Best of Ireland showcased at LAIFF, Montreal, Venice

by Naman Ramachandran

17/08/2009 - Conor McPherson’s The Eclipse will open the 2nd annual Los Angeles Irish Film Festival (LAIFF, September 23-27). LAIFF is a co-presentation with the American Cinematheque. The film features Aidan Quinn and Ciaran Hinds, who won Best Actor at the Tribeca Festival.

Other selections include: Pat Collins’ documentary Gabriel Byrne: Stories from Home; writer/director Macdara Vallely’s feature debut Peacefire starring John Travers, Gerard Jordan and Gerry Doherty; Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn’s first feature, Cherrybomb; Vittoria Colonna’s feature documentary about Ireland’s transsexuals, Identities; Lance Daly’s IFTA Best Director winning Kisses [trailer]; Joe Conroy’s documentary Waveriders, which won the inaugural George Morrison Feature Documentary; and Tomm Moore’s award-winning The Secret of Kells [trailer, film focus].

Meanwhile, John N Smith’s Irish/Canadian co-production Love & Savagery will enjoy its world premiere at the 33rd Montreal World Film Festival (August 27-September 7). The film looks at a Canadian geologist who explores Ireland and finds the love of his life. The film features Canadian actor Allan Hawco and Irish actress Sarah Greene.

Montreal will also premiere Desmond Bell’s documentary Child of the Dead End. The film employs a mix of archive footage from the British Isles and Ireland along with live action recreated sequences and follows the life of screenwriter, poet, novelist and playwright Patrick Macgill. Acclaimed actor Stephen Rea plays Macgill.

Writer/director Mira Fornay’s Foxes has been selected for the Critics Week at the 66th Venice Film Festival (September 2-12). The film looks at a pair of Slovakian sisters in Ireland haunted by their past.