The Programme for the 6th Richard Harris International Film Festival was launched at events in Fade Street Social (Dublin) and the George Boutique Hotel (Limerick), with a strong theme of harking back to the golden age of Hollywood. The festival runs from the 25th to the 29thof October in Limerick.
The dual launches, to packed houses, followed on from earlier launches at Shannon Airport and the Irish Consulate, New York, as this year the festival is part of the Global Irish Festival Series – an initiative funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, supported by Failte Ireland and Limerick City and County Council. Game of Thrones’ actor Liam Cunningham was among the guests at the Dublin Launch, together with many film-makers, representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Failte Ireland and the Embassy of Ukraine
Mayor of Limerick City and County Council Cllr. James Collins opened the Limerick event and spoke about Limerick’s emerging importance as a destination for the film industry to an audience of local film-makers, artists, business people, representatives of the Council and cross-party Councillors.
Festival Director Zeb Moore announced highlights of the 2018 programme that includes a fascinating documentary from Brian Reddin on tragic Hollywood actress Constance Smith that will open the festival on the 25th of October, followed by a 1950s themed night. On Saturday the 27th of October, Cass Warner – the granddaughter of Harry Warner and daughter of legendary director and producer Milton Sperling – will introduce her documentary The Brothers’ Warner about the founding of the Warner Brothers’ studio.
Other highlights include the live script read of a feature in development by De Warrenne Pictures on Sunday the 28th of October and an acting masterclass with IFTA Winner – John Connors on Saturday 27th. The Limerick to Hollywood Memorabilia – Richard Harris & Constance Smith will take place on The Glazed Street of LCCC Buildings from 19th October and runs through November. Further memorabilia will be on display in the Gallery space of the Belltable and the foyer of LIT over the weekend of the festival.
Wrestling Ernest Hemingway – the Richard Harris Retrospective will close-out the feature screenings, prior the live-streamed, red-carpet awards night in LIT and closing gala party at the Savoy Hotel. The circus-themed black-tie awards night will feature live music and dance numbers.
The feature films selected include the international premiere of Juliette Lewis’s new film Anthem of a Teenage Prophet based on Joanne Proulx’s novel, the Irish & UK premiere of The Stolen Princess from Ukraine; the World premiere of Darrell Roodt’s The Furnace and Paul Bushe’s and Brian O’Neill’s Killers’ within and from Australia ‘The Pretend One’. Also, screening is Ronan Tynan’s searing documentary Syria: The Impossible Revolution followed by a Q&A on the Syrian conflict.
The festival boasts a very strong shorts programme this year, with shorts from the US, the UK, Slovenia, Iran, Spain, Mexico, France and the Netherlands among the selection eligible for awards.
Between Shorts and features, the festival will screen over 130 films this year. Producers’ panels, networking events, Acting workshops and VR/AR workshops will take place over the course of the festival from the 25th to the 29th of October in various locations in Limerick City.
See www.richardharrisfilmfestival.com and social media for details on how to get tickets.
https://filmireland.net/2018/06/26/film-festivals-2018-here-abroad/
