In this edition we lament the failure of KNEECAP to get shortlisted for an Oscar and look forward to the new Irish thriller starring Barry Keoghan.
March is looking like a bumper live music month with the huge MISNEACH festival in Sydney featuring Dermot Kennedy and Glen Hansard and the Frames. Kneecap’s gig at UNSW Roundhouse is sold out but they are also appearing at Misneach on March 16th at Sydney’s Domain. Also sold out is Limerick’s favourite son, Blindboy Boatclub at the Enmore, Sydney on April 2nd. Now we’re sucking diesel!
February 1st is not only the first day of Spring in Ireland but it’s also the feast day of St Brigid (or Bad Brigid as she is sometimes known!) the Celtic goddess of fertility.

For this special Christmas edition of our arts roundup we’re taking a look at the IFF24 Audience Favourite Films, Golden Globe nominations for Irish talent, an update on Cillian Murphy’s new film and lots more goss on Irish movies and music in Oz.
Last but by no means least is our diary of Irish events around Australia in our Events Diary at the bottom of this email.
Nollaig Shona Daoibh!

We are half-way through the Irish Film Festival season and there are loads of pix below from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth plus a preview of Brisbane and Canberra. We have published our 2024 Q&A’s on YouTube so catch up with our interviews with directors and actors including Margo Harkin (Stolen) and Brendan Gleeson. We have a double pass to giveaway to Samuel Beckett play Waiting for Godot at the State Theatre in Canberra. And we also have some Irish music and TV shows making their way to Australia.

This month’s round-up is full of entertainment news and updates.
If you missed it, we announced our full program at our media launch last week, revealing the 16 films and documentaries that we will be screening in cinemas and online. We also unveiled our 10th birthday t-shirt. We have an update on the Irish artists that will be touring Australia over the next 6 months. We also have an update on Irish stars in Hollywood productions.

The Irish Film Festival Australia’s full cinema and online program for the 10th Anniversary 2024 Festival has been announced!
This year, the festival will showcase a total of 16 films and documentaries from Ireland. This includes 1 World Premiere and 12 Australian Premieres. The festival will screen in cinemas in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and Canberra from 17 October – 24 November and online across Australia from 17 Octpber – 3 November.

We are delighted to announce our Opening Night Movie:
That They May Face the Rising Sun
Starring Anna Bederke & Barry Ward (Sunlight)
BEST FILM
Irish Film and Television Awards
Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE SCREENING!

This month’s roundup has once again been hijacked by Kneecap! – the sensational new Northern Irish, Irish language comedy that is now in cinemas in Australia!
The film has been chosen as Ireland’s entry for the 2025 Oscars and we have an update on their Australian tour’s ticket sales.
Plus our monthly wrap up of Irish movie news and for sports fans an update on the Irish at the Paralympics.