It kicks off with the Canadian Premiere of Dreaming the Quiet Man. The film is a portrait of director John Ford and the making of his movie The Quiet Man. Gabriel Byrne provides the narration for the film. Afterwards, the opening night party will take place at Quinn’s Steakhouse & Irish Bar located at 96 Richmond Street W.
Other films screening during the festival include Diaspora, aLive from the Divis Flats, Hot Press – The Write Stuff, Sensation, and the closing night film Parked which stars actor Colm Meaney.
The Toronto Irish Film Festival continues until tomorrow night at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King Street West.
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SECOND ANNUAL TORONTO IRISH FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATES FIRST-EVER LOOK AT IRELAND’S PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE CINEMA WITH CANADIAN PREMIERE OF GABRIEL BYRNE-NARRATED “DREAMING THE QUIET MAN”
North America’s Fastest-Growing Irish Film Fest Unspools March 9 at 7 p.m.
with Gala Presentation of Documentary Chronicling the
Making of John Ford’s 60-Year-Old Classic “The Quiet Man”
Colm Meaney Closes Two-Day Fest in Director Darragh Byrne’s Gritty Comedy Parked
As Ireland continues to dominate the news headlines in its bid to strengthen a flagging economy, thousands of Irish youth are flocking to the shores of North America and most specifically to Toronto, a longstanding stronghold of emigrating Irish families that is now eight generations old. With this backdrop to a country in turmoil, but full of yesterday’s dreams, and an understanding of today’s harsh realities and tomorrow’s uncertainties, the second annual Toronto Irish Film Festival (TIRFF) (www.torontoirishfilmfest.com) opens its doors on Friday, March 9 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox on King Street with 11 works (10 new Canadian premieres) and a nod to Irish culture in Canada. (See complete schedule and listings below.)
With tickets ranging between $15 and $20 for main program and gala presentations, TIRFF opens on Friday, March 9 at 7 p.m. with the Canadian Premiere of Dreaming the Quiet Man, a riveting documentary that chronicles legendary Irish film director John Ford’s 20-year journey to create the iconic Irish masterpiece, The Quiet Man (John Wayne), celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2012. Directed by Sé Merry Doyle and narrated by Irish actor Gabriel Byrne, the film features never-before-seen interviews with actress Maureen O’Hara and directors Martin Scorsese, Peter Bogdanovich and Jim Sheridan. The film will be followed by a Gala Reception at 9 p.m. at Quinn’s Steakhouse & Irish Bar, located at 96 Richmond Street W.
“We have some of the finest films from Ireland’s former and current cinematic royalty, and the first-ever
spotlight on the Irish stars and directors of tomorrow,” says TIRFF Executive Director Michael Barry. “The Toronto Irish Film Festival represents a celebration of a vibrant Irish movie industry that continues to prosper despite the desperate economic conditions in Ireland today. No matter what the economic or political scenario, Ireland’s ability to tell captivating stories has never wavered.”
The closing night gala presentation on Saturday, March 10 at 8 p.m. stars Colm Meaney, everyone’s favourite Irish actor (Star Trek: The Next Generation), as Fred Daly, a down-out man who returns to Ireland and finds himself living in his car in the comedic Parked. Directed by Darragh Byrne, the film explores friendship, redemption and love, and showcases Meaney in a career-defining performance that is touching, sad and often hilariously funny.
Other program highlights on Saturday, March 10 include the Music Program, featuring the Canadian premiere of the spectacular indie entry Hot Press: The Write Stuff, a celebration of Ireland’s popular and controversial music magazine, at 2:15 p.m. Hot Press celebrates 35 years in publication this year and played a key role in launching the careers of U2, the Boomtown Rats, Hothouse Flowers and a slew of other Irish bands that have made it to the top of the international music charts. The Music Program also celebrates the current music scene with four music videos from Ireland’s most promising new music stars, including Two Door Cinema Club (“What You Know”), Cathy Davy (“Little Red”), O Emperor (“Don Quixote”) and The Gorgeous Colours (“The Creatures Down Below”).
Other highlights at this year’s TIRFF include the bittersweet Sensation, directed by Tom Hall and starring Domhnall Gleeson, who wowed Toronto International Film Festival moviegoers last year with his deadpan portrayal of Donal, who inherits some cash and partners up with a local escort to start his own adult-services agency in rural Ireland after the death of his father. Gleeson is the son of powerhouse Irish actor Brendan Gleeson (The Guard).
TIRFF also offers festival attendees and the City of Toronto a first-time glimpse into the rich work of Torontobased Irish filmmakers. Emerging Filmmakers Spotlight on Saturday, March 10 at noon becomes a regular Festival fixture this year with Diaspora, a sequenced film by Barbara Deignan that documents the voices of today’s Irish youth as they settle in Toronto. Also in the Spotlight is Canadian Eleanor McGrath’s aLive from the Divis Flats, a candid profile of community stage performer Hugo Straney.
The Shorts Program at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 10 takes an inside look at the depth of Ireland’s
emerging filmmaking talent, premiering the works of the next wave of Irish directing mavericks. Some of the feature shorts are presented in Gaelic, showcasing films shot in Ireland’s national and official first language.
The films making their Canadian debuts in this section include: the hilarious rural-based 18-minute Noreen, directed by Domhnall Gleeson and starring his father, Irish film idol Brendan Gleeson; the five-minute Origin, director James Stacey’s story of a young man about to emigrate from Ireland; Shoe, directed by The Fat Lady Sings front man and songwriter Nick Kelly; Crossword, emerging Irish director Vincent Gallagher’s study of a lonely woman who finds solace in her daily crossword; An Cosc, another Vincent Gallagher short about childhood friends from opposites sides of town; and Blue Rinse, director Matt Leigh’s delightful story of a Dublin hair salon that caters to seniors.
For tickets to this year’s Toronto Irish Film Festival, visit www.torontoirishfilmfest.com and click on the “Purchase Tickets” link.
About the Toronto Irish Film Festival (TIRFF):
Under the guidance of Executive Director Michael Barry, the Toronto Irish Film Festival (TIRFF)(www.torontoirishfilmfest.com) is North America’s fastest-growing Irish film festival open to the public. Now in its second year, TIRFF is dedicated to the celebration of world-class Irish cinema and culture. Reaching a potential audience of more than 250,000 Torontonians of Irish descent, as well as millions of movie lovers, the Festival is a welcome complement to the many Irish festivities happening all over the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) during the month of March. TIRFF’s Board of Directors includes: Chair John Galway (Harold Greenberg Fund), Executive Director Michael Barry, Brendan Maher (KPMG), Alan Gregg (Teletoon), Jayne Shackleford (Tourism Ireland), Patrick McCormick (Family Communications Inc.), Sandra McEoghain (RBC), Matthew Cotter (eOne) and Irish radio personality Hugo Straney. TIRFF enjoys the generous support of Culture Ireland, the Embassy of Ireland in Canada, the Irish Film Board, Tourism Ireland, KPMG, H2 Central Marketing & Communications, NOW Magazine, On-Media, Quinn’s Steakhouse & Irish Bar and
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Visit us on Twitter at: @toirishfilmfest
2012 Festival Schedule
OPENING NIGHT GALA & RECEPTION: FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012 | 7:00 p.m. | $20
DREAMING THE QUIET MAN – directed by Sé Merry Doyle | narrated by Gabriel Byrne | CANADIAN PREMIERE
Examining legendary Hollywood director John Ford’s 20-year journey to make the iconic Irish movie “The Quiet Man,” which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Featuring interviews with Maureen O’Hara, Martin Scorsese, Peter Bogdanovich and Jim Sheridan, this fascinating documentary looks behind the myth of both John Ford (born Sean Feeney in Spiddal, County Galway) and “The Quiet Man.” Click here for trailer.
EMERGING FILMMAKERS SPOTLIGHT: SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012 | 12:00 p.m. | $15
DIASPORA – directed by Barbara Deignan and Cian McDevitt | CANADIAN PREMIERE
Presented by the Toronto Irish Film Festival: The filmmakers meet the new wave of Irish calling Toronto their home.
aLIVE FROM THE DIVIS FLATS – directed by Eleanor McGrath | CANADIAN PREMIERE
Following on the success of her debut documentary “Kanata: An Irish Story,” McGrath profiles the stories of Belfast residents growing up in a city torn apart by political unrest and features Irish community radio personality and entertainer, Hugo Straney, in candid discussion of his Belfast days and his Canadian adventure.
MUSIC PROGRAM: SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012 | 2:15 p.m. | $15
HOT PRESS – THE WRITE STUFF | CANADIAN PREMIERE
Profiling Ireland’s legendary and highly controversial music publication which celebrates 35 years in
circulation this year. Regarded as Ireland’s Rolling Stone magazine, Hot Press played a key role in launching U2, The Boomtown Rats, Hothouse Flowers and many other Irish bands.
As well as looking back, we’ll celebrate the current Irish music scene with four music videos of upcoming artists and bands: Two Door Cinema Club (“What You Know”), Cathy Davey (“Little Red”), O Emperor (“Don Quixote”), The Gorgeous Colours (“The Creatures Down Below”).
TORONTO ENCORE: SATURDAY MARCH 10, 2012 | 4:00 p.m. | $15
SENSATION – directed by Tom Hall | starring Domhnall Gleeson
If you missed this deadpan delight at the Toronto International Film Festival, now’s your chance to check it out! The bittersweet story of Donal who, flush with cash following his father’s death, partners up with local escort, Kim, to start his own adult-services agency. Click here for trailer.
SHORTS PROGRAM: SATURDAY, MAR 10, 2012 | 6:15 p.m. | $15
ORIGIN (5 mins) – directed by James Stacey | CANADIAN PREMIERE
On the brink of emigration, a young man races through the streets of Dublin and realises the powerful spirit he is leaving behind. Click here for trailer.
SHOE (13 mins) – directed by Nick Kelly | CANADIAN PREMIERE
This is the third short film by Nick Kelly, former frontman and songwriter of Dublin band, The Fat Lady Sings, and tells the story of how a young man’s attempt to kill himself keeps getting interrupted by a pestering homeless man. Click here for trailer.
NOREEN (18 mins) – directed by Domhnall Gleeson | starring Brendan Gleeson | CANADIAN PREMIERE
Two policemen learn life lessons on a house-call in rural Ireland. Frank is young and heartbroken; Con is middle-aged and weary; they’re both alone and they’re both idiots. Click here for trailer.
CROSSWORD (14 mins) – directed by Vincent Gallagher | CANADIAN PREMIERE
This is the first of two shorts by emerging talent, Vincent Gallagher, and follows a lonely woman who finds solace in her daily crossword and discovers that the answers to the clues are all around her.
AN COSC (12 mins) – directed by Vincent Gallagher | CANADIAN PREMIERE
Based on true events, An Cosc explores the bizarre and humorous story of two childhood friends from opposite sides of town who share a voracious passion for hurling. (In Gaelic)
BLUE RINSE (11 mins) – directed by Matt Leigh | CANADIAN PREMIERE
This delightful look at a Dublin hair salon that caters to a senior clientele proves there may be no better spot to find a willing ear than in a stylist’s chair. Click here for trailer.
CLOSING FILM: SAT MAR 10th | 8:00pm | $15
PARKED – directed by Darragh Byrne | starring Colm Meaney | CANADIAN PREMIERE
Everyone’s favourite Irish actor, Colm Meaney, stars in this heartwarming story of Fred Daly who, upon returning to Ireland with nothing, finds friendship, redemption and love while living out of his car.
ALL SCREENINGS WILL OCCUR AT TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX, 350 KING STREET WEST, TORONTO ON M5V 3X5.
OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION WILL BE HELD AT QUINN’S STEAKHOUSE AND IRISH BAR, 96 RICHMOND STREETWEST, TORONTO ON M5H 2A3.
http://torontoirishfilmfest.com/
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