2 February 2023
Irish-Australian Arts Roundup
02/02/2023
This month’s Irish Arts Roundup features the launch of our St Patrick’s Day Outdoor Film Festival with free film screenings in Sydney, and updates on the awards season successes for the top Irish films. We also have news on Australian visits by Mary Coughlan and the Corrs, a full program of events from Sydney Queer Irish for World Pride 2023 and other exciting dates for your arts diary. Finally we feature a tribute to the wonderful Séamus Begley who left us in January.
Free outdoor Irish film screenings as part of Sydney St Patrick’s Day Festival
Watch out for the full program in next months mailout with details of special events such as ‘Singalong Commitments’ (with a live band!), Irish DJs and a special appearance by Dublin born MC Peaches Queen.
Renowned trad musician Séamus Begley dies age 73
It was with a heavy heart that we learned of the passing of Séamus Begley, the talented and well-known Kerry box player, singer and entertainer in the first week of January. Séamus was a frequent visitor to Australian shores over the years and was a much-loved performer. He had a close partnership with Australian-born Steve Cooney and they recorded and performed some incredible music together. Seamus was the embodiment of the living tradition of Irish music, particularly in the Dingle area. His virtuoso box playing lives on with his nephew Colm Begley. Here is a link to a fine tribute by Irish TV station TG4 which ends with Seamus singing a beautiful lament as Ghaeilge accompanied by Jim Murray and Sharon Shannon. Ár lámh dheis go raibh a anam dílis.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dc6hvsI7syA
‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ Scoop Awards
The 2023 Golden Globe awards were on the 11th of January and ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ went into the show leading the nominations with 8 nominations.
The film won 3 awards on the night, Colin Farrell won for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy Film, Martin McDonagh won for Screenplay of a Motion Picture and the film won Best Picture Musical or Comedy.
What a great start to the awards season!
The BAFTA nominations were announced in January and ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ received ten nominations including Best Film, Best Director for Martin McDonagh and Best Actor for Colin Farrell.
The nominations for the Academy Awards were also released recently and ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ has been nominated for 9 awards;
Best Picture
Best Director (Martin McDonagh)
Best Actor (Colin Farrell)
Best Supporting Actor (Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan)
Best Supporting Actress (Kerry Condon)
Best Original Score (Carter Burwell)
Best Original Screenplay (Martin McDonagh)
Best Film Editing (Mikkel E.G. Nielsen)
‘An Cailin Ciuin’ Oscar Nomination
‘An Cailín Ciúin’ was a standout fan favourite at last year’s Irish Film Festival and now it’s receiving love from the movie industry getting nominations at both the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) and the Academy Awards.
The film received two nominations for Best Film Not in the English Language and Best Adapted Screenplay at the BAFTAs and was nominated for International Feature Film at the Academy Awards.
Sydney Queer Irish – World Pride Dates for Your Diary
Thursday 9th February @ 7pm: Funds for Freedom, The Gaelic Club
Sunday 19th February @ 10am: Fair Day 2023, Victoria Park
Monday 20th February @ 7pm: ‘How To Tell A Secret’ Queer Screen Mardi Gras Film Festival Screening, Dendy Cinemas, Newtown
Friday 24th February @ 6pm: Live & Proud SQI World Pride Opening Night Viewing, The Gaelic Club
Sunday 5th March @ 10am: The Full Irish, The Mercantile Hotel
IFF Director Enda Murray’s short film ‘Road’ screening at ACMI, Melbourne
Melbourne audiences have a chance to view an early short film “Road” (2000) created and produced by Irish Film Festival director Dr Enda Murray at ACMI as part of a screening event called ‘How I see it: Blak art and film exhibition’ (showing at ACMI 16 Dec 2022 – 19 Feb 2023). The program celebrates films that in the words of curator Jenna Rain Warwick (Luritja) ‘exist in-between, that question the notions of place and national identity and reflect on the historical representations of First Nations peoples and communities surviving colonialism’. “Road” was directed by Catriona McKenzie. The screening on Wed Feb 8th at 6.30pm will be followed by a discussion led by curator Jenna Rain Warwick. Admission is free. Details at:
https://www.acmi.net.au/whats-on/how-i-see-it-films-in-cinemas/road-mandem/
More Dates for Your Diary
FINTAN O’TOOLE; WE DON’T KNOW OURSELVES
Wednesday 8th March, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Gallery Room, Ground Floor, Mitchell Building, The State Library of NSW
Ireland’s leading public intellectual, Irish Times columnist and award-winning author Fintan O’Toole discusses his new book ‘We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Ireland Since 1958′ with Anton Enus.
$25.00 per person includes light refreshments
Register today as places are limited. Get tickets here.
The Kidogo Irish Aboriginal Festival is back in Fremantle WA from 17th to 19th March with an incredible lineup for 2023!
For the first time, revered Irish Artists and Poets are flying in to Fremantle specially for this festival.
Join Kidogo Arthouse and celebrate the deep connection between Irish and Aboriginal people through storytelling, poetry, music, art and more at the beautiful Kidogo Arthouse and surrounds.
More details here.
Music News
Irish singer songwriter Mary Coughlan is touring the Australian east coast over March and April this year. She will be joined by Brett Hirst, James Nash & Matt Mc Mahon.
The Corrs are coming back to Australia!
After a successful Hunter Valley show they will be touring in October and November 2023!
The group will be joined by Aussie pop royalty Natalie Imbruglia, the legendary Toni Childs and Adelaide trio, Germein.
Get your tickets at https://www.oneworldentertainment.com.au/.
2022 Director Interviews
As part of the 2022 Irish Film Festival we recorded Q&A’s with actors and directors who featured in the festival. These Q&A’s are now available to watch on YouTube.
Check out our 2022 Festival playlist that includes all the interviews and the 2022 festival trailer
Enda Murray
Director Irish Film Festival
