US actor Martin Sheen is set to return to Ireland for this year’s Galway Film Fleadh 2011. Sheen will be taking part at the Public Interview which will be held on Sunday July 10th at The Town Hall Theatre, Galway. The actor has appeared in over 65 feature films including ‘Apocalypse Now’, ‘Wall Street’, ‘Ghandi’, ‘Catch Me If You Can’, ‘The Departed’, ‘Bobby’ and ‘The Subject Was Roses’. Other important roles include President Bartlet in ‘The West Wing’ for which he was nominated for six Emmy’s and his role as John F Kennedy in ‘Kennedy’.
The world premiere of Sheen’s latest movie ‘Stella Days’ will also be screened at the Galway Film Fleadh on the 9th July ahead of the Public Interview. Produced by Newgrange Picutres and set in rural Ireland, ‘Stella Days’ sees Martin Sheen play a parish priest whose love for cinema drives him to help set up a local cinema in the town. But there is opposition from locals who question his faith and Bishop Hegarty (Tom Hickey) who believes the funds would be better spent on a new church. Other acting talent in the film includes Amy Huberman (The Clinic), Marcello Plunkett (Swansong: Story of Occi Byrne) and Stephen Rea (Ondine). IFTA winning filmmaker Thaddeus O’Sullivan (Into the Storm) directed the script from Antoine Ó Flatharta.
The 23rd Galway Film Fleadh will open on Tuesday July 5th with the Irish premiere screening of ‘Parked’. Directed by Darragh Byrne and starring Colm Meaney, Colin Morgan and Stuart Graham, it is the story of lonesome Fred whose life changes when he forms an unlikely friendship with dope-smoking 21 year old Cathal.
Other highlights announced for the Fleadh, which will take place from 5th-10th July, include Gill Denis (Walk the Line) as the Screenwriter in Residence, in association with IFTA; David Mackenzie (The Last Great Wilderness) as the subject of the Director’s Masterclass, in association with Screen Training Ireland, and the European premiere of Alexandra McGuiness’ ‘Lotus Eaters’.
The full programme for the 23rd Galway Film Fleadh will be launched in the Radisson Hotel on June 21st. Check out Galway Film Fleadh 2011 for more details.
