The 14th Irish Film Festival, Boston, will take place over four days from Thursday, March 20th to Sunday, March 23rd. Sponsored by B.A. Event Promotions and Rás na hEireann, the festival will be hosted in the Somerville Theatre, Davis Square, and will showcase a number of contemporary Irish feature films, shorts and documentaries.
The winners of the Boston Awards for the 2014 Irish Film Festival have been announced, among them the Best Breakthrough Feature prize was awarded to ‘Run & Jump’. Directed by Steph Green and produced by Samson films, ‘Run & Jump’ has received four IFTA nominations and is due for a national release this May. The drama is about a doctor who comes to stay with a family after a life-changing incident.
Recession comedy ‘Life’s a Breeze’ was named Director’s Choice Feature. Directed by Lance Daly (‘Kisses’) and starring Pat Shortt (‘Garage’) and Fionnula Flanagan (‘The Others’, ‘Man about Dog’), the comedy has screened at a number of Irish and international film festivals. Produced by Fastnet Films and distributed by Wildcard, the film has been nominated for Best Actress for newcomer Kelly Thornton and for Best Supporting Actress for Flanagan at this year’s IFTAs.
Brian Deane’s ‘Volkswagen Joe’ is the Most Inspiring Best Short of the Boston Awards. The short film is set in the period of the Troubles, when a hard-working mechanic finds himself torn by the political divide. Meanwhile, the Director’s Choice Short prize was awarded to ‘Breakfast Wine’, directed by Ian Fitzgibbon (‘Death of a Superhero’) and also starring Shortt.
The Global Vision Best Documentary was won by Donald Taylor Black for his film ‘Skin in the Game’. The documentary, which was nominated at last year’s IFTAs, looks at the current financial crisis through the responses of a number of artists who used the crisis to base their work upon.
Last but not least, ‘Noble’ has won the Special Jury Prize. Directed by Stephen Bradley, the film stars Deirdre O’ Kane (‘Moone Boy’), Brendan Coyle (‘Downton Abbey’), Liam Cunningham (‘GOT’, ‘The Guard’), and Ruth Negga (‘Love/Hate’) in a drama that tells the true story of a courageous Irishwoman named Christina Noble (O’ Kane) who overcomes a harsh childhood to find her destiny on the streets of Saigon. ‘Noble’ previously won the top prize at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Other events that are to take place in Boston up to and during the Irish film Festival include a number of world film screenings, celebrations for St Patrick’s Day, live music performances, and Rás na hEireann (an Irish race).
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