Toronto Irish Film Festival - Fundraiser Gala Screening + Party, June 11

Toronto has 90+ film festivals of varying size and importance. But in a city so large, diverse and supportive of film and the arts, it doesn't seem to be a problem. There's a little something for everyone.

So on June 11, we'll see the kickoff of the new Toronto Irish Film Festival, which will open with a gala fundraiser and a party. So that there's no confusion with the Toronto International Film Festival, the Irish festival will use the acronym TIRFF. The screening will be at 7pm at Innis Town Hall (2 Sussex Avenue) in the University of Toronto, and the party takes place at the nearby Molly Blooms Pub, 191 College Street, at 9pm. For more info visit www.uofttix.ca or www.torontoirishfilmfestival.com.

Here is their press release:

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The Toronto Irish Film Festival
Presents the Canadian Premiere of
“The Yellow Bittern: The Life & Times of Liam Clancy”

• Friday, June 11th at 7:00 pm at Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto.

(Toronto, ON – Thursday, May 27, 2010) – The Toronto Irish Film Festival is pleased to present the Canadian Premiere of The Yellow Bittern: The Life & Times of Liam Clancy on Friday, June 11th at 7:00 p.m. at Innis Town Hall on the University of Toronto campus. This inaugural gala screening event is the official kick-off for The Toronto Irish Film Festival, which will present a full festival in March 2011.

“With over half million GTA residents who claim Irish heritage, and with so many great films coming out of Ireland that never make it on the big screen here, we decided to start a film festival that gave the Irish in Toronto a chance to enjoy these movies”, remarks Michael Barry, TIRFF Co-founder. “We’re very excited that The Yellow Bittern is our inaugural screening,” adds John Galway, TIRFF Co-founder. “It’s a wonderful film that’s never been seen in Canada before focusing on the great Irish balladeer, Liam Clancy, and is filled with music and song”.

Hailed as the "Best Irish Film of 2009" by the IRISH TIMES, The Yellow Bittern: The Life and Times of Liam Clancy is a revealing and surprising portrait of the last surviving member of The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, and the man that Bob Dylan called “just the best ballad singer I’d ever heard in my whole life.” Drawing on unseen and behind-the-scenes footage of the band at the height of their career, as well as on Clancy’s own personal archive, the film is a compelling look at an iconic musical life lived to the full.

The gala screening of The Yellow Bittern: The Life & Times of Liam Clancy is a fundraiser to support The Toronto Irish Film Festival and as a bonus, each screening ticket provides admission the exclusive After-Party at Molly Bloom's (upstairs) at 191 College Street.

To purchase tickets for The Yellow Bittern: The Life and Times of Liam Clancy, please visit, www.uofttix.ca or call 416 978 8849.

Visit www.torontoirishfilmfestival.com for more information on upcoming events and fans can join the Toronto Irish Film Festival Facebook group.