The ultimate Irish pub crawl, a boxing legend at the height of his career, a madcap chase for missing millions, an Irish bird who’s afraid of flying and personal reconciliation are among the themes at this year’s Toronto Irish Film Festival. Taking place from Friday, February 28 to Sunday, March 2 at TIFF Bell Lightbox, TIRFF 2014 delivers a weekend of pure cinematic pleasure with North American and Canadian Premieres, a classic Irish pub-night and very special guests from Ireland.
“Toronto film lovers have fully embraced TIRFF and we couldn’t be happier to celebrate the very best of Irish cinema and set the stage for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in March”, says Michael Barry, co-founder of TIRFF. “TIRFF is proud to connect Irish ex-pats to a taste of home, and welcome new Toronto audiences to the wonder of Ireland through the magic of film.”
The Opening Night Gala on Friday, February 28, sponsored by Tourism Ireland, features the North American Premiere of THE IRISH PUB by filmmaker Alex Fegan, who will be in attendance. THE IRISH PUB is a loving tribute to the most important institution in Irish society and the publicans who run them.
John Galway, TIRFF co-founder adds, “This year, we’re bringing together all four corners of the Toronto-Irish community like never before and we’re delighted to present Irish content in all genres, including animation, documentary and, a television-first for TIRFF, the Season 2 launch of “Moone Boy”, winner of the 2013 International Emmy for Best Comedy, in partnership with BITE TV and Blue Ant Media”.
TIRFF’s annual SHORTS PROGRAM, sponsored by the Embassy of Ireland in Ottawa, showcases a strong line-up of Ireland’s up-and-coming filmmakers. Saturday’s schedule continues with “When Ali Came To Ireland”, sponsored by KPMG, which captures the lead up to the historic 1972 Muhammad Ali boxing match which captured the attention of the entire country. Also screening Saturday is the Northern Ireland drama “Made in Belfast”, by first-time director Paul Kennedy, about a successful novelist returning home to confront those he left behind. On Sunday, TIRFF audiences will be the first in Canada to see the much-anticipated Season 2 launch of ”Moone Boy”, the wildly popular Irish sitcom created, co-written and co-starring Chris O’Dowd. Back by popular demand after its premiere at TIFF 2013, Lance Daly’s madcap “recession” comedy “Life’s A Breeze”, sponsored by The Ireland Fund of Canada, starring Pat Shortt, Fionnula Flanagan, Brendan Gleeson and introducing newcomer, Kelly Thornton, wraps the weekend on a comedic high-note.
TIRFF 2014 FILM PROGRAM
OPENING NIGHT GALA – THE IRISH PUB (North American Premiere)
Sponsored by Tourism Ireland
Director: Alex Fegan in attendance/Q & A following screening
Running time: 75 mins.
Friday, February 28, 2014, 7:00pm
Alex Fegan’s feature documentary is a eulogy to the greatest institution in Irish society, and the legendary Irish publicans who run them. An ode to the traditional Irish pub in all its glory: solid wood, stone floors, no music, little TV, knick-knacks and yellowed ceilings, Fegan’s camera slips from pub to pub meeting interesting and quirky publicans and patrons each step along the way.
OPENING NIGHT PARTY: Dora Keogh’s, 141 Danforth Avenue, 9:30pm
Present your TIRFF ticket stub from ‘The Irish Pub’ to meet director Alex Fegan and join us in celebrating TIRFF 2014.
TIRFF 2014 IRISH SHORTS PROGRAM
Sponsored by The Embassy of Ireland, Ottawa
Saturday, March 1, 2014, 5:00pm
Fear of Flying, 9 mins – director Conor Finnegan (Canadian Premiere)
The End of the Counter, 13 mins – director Laura McGann (Canadian Premiere)
Two Wheels Good, 9 mins – director Barry Gene Murphy (Canadian Premiere)
The Tree, 6 mins – director David Freyne (Canadian Premiere)
Breakfast Wine, 11 mins – director Ian Fitzgibbon (Canadian Premiere)
Laura McGann’s THE END OF THE COUNTER recalls the moment in 1965 when grocery shopping in Ireland changed forever with the birth of the supermarket. TWO WHEELS GOOD, directed by Barry Gene Murphy follows four seasoned veterans of the Irish open road celebrating a lifetime in the saddle. Conor Finnegan’s FEAR OF FLYING is an animated short about a small bird with a fear of flying trying to avoid heading south for the winter. Set in post-Apocalyptic Ireland, director David Freyne’s THE TREE features stunning cinematography as two strangers meet in a silent fight for survival. In Ian Fitzgibbon’s dark comedy, Breakfast Wine, two alcoholics have their daily routine disrupted by a beautiful stranger.
WHEN ALI CAME TO IRELAND (Canadian Premiere)
Sponsored by KPMG
Director: Ross Whitaker, Aideen O’Sullivan
Running time: 50 mins.
Saturday, March 1, 2014, 7:00pm
WHEN ALI CAME TO IRELAND is the story of how, in July 1972 an historic boxing match in Croke Park between Muhammad Ali and Alvin ‘Blue’ Lewis brought the nation to a standstill. Ross Whitaker’s film, produced during the 40th anniversary of the fight, combines a wealth of archival material with colourful reminiscences of people who came into contact with Ali during his time in Ireland.
MADE IN BELFAST (Canadian Premiere)
In Partnership with Northern Ireland Screen
Director: Paul Kennedy
Running time: 83 mins.
Cast: Ciaran McMenamin, Shauna Macdonald, Bronagh Gallagher
Saturday, March 1, 2014, 9:00pm
Shot in thirteen days on a micro budget, Made In Belfast, Paul Kennedy’s directorial debut proves that money is no substitute for a great story. Jack Kelly (Ciaran McMenamin) is a successful novelist who leads a reclusive life in his apartment in Paris. But when circumstances conspire to bring him back to his hometown for a few days, he resolves to put things right with the friends he betrayed, the brother he abandoned and the fiancée his jilted.
MOONE BOY – Season II Canadian Launch
In Partnership with Blue Ant Media/BITE TV
Creator & co-writer: Chris O’Dowd
Cast: Chris O’Dowd, David Rawle, Deirdre O’Kane, Sarah White, Claire Monnelly
Running time: 60 mins.
Sunday, March 2, 2014, 5:00pm
Back in 2012, Chris O’Dowd and Nick Vincent Murphy charmed Sky 1 and BITE TV (in Canada) audiences with their semi-autobiographical coming-of-age comedy set in the small Irish town of Boyle in 1989. Following the adventures of 12-year-old Martin Moone (David Rawle), the twinkly-eyed series celebrated family life as he set about growing up amid his chaotic clan, ably assisted by imaginary friend Sean Murphy (O’Dowd), who was always on hand with some not-so-wise words of advice. Now, with both an IFTA and International Emmy Award for Best Comedy under its belt, Moone Boy is back for a second series, delivering whimsical nostalgia and laugh-out-loud humour.
LIFE’S A BREEZE (Toronto Encore)
Sponsored by The Ireland Fund of Canada
Director: Lance Daly
Cast: Pat Shortt, Fionnula Flanagan, Kelly Thornton
Running time: 83 mins.
Sunday, March 2, 2014, 7:00pm
A feel good “recession comedy”, starring Fionnula Flanagan, Pat Shortt and Kelly Thornton, Life’s A Breeze is directed by Lance Daily (Kisses, The Halo Effect). Inspired by a real life Israeli human interest story, Life’s A Breeze follows three generations of a Dublin family struggling to stay afloat and stay together through hard times in Ireland. Chaos ensues when Nan reveals that she’d stashed her life savings of 1 million euros in her old mattress which the kids took to the dump. A madcap race to all of Dublin’s landfills follows and soon the family are joined by the whole country on their search to find Nan’s treasure.
Festival details:
TICKETING
$20 Opening Night
$15 All Other Screenings
BOX OFFICE INFO
Tickets on sale February 14th via torontoirishfilmfest.com and TIFF Bell Lightbox box office (416.599.TIFF)