Irish Film London returns in the New Year with 3 special film events celebrating St Brigid’s Day 2022, in association with the Embassy of Ireland.

As part of Ambassador O’Neill’s ongoing annual St Brigid's Day/Lá Fhéile Bríde celebrations, IFL have chosen two very special feature films and a selection of short films, all by Irish women and presenting stories on film of Irish female lives.

A special advance preview screening of Here Before - directed by Stacey Gregg, featuring Andrea Riseborough, Martin McCann and Jonjo O’Neill

The Kiln Cinema, Kilburn Saturday 29th January, 6pm

Stacey Gregg’s debut feature film made waves at global festivals in 2021, including SXSW and Galway Film Fleadh, where it picked up the festival’s top prize.

Here, we present the film at The Kiln in Kilburn as part of an exclusive advance preview, ahead of the film’s general release on Feb 18th.

When a new family moves in next door to Laura (played by Andrea Riseborough who delivers a breathtaking performance) and her family, their young daughter, Megan, quickly captivates her, stirring up painful memories of her own daughter, Josie, who died several years previously.

Supported by a stellar cast, including Jonjo O’Neill (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs on Netflix) and Martin McCann (The Survivalist on Amazon Prime, Calibre on Netlfix and last year’s Wildfire) Here Before is an assured psyhcological thriller with a third act reveal which is somehow much more disturbing than the supernatural set up which precedes it.

A unique chance to watch Pat Murphy’s Maeve in the cinema, with a panel discussion on the film’s legacy and impact.

The Rio Cinema, Dalston Sunday 30th January, 2.30pm

Presented in partnership with Birds Eye View

Recently re-released on DVD by the BFI, Irish Film London are proud to screen Pat Murphy’s Maeve, as part of our St Brigid’s Day celebrations for 2022.

Widely regarded as Ireland’s first feminist feature, it was also the first film to be cast and shot in Belfast. In the film, Maeve (Mary Jackson) returns to Belfast after being away for several years, and she stays in the family home with her sister and father. Being back in Belfast allows Maeve to comment on the state of things around her with a perspective all of her own - the Troubles, Irish nationalism and much more are dissected through her in the film.

Pat Murphy describes her film as being “composed of a series of episodes in conversation with each other”. Formally adventurous, it borrows from Brecht and Godard to present a modernist polemic on a difficult period of recent Irish history.

Join us at The Rio Cinema in Dalston on Sunday 30th January for this special event, presented in partnership with Bird’s Eye View - an organisation dedicated to championing films by women and non-binary people.

A post screening Q&A will include host Melanie Iredale (director, Birds Eye View) and panelists Christine Molloy (director, Desperate Optimists), Selina Robertson (of queer feminist film collective Club Des Femmes) and Dr Emmie McFadden (academic at Sheffield Hallam Uni, contributor to notes for Maeve's recent BFI DVD re-release)

A special selection of Irish short films from female filmmakers - available throughout February on Irish Film From Home

Only on Irish Film From Home - Available from Tuesday February 1st

To coincide with the Embassy of Ireland’s Lá Fhéile Bríde celebrations on 1st February, Irish Film London are proud to present a month-long programme of the best female-led short films from Irish Film Festival London 2021 - only available right here on Irish Film From Home.

This programme features some of the best stories made by, and about, female filmmakers from Ireland in the last 12 months. Read on for a preview of the 6 films in this programme - only available on Irish Film From Home throughout the month of February.

The programme includes:

Magic - dir Jo Halpin

Lauren gets a frantic phone call from ex boyfriend Ciaran and arrives at his apartment expecting him to beg for her forgiveness. But Ciaran has something else entirely that he needs to discuss.

Nails - dir Pippa McCormick

A young woman seeks solace with her barman mate as her new buzz-cut haircut has been dissed at her sister's bridal shower. When a woman customer appears to fancy her, the question of nail lengths becomes a determining factor in the progression of their encounter.

The Colour Between - dir by Dave Tynan, written by Jade Jordan

Annalise and Chris are bringing up their infant son surrounded by love and care. When Chris brings terrible news home, everything becomes under threat. A film about family and an interracial couple under fire. Annalise is at the heart of it all.

Her Song - written and directed by Éabha Bortolozzo, Jack Kirwan

Produced by Radii animation in conjunction with Screen Ireland and RTÉ, Her Song sees Eve learning of her Grandmother's harrowing history in a Mother & Baby home. Woven through her past is the mythological and misunderstood figure of the Banshee, whose comforting presence inspires the strength she needs to tell her story.

The Grass Ceiling - dir Iseult Howlett

This emotive and layered short documentary film vividly captures the raw physicality of team sport.Three successful female athletes explore what drives them to play.

Ascending Grace - dir Claire Byrne

First officer Maedhbh has high hopes for her first day of work, but when she fails to impress Captain Cara and with a cabin full off restless passengers waiting to take off, it's far from what she expected...

This exclusive selection of short films is only available on Irish Film From Home throughout the month of February.