June 2023
Irish-Australian Arts Roundup
June 2023
Can you believe we’re in June already? As we hear stories of how hot it is at home (well warm enough to turn the heating off), it’s cooling down here in Sydney, the home of IFF HQ where we’re drinking lots of tea as we plan another exciting Film Festival for you to feast on – including taking it to cinemas and homes across Australia!
We’re looking forward to sharing the details with you very soon…
This month’s Arts Roundup features the super popular Irish Crime Drama Love/Hate, which Aussies are adoring (and being slightly disturbed by) since screening on SBS Australia.
Love/Hate on SBS
The Irish Crime Drama series Love/Hate has made it’s way on to SBS OnDemand for Aussies to check out:
sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/
Considering the competition for harrowing crime dramas from across the pond (yes we’re looking at you Scandinavian friends) and Aussies preferred fondness for a more romanticised notion of their Emerald Isle mates, it’s great to see this gritty production get the attention it deserves.
Find out why Love/Hate is considered Ireland’s most popular drama ever here
Irish Films featured at upcoming 2023
Sydney Film Festival
Sydney Film Festival have done it again, with an impressive program of select Australian and international screenings taking place across the city, including two moving, female-directed Irish titles.
The historically shameful treatment of women and children by church is explored inPray of our Sinners, an intensely moving documentary by Sinéad O’Shea. And don’t miss the heart-warming tragicomedy Sunlight, directed by Claire Dix from 7-18 June.
We’re also very excited to see Opening Night movie The New Boy, directed by Warwick Thornton (Samson & Delilah) and featuring Cate Blanchett, who still stands out in our minds for her uncanny portrayal of murdered Dublin Journalist Veronica Guerin in the 2004 movie of the same name.
Explore the program and get a taste of what awaits at the 70th Sydney Film Festival here: sff.org.au
IFTA 2023 Award Winners
The 2023 Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) Awards took place in Dublin recently, with some big names who are hot on the international screen scene right now hitting the capital’s red carpet to accept their awards, including Sharon Horgan & Brendan Gleeson (pictured).
No surprises that Sharon Horgan’s BAFTA Winning Bad Sisters – shot in and around Dublin and in which she also plays a lead role – took home quite a few awards.
Everything Horgan touches turns to gold (literally); a well deserved win for her, the cast and crew as audiences in Australia and across the world wait in deep anticipation to see what the creative powerhouse delivers next.
Gleeson graciously accepted his award for Oscar Nominated The Banshees of Inisherin – also proving popular with Australian audiences since being streamed on SBS On Demand and having been released on Netflix.
Oscar Winner, An Irish Goodbye also took home a stack of awards – it’s finally available to watch online in Australia here:
vimeo.com/ondemand/
The Rising Star Award went to Director Aoife McCardle and the Lifetime Achievement Award went to costume designer Joan Bergin.
Congrats to all, and here’s to Irish stories continuing to make an impact on screens across the globe.
Why are Irish Films Succeeding?
The Irish Times have made a special report on the success of Irish films on a global scale which is well worth a read:
www.irishtimes.com/special-reports/2023/04/19/hard-graft-and-strong-support-the-secrets-of-film-sectors-success/
Movies set in Ireland you can stream now!
Looking for a new Irish movie to discover or want to rewatch a favourite, here are a list of films set in Ireland that are available to stream.
gizmostory.com/best-movies-set-in-ireland/
National Celtic Folk Festival
The National Celtic Folk Festival is ready to get the party started when it kicks off in Portarlington June 9-12. Irish talent included Sorcha Costello, Conor Connolly and Pádraig Ó Dubhgnaill (trio) and Daoiri Farrell.
To see the full lineup and to purchase tickets, visit their website www.nationalcelticfestival.com/
June Events Diary
In the month of June there are festivals, concerts and movie screenings every weekend. Check out the list here:
irishfilmfestival.com.au/june-2023-event-diary/
‘West the Road’ New Movie from Ireland
An all-star cast of actresses will be making their way to County Kerry, Ireland later this year to start filming ‘West the Road’. The film is to be directed by Ita Fitzgerald and stars Siobhán McSweeney, Imelda Staunton, Eileen Walsh and Hannah Waddingham.
Get all the updates here.
5th Irish Animation Awards
The 5th Irish Animation Awards were held recently and Cartoon Saloon’s animated fantasy film ‘My Father’s Dragon’ came out on top with fave wins, including Best Irish Feature.
Find the full list of winners here.
Cillian Murphy – ‘Small Things Like These’
From the author of ‘An Cailin Ciuin’, Cillian Murphy stars in ‘Small Things Like These’ which has recently started filming.
Find all the info here.
Darkness Into Light on RTE
Members of the IFF team had the opportunity to with Darkness Into Light Sydney to film their event on the 6th of May. Some of their footage was featured in the RTE News broadcast that you can check out here.
Til next time we pop in your inbox – and if you need your Irish Arts fix, keep an eye on our socials @irishfilmfestivalau
And feel free to send us any information you’ve got for future inclusion in this enews or sharing on socials at irishfilmfestival@gmail.com
Slán agus beannacht,
Enda Murray, Director Irish Film Festival Australia
& The IFF Team
