Matthew Nevin, Executive Director of the Contemporary Irish Arts Center Los Angeles (CIACLA), introduces The Irish Film Festival Los Angeles, a celebration of new Irish cinema, coming to LA this March for St Patrick's Weekend.
From riveting dramas and laugh-out-loud comedies to experimental film and animation, The Irish Film Festival Los Angeles 2024 is set to be a testament to the creativity, passion, and vision of Ireland's filmmakers, inviting audiences to explore new stories and celebrate the art of Irish cinema.
As the Festival Director and Executive Director of CIACLA, producing the festival has been a journey of collaboration. My focus has been on knitting together a rich tapestry of Irish cinematic talent with the vibrant, eclectic spirit and home of filmmaking - Los Angeles.
Working hand-in-hand with the festival team, judges and Irish filmmakers living in Ireland and some based in LA, our goal is for the festival to be a celebration of Irish filmmaking, a testament to the enduring spirit of Irish storytelling, and a reflection of Ireland's award winning filmmaking landscape; involving both mainstream and independent filmmakers.
The two-day event will feature an impressive lineup of 8 new Irish feature films, including Tarrac, One Night in Millstreet, Verdigris, Double Blind, Apocalypse Clown and Much Ado About Dying. By bringing together filmmakers, enthusiasts, cast and crew, the festival will shine a spotlight on a range of voices, including award winning documentaries, authored experimental films, and Irish language cinema.
As Declan Recks, director of Tarrac, a life-affirming story set in the stunning West Coast of Ireland in Kerry Gaeltacht, says, "Festivals like the Irish Film Festival LA are vital for the promotion of small Independent films".
To support emerging and independent filmmaking, the festival will additionally feature 3 curated short film screenings, presenting 23 short films by exciting Irish filmmakers, highlighting 9 female directors and 11 female writers, 2 Irish language shorts, enchanting animation shorts, 2 experimental shorts and a selection of short documentaries.
Letter To Lia, Nicky Larkin's short film, is an ode to his daughter; Larkin hopes his film will "update the clichéd Belfast story for Irish-American audiences, so that the next generation of Nordies - like our daughter, Lia - will be much less attached to traditional divisive identities."
With the Irish making waves on the international scene and throughout awards season, we are both proud and excited to amplify a range of voices, championing new stories and the artists behind them.
Cléa van der Grijn, the writer and director of The Disembodied Adventures of Alice, says she is "humbled and grateful to showcase my film in the la la land of cinematic opportunities and to be amongst the small group of films chosen to represent CIACLA 's curatorial vision of new film in Ireland."
Beyond the screenings, there will be an exciting time to bring together a community of film enthusiasts and industry professionals with the wider public through engaging Q&As with filmmakers, panel discussions, and networking events, particularly spotlighting Irish talent in Los Angeles. Each day of the festival ends with a social event for ticket holders, providing ample opportunities for connection and celebration.
Patricia Kelly, the writer and director of Verdigris, is "delighted to be attending" the festival "in the home of international cinema,"; she will feature on a panel discussion celebrating Women in Film and TV, hosted by Kirsten Sheridan.
Morgan Bushe, producer at Fastnet Films, has two films screening as part of the festival; he "welcomes the fantastic opportunity to bring Apocalypse Clown to Los Angeles". In Morgan's words, its "invaluable as part of promoting the film and the Irish talent involved to American audiences, with director George Kane and writer Shane O'Brien both over to attend.
Bushe continues: "Equally with One Night in Millstreet, which will be released in Irish cinemas on April 5th through WildCard Distribution. It has been sold by the sales company Kaleidoscope internationally and a screening at CIACLA Los Angeles comes at an opportune time!
The festival would not be possible without the support of the incredible team, stakeholders, audience and agencies who have helped make it happen. #IFFLA24 is kindly Supported by the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme, Screen Ireland, ELMA, TG4, MART Gallery & Studios and The Irish Film Institute’s IFI International programme in connection with Culture Ireland and Arts Council Ireland.
The Irish Film Festival Los Angeles 2024, presented by the Contemporary Irish Arts Center Los Angeles (CIACLA) will run over St Patrick's Weekend, March 16/17th at Laemmle Monica Film Center - find out more here.
