April 2024
Irish-Australian Arts News
April 2024
March was a huge month with St Patrick’s Day and the Oscars and now we’re looking forward to what April has in store!
We have a recap of the Oscar winners and the Irish Oscars (aka the IFTA Awards) have announced their nominations. We also have the last of the IFF23 Q&As on Youtube and there are some new Irish shows and movies available to steam.
You can also find a Hollywood Reporter article on Why Ireland Is Thriving as a Film Hub which is worth a read.
Irish at the Oscars
Congratulations to the Irish winners at the 2024 Oscars 🎉🎉🎉
Unfortunately, some Irish nominees lost out to Oppenheimer including Irish cinematographer Robbie Ryan and Element Pictures lost Best Picture. Despite this, the Element Pictures co-production ‘Poor Things’ won 4 awards at the Oscars (mostly craft categories) with their biggest win of the show going to Emma Stone for Actress in a Leading Role.
Cillian Murphy walked away with his very first Oscar for his leading role in ‘Oppenheimer’ and during his speech for best actor Murphy broke out some Irish to say thanks for his award; “Go raibh míle maith agat” and said, “I’m a very proud Irish man standing here tonight”. The film went on to win 6 more awards including Best Picture making their awards count 7 out of 13 nominations.
Read all about the importance of Murphy’s win here.
IFTA Awards Nominations
The nominations for the 21st IFTA Awards were announced and Irish Hollywood stars Andrew Scott, Barry Keoghan and Cillian Murphy all received nominations. This awards show also highlights upcoming Irish talent both in front and behind the camera and we love that they focus on so many Irish films.
The ceremony will take place on the 20th of Apil at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre.
You can find the full list of nominees at ifta.ie/news
IFF Q&As on YouTube
The last of our IFF23 Q&As are now on YouTube.
You can find our interview with Antonia Campbell-Hughes, director of It Is In Us All here, our interview with North Circular director Luke McManus here and our interview with Allison Millar, the director of Lyra here.
You can also check out our 2023 Irish Film Festival Playlist which includes our festival trailer, director & actor shoutouts, and trailers for all the films shown in this year’s festival.
Irish On Film!
- Ireland has been making waves in Hollywood over the last couple of years whether through Irish productions or Irish actors/actresses.
This is hugely evident through Cillian Murphy’s recent Oscar win and Irish language film An Cailín Ciúin‘s 2023 Oscar nomination for foreign film.
Alongside these accomplishments, Ireland is also a popular filming destination. Star Wars has scenes shot on Skellig Michael, the Cliffs of Moher are featured in The Princess Bride, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Leap Year, Into the West and Hear My Song.
Read The Hollywood Reporter article here.
- NORMAL PEOPLE on Stan.
NORMAL PEOPLE, the steamy series which sent student applications to Trinity sky-rocketing and launched the careers of Paul Mescal, Éanna Hardwicke and India Mullen is now available to stream on Stan, watch here.
- Derry Girls star Louisa Harland to appear in Disney fantasy series Renegade Nell
Accused of murder, Nell Jackson finds herself forced to live on plunder and expedients with her two sisters. Helped by a brave spirit named Billy Blind, she realises that fate has not led her astray by chance as she navigates war-torn Europe.
Watch now on Disney+
- IFF22 Film Steps of Freedom and IFF23 film An Irish Goodbye are available to watch for free on SBS OnDemand. Both films were well-received at their screenings, Steps of Freedom was the opening night film in 2022, and are worth a first watch or a repeat viewing.
We also have a Q&A with Steps of Freedom director Ruán Magan that you can watch here.
IFF Films Screen on SBS
KNEECAP bringing the Irish language to the USA
KNEECAP coming to a cinema near you!
The ground-breaking comedy film about Belfast Gaelic-language rappers, KNEECAP is coming to Australia this Autumn and will open in cinemas all over the country. The film has been signed up by Australian distributor Madman and will open in high street cinemas later in the year.
KNEECAP have been having remarkable success in the USA via the remarkable fiction film about the band starring Michael Fassbinder which stormed the SXSW Festival. Stay tuned for cinema dates and times!
youtube.com/watch?v=RW83xNs-ByA
April Events Diary
April
Friday 12 April, 7pm
Austral, Django Bar, Marrickville,
Melbourne rad-trad band land in Sydney
https://www.stickytickets.com.au/fs701/austral.aspx
Saturday 13 April, 2.30pm
Colleen Burke book launch
A new book of poetry ‘Cloud Hands’ will be launched by Kate Delaney
Irish tunes by Bridie Burke and Cory Clarke
songs by Jeannie Lewis and the PerSisters, Christina Mimmocchi and Margaret Walters
The Gaelic Club
Sunday 14 April, 2:00pm
Irish Women in the Antipodes: Foregrounded Book Launch
13 Carrington St, Adelaide
Friday 26 April
Irish comedian David O’Doherty playsthe Enmore Theatre on 26th April and also strums his tiny piano in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
phlaimeaux.tumblr.com/shows?
Saturday 27 April
Scoil na Gaeilge Sydney’s Bealtaine Festival
including a screening of ‘Taking Roots (Music) to Australia’
more info to come
The Gaelic Club, Sydney
May
2 – 5 May
Australian Celtic Festival
year of Ireland & the Isle of Man
The Australian Standing Stones Monument, Glen Innes, NSW
australiancelticfestival.com/
8 – 16 May
Mary Wallopers Australian Tour
making their live Australian debut with this tour, Irish seven-piece The Mary Wallopers have infectious energy and perform floor shaking singalongs.
visiting Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth
frontiertouring.com/themarywallopers
Saturday 11 May
Darkness into Light Sydney
darknessintolight.ie/event/australia/home
Slán agus beannacht
Enda Murray
Director Irish Film Festival
