vertical dance film Walls of Limerick, a statement on the psychological effects that harsh political borders have on people. The experimental short, which features versatile performers blending the worlds of dance and aerial dance, explores notions of barriers, borders and breaking loose.
8.15pm: John Butler (Handsome Devil, The Stag) once again delights with cross-cultural comedy drama Papi Chulo, starring Matt Bomer and Alejandro Patiño as unlikely companions. The film sees a lonely Los Angeles weather-man ‘hire’ a middle-aged Latino migrant worker to be his friend, in this darkly comedic reflection on class, ethnicity, and companionship in a busy contemporary world.
Saturday 16th March Venue: Regent Street Cinema 2.00pm: Family and unusual friendships are at the centre of Colin McIvor’s exciting film Zoo, based on a true story set in Belfast in 1941. It sees Young Tom and his misfit friends fight to save 'Buster' the baby elephant during the German air raid bombings of the city.
3.45pm: An intergenerational puppet creatures craft workshop with Kabutar Arts. Based on the characters from the film Zoo, IFL invites children, their parents and grandparents to come together create their own 3D animals from everyday objects. Places are limited for the workshop so please book in advance to avoid disappointment. http://bit.ly/Tix_InterGenWShop
6.00pm: Take to the skies with a life-affirming documentary The Man Who Wanted to Fly. Capturing the wonder of one man’s dreams, the film tells the irresistible story of 80-something bachelor farmer Bobby Coote. He is determined to take flight. Even if it’s the last thing he does… Bobby is the perfect example of someone who sticks to his convictions, despite everyone’s preference, although well-meaning, for him to conform to a stereotype. Director Frank Shouldice will attend this screening to share his own experience of making the film.
St. Patrick’s Day, Sunday 17th March Venue: Trafalgar Square & Regent Street Cinema 12noon-6pm: Pop in to chat with the Irish Film London Team among the community stalls on Trafalgar Square. You will be able to check out the festival trailer live on The Big Screen in the square, while enjoying the live music, food, dance and festivities.
6.30pm: After celebrations come to a close on Trafalgar Square, it’s back to Regent Street Cinema for the Festival Closing Night, with a final selection of Irish short films, including We Are the New Ireland, in which four Irish people explain what it is to be gay in Ireland today, framed by the music of Steven Sharpe. The festival is a part of the city-wide St. Patrick's Parade and Festival, run by the Mayor of London's office at London's City Hall.
This programme has been curated by Irish Film London, with the kind support of the Emigrant Support Programme and Culture Ireland. For more info visit irishfilmlondon.com | Twitter: @irishfilmlondon | Facebook: @IrishFilmFestivalLondon
We brought the latest and greatest Irish film and animation as part of the Mayor of London’s this city-wide celebration of all things Irish in the St. Patrick’s Day Film Festival London 2019.
Check out some photos from the festival here.
