On 14th April 2022, As part of CIACLA's Spring Showcase we hosted the Irish Film Showcase at Laemmle Monica Film Center Santa Monica.
Screening from 7.30pm - 9.30pm
The Irish Film Showcase is an exciting celebration of Irish Film featuring some of Ireland's most exciting filmmakers!
In 2022 it included the return for its third year The Irish Short Reel Series; showcasing a curated selection of award winning contemporary Irish Short Films, ranging from drama, comedy, animation and contemporary storytelling!
And the premiere of CIACLA produced short films 180 Degrees and Maggie, which were shot during the covid-19 pandemic, alongside an exclusive part preview of the feature film What Is Going To Happen Next?
Irish Film Showcase 2022 Program:
The Way That I Am With You {Endless Mile Studios} | 180 Degrees {Jenn McGuirk} | MAGIC {Alfonso Films} | Pork {Gareth Lyons} | Maggie {CIACLA} | Not Quite Dead (Yet) {Peter Melrose} | Sparkle {Andie McCaffrey} | Snámh {Colm Daly} | Mary {Shaun O’Connor} | Memento Mori {Boulder Media} | Solas {Claire Bermingham} | The Tattoo {Ian Power} | What is Going to Happen Next? {Matthew Nevin} | Only A Woman {Irish Women In Harmony}.
{scroll down for film summaries}
The Irish Film Showcase LA has been kindly supported by Culture Ireland, Screen Ireland, Irish Screen America, European Languages & Movies in America, MART Gallery & Studios and Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme.
Films:
Magic
Summary Lauren gets a frantic phone call from ex boyfriend Ciaran and arrives at his apartment expecting him to beg for her forgiveness. But Ciaran has something else entirely that he needs to discuss.
Runtime: 10 Minutes
CAST/CREW: Ali Hardiman, Killian Sundermann, Jo Halpin, Claire Byrne, Emma Wall, Philip Blake Alfonso Films https://www.alfonsofilms.com/
Previous Screenings: Dublin International Comedy Film Festival, Women In TV & Film Ireland Showcase, Flickerfest, Tokyo International Film Festival
The Tattoo
Summary
A Holocaust survivor working in a New York funeral home in 1980 makes a life changing discovery.
Runtime: 15 Minutes
CAST/CREW:
Natalie Radmall-Quirke, Grainne Keenan, Jer O’Leary, Andy Kellegher, Natalia Kostrzewa
Ian Power – Writer / Director / Editor, Rocket Science Productions
Previous Screenings:
Lost World Film Festival, Greece, 2019, Winner, Best International Short Film,
Seattle Jewish Film Festival, 2019, Winner, Best Short Narrative,
Chicago Irish Film Festival, 2019, Winner, Festival Prize,
Foyle Film Festival, 2018, Winner, Best Irish Short,
Fastnet Film Festival, 2018, Winner, Best Irish Short ,
IFTA Nominee Best Short Film, 2018
PORK
Summary
An omniscient Pig narrates a doomed relationship between the man who kills them and the woman who serves them as an in-flight meal.
Runtime: 5 Minutes
CAST/CREW:
Gareth Lyons – Writer & Director. Claire Mooney – Producer. Aoife Balfe – Art Director. Chris McLoughlin – Composer. Cat O’Brien – Animation Director. Doireann Ní Bhriain – Narrator
Director Biography:
Gareth Lyons is an Irish based Animated film director and co-owner of My Aunt Sally Productions. He directed several short films including: “Combat Action Teenz in Kablammie Dodger” and “Scoring Pointes” with comedian Bec Hill. He also developed and directed the Irish adult animated sitcom, “Ends Meet” with cartoonist and writer Mark Baldwin. He is currently residing in Kilkenny cartooning his way through co-vid excerbated ennui.
Previous Screenings:
Galway Film Fleadh – World Premiere JULY 2021
BFI Film Festival – UK Premiere OCT 2021
Amsterdam Short Film Festival – OCT 2021
Virgin Media Dublin Film Festival – FEB 2022
‘Only A Woman’ – Irish Women In Harmony
Summary
Originally released in 1992, ‘Only A Woman’s Heart’ – sung by Mary Black and Eleanor McEvoy – was the cornerstone of the multi-platinum ‘A Woman’s Heart’ compilation, one of the best selling Irish albums of all time. Award-winning singer-songwriter / producer RuthAnne, who has co-written hits for Niall Horan, Britney Spears, Jojo and Martin Garrix, brings her immaculate twenty-first century pop savvy production skills to this new track built on the foundation of the original. The track marks the recorded debut of fast-rising Nigerian-Irish poet, performer and playwright Felicia Olusanya, better known as FeliSpeaks. FeliSpeaks timely, lyrically observed verses are punctuated with soaring, heartfelt choruses from IWIH mainstays Aimee, Erica Cody and RuthAnne herself. Closing the circle is a haunting vocal introduction from Eleanor McEvoy.
Runtime: 4 Minutes
CAST/CREW:
RuthAnne, Felicia Olusanya (Feli Speaks), Aimee, Erica Cody (Artists). Ais Brady (director), Claire Byrne, Jo Halpin, Emma Wall (producers), Evan Barry (Cinematographer)
Alfonso Films https://www.alfonsofilms.com/
The Way That I Am With You
Summary
After a year away, Cole, returns home to face the very things he was running from. Brief but meaningful encounters with his brother, and his brother’s wife–the love of Cole’s life–leave Cole searching for redemption.
Runtime: 18 Minutes
CAST/CREW: Olivia Applegate / Gabriel Dominguez / Zac Catone
Endless Mile Studios is a creative transmedia company that can help transcend your project beyond the screen. Our collective offers a wide range of creative voices to help you realize your project’s full potential. We offer a full range of services that have you covered from pre through post production.
Sparkle
Summary
An undervalued housewife is jolted back to life upon discovering the new electrifying fitness fad aerobics. When the government tries to enforce a ban on it, she must fight to keep her sparkle
Runtime: 16 Minutes
CAST/CREW:
Cast: Irene Carr – Andie McCaffrey Mick Carr – Mark Dunne Jan Nolan – Kathy Monahan Jeremy Carr – Dafhyd Flynn Brian Carr – Shane Purcell Padjo Swayze – Jeff O’Toole
Crew: Writer/Producer – Andie McCaffrey, Producer – Aoife Derwin, Director – Gerard Walsh, Director of Photography – Mark O’Rourke
Andie plays the role of Irene in Sparkle. A child of the 1980s the lure of spandex and aerobics was ignited when she stumbled upon the true story of the 1980s Irish government’s ban on aerobics. Andie’s recents roles include Lisa in BBC TV Pilot Paramedics. Jane in South RTE, Abbie White in Fair City RTE and Stephanie in RTE/BBC drama Love/Hate. Andie has recently been awarded funding & is in development for her next project.
Previous Screenings:
Virgin Media International Film Festival, Galway Film Fleadh
Not Quite Dead (Yet)
Summary
A man and a woman stand atop a roof with one goal in mind: the ground. If you’re going down, go down singing.
Runtime: 5 Minutes
CAST/CREW:
Peter Melrose, Rachel Walshe, Adrian O’ Connell, Will Smith, Katarzyna Horzela, Alex Borwick, Wesley O’ Duinn, Aidan Monaghan, Niamh Lawless, John Talbot,
Writer/Producer: Peter Melrose, Director: Adrian O’ Connell, Director of Photography/Editor: Will Smith, Music Producer: Alex Borwick, 1st AD: Wesley O’ Duinn, Production Designer: Katarzyna Horzela, Gaffer: Aidan Monaghan, MUA: Niamh Lawless, Colourist: John Talbot,
Previous Screenings:
66th Cork International Film Festival (WP)
Memento Mori
Summary
In Victorian Dublin, a post-mortem photographer receives his latest subject, a recently deceased young woman, late one stormy night. And this encounter with the dead young woman will be unforgettable.
Runtime: 9 Minutes
CAST/CREW:
Paul O’Flanagan, Louise Ní Chonchúir, Laura O’Flanagan, Piotr Bzdura, Kevin O’Brien, Aoife Maguire, Mark Gatiss
Having graduated Senior College Ballyfermot in 2000 with a diploma in character animation, Paul joined Boulder Media later that year. In the years since, Paul has acted as animation director and director for many high-profile shows such as Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends for Cartoon Network, El Tigre for Nickelodeon and Danger Mouse for BBC and Netflix. Paul is currently the Senior Television Director in Boulder Media, creatively overseeing production on all tv. shows being produced inhouse. ‘Memento Mori’ is Paul’s third short film.
Mary
Summary:
What can you do when you’ve accidentally smashed the local statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary? The only thing you can do: frame your older brother.
Runtime: 7 Minutes
CAST/CREW:
Director: Shaun O Connor / Writer: Jonathan Hughes / Producer: Sharon Cronin / DOP: Eimear Ennis Graham / Starring: Lee & Luke O Donoghue, George Hanover, Mark O’Halloran, Mark D’Aughton, Cora Fenton
Shaun O Connor is an Irish filmmaker. His work has won various awards, including ‘Best Irish Short’ at the Academy Award Qualifying Foyle Film Festival. His collected work can be found at www.shaunoconnor.com
Previous Screenings:
Winner: Beara Film Festival – Best Of The Festival / Best Director,
Winner: Chicago Irish Film Festival -2020 Consulate of Ireland Award
Galway Film Fleadh, Dublin Film Festival, Kerry Film Festival, Cork Film Festival, Fastnet Film Festival
Snámh (Swim)
Summary
A hardy Irish swimming veteran opens up about his life experience and passion for the open water.
Runtime: 3 Minutes
CAST/CREW:
Featuring Colm Daly.
I’m Lee Williamson, a Scots/ Irish Commercial Photographer based on Lough Ree and this is my first foray into short films. I studied BA Photographic Media in Griffiths College Dublin and honed my filming/editing skills during the Irish Covid-19 lockdown. My passion is the expression of informative ideas through images often accompanied with a harmonising score and narrative.
Previous Screenings:
Winner of Lift Off Network Online Sessions, Pinewood Studios London.
Golden Laurel and Nomination for Best Maritime Film, Brejning Film Festival, Denmark.
Audience Choice Award in the Lift Off Global Network Paris Film Festival.
Nominations for Best Short Film and Best Cinematography at the Cinematic European Film Festival, Transylvania.
Nomination for Best Sports Personality in the Sportfilm Liberec Film Festival, Czech Republic.
Official Selection in the 21 Islands Short Film Festival, New York
Official Selection in the Longford Cruthú Arts Festival, Ireland
Official Selection in the Still Voices Short Film Festival, Ireland
Official Selections in the Lift Off Global Network Film festivals in London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Sydney, Melbourne, Los Angeles,
SOLAS
Summary
Finding Light… Finding Home
Runtime: 3 Minutes
CAST/CREW:
Claire Bermingham, Michael-David McKernan, Daithí
Claire Bermingham was born and raised in Ireland. She has a BA in Drama & Theatre from Trinity College, Dublin where she was winner of the Socrates program gifting her the opportunity to also train at the University of California. Claire works successfully as an actor in Los Angeles, (About Hope, Step Into: Miss Laura’s, Killing Frisco) achieving her dual citizenship due to her contribution in the field. She began writing and producing with first film Lost Beneath the Stars in which she also stars. This piece was purchased at Cannes Film Market for RTE network Ireland and enjoyed a successful festival run premiering at Warsaw International Film Festival (Oscar qualifying), in competition at Edmonton International Film Festival (Oscar Qualifying) [Winner Bobby Riddell Award: Excellence in Cinematography] and screening as part of the Irish Screen America festival in both Los Angeles and New York. Claire has just wrapped production on another self-written and produced Irish narrative piece, Lough Derg (Red Lake) filmed on location in Wicklow, Ireland, co-starring Hazel Doupe and directed by Irish Art Council’s filmmaker of the year Shaun Dunne.
Previous Screenings:
Achill Film Festival Ireland, 2022
180 Degrees
Summary
180 Degrees is the tense story of two women with one conflicting circumstance.
Runtime: 7 Minutes
CAST/CREW:
Jenn McGuirk, Georgina McKevitt, Michelle Beamish. Kerbute Productions, Matthew Nevin
Previous Screenings:
Indie Cork 2021, Dublin International Short Film and Music Festival, California Women’s Short Film Festival
What is going to happen Next?
Summary
‘What is Going to Happen Next?’ is an ambitious documentary that showcases a curated selection of unrehearsed video responses to the title question, put to one person in every country around the world. For this screening we present a short film version of the feature length documentary.
The film emerged from a ten-year-long socially engaged project to capture opinions from all 203 sovereign states as defined by the United Nations. The documentary, which was completed in 2020, presents a curated selection of these participants. This film creates a global discussion that serves to highlight the diversity and complexity of humanity.
To initiate a genuinely unplanned answer to the title question, the participants were not informed of the question in advance. Instead, the participants were asked to record themselves reading the question, and were given just two minutes to respond. By removing the participant’s ability to prepare, the film presents its audience with a series of natural responses and a variety of behavioural nuances within an international cultural context. By showcasing participants’ choice in visual setting, manner and practice of participating, along with a series of complex personal, social and political responses, the film attempts to give voice to the incredible diversity of our planet’s population.
Runtime: 10 Minutes
CAST/CREW:
Director & Producer Matthew Nevin ~ Associate Producers Bernard O’Rourke Katriona Woods Ciara Scanlan Katherine Nolan Jenny Minniti-Shippey ~ Editor Jack Toibin ~ Dialogue Editor Robin Price ~ Featuring Music by: Craig Stuart Garfinkle, BMI NELLA ~ Researchers Ewa Pypno Lynda Phelan Chiara Pizzi Roisin Bohan Olga Criado Monleon ~ Supported By: MART Dublin CIACLA Los Angeles RUA RED South Dublin Arts Center Kildare County Council Arts Office Galway City Council Arts Office
Previous Screenings: –
Silicon Beach Film Festival, Los Angeles, USA | Toronto Independent Film Festival of Cift, Canada | London Arthouse Film Festival, UK | World Film Carnival – Singapore | Oregon State International Film Festival / Das Festival, USA | Something Wicked DocuFest, Georgia USA. | Chicago Irish Film Festival, USA | Golden State Film Festival, Los Angeles, USA | Beyond Earth Film Festival, India | Kalakari Film Festival, India | International Filmmaker Festival of New York, | USA Madrid Film Awards, Spain | The Macoproject Film Festival – New York, USA | Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, USA | Creators Film Festival, USA | L’HIFF – Barcelona International Film Festival, Spain | New Renaissance Film Festival, London, UK | Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival 2021 | Kerry International Film Festival Ireland | The Blow-Up Arthouse Film Festival, Chicago, USA. |
Maggie
Summary:
During the Covid-19 Pandemic 2021 CIACLA proudly produced “Maggie”, a short film offering a glimpse into the lives of a recently separated couple. What happens to their fractured relationship when their mutual friend drops a bomb into the works?
The film stars Alan Smyth, Catherine Siggins and Caroline Morahan and was produced in response to restrictions on live theatre during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Directors of CIACLA, Jenny Minniti Shippey, Ciara Scanlan and Matthew Nevin, worked together with the three actors to develop and direct this short film remotely.
Runtime: 8 Minutes
Cast/Crew:
Featuring: Caroline Morahan, Catherine Siggins, Alan Smyth.
Producers / Writers: Jenny Minniti Shippey, Ciara Scanlan and Matthew Nevin.
Edited: Matthew Nevin
Previous Screenings: Malibu Film Festival
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