Film Ireland Podcast

Aoife Crehan, Writer/Director of 'The Last Right' by Film Ireland

In this podcast, Natasha Waugh talks to Ruth Barton about her latest book Irish Cinema in the Twenty-First Century, a comprehensive overview of contemporary Irish cinema. Natasha and Ruth discuss: -what makes an Irish film -preoccupations within Irish cinema -a multiplicity of filmmakers making a multiplicity of films -the success of the animation industry -gender representation -short film -the fetishisation of social outsiderdom -Northern Irish cinema  -the lack of diversity in the industry -what's next for Irish cinema Ruth Barton is Associate Professor in Film Studies at Trinity College Dublin. She has published widely on Irish cinema and her works include Irish National Cinema (2004) and Acting Irish in Hollywood (2006). She is a regular film critic on RTÉ radio’s Arena. Irish cinema in the twenty-first century is available to buy now. http://filmireland.net/

Festival Podcast Roundtable: Iffy by Film Ireland

In this podcast, Gemma Creagh met up with Gerard Mannix Flynn, in The Westbury Hotel in Dublin to talk about his film - co-directed with Maedhbh McMahon & Lotta Petronella - Land Without God,  which examines the legacy of institutional abuse by the Irish Church and State over the last century. http://filmireland.net/

In this eerie episode of the Reel Horror Show, special ghoulish guest Stephen "Screaming " Shields [writer, The Hole in the Ground] joins regular monstrous mutant hosts Conor "McMayhem" McMahon, Ali "Horror" Doyle and Conor "Howling" Dowling to open a coffin of consternation and carve up the corpse within. Uv-voov shredded thistle organ... welcome. In this episode, the ghastly gang talk about - "Screaming" Stephen's experience of his debut horror feature,  his horror influences & writing process - some horror-watching recommendations  - a hefty look at IT: Chapter Two  - chats from the set of Irish horror comedy Extra Ordinary - a preview of what's screaming at this year's Horrorthon at the IFI - the perfect double bill for Halloween viewing http://filmireland.net/

In this podcast, Gemma Creagh chats to Shelly Love, the director of A Bump Along the Way which introduces us to Pamela, a boozy 44-year-old single mother whose teenage daughter Allegra disapproves of her care-free lifestyle. Their fragile relationship is further tested when Pamela becomes pregnant after a one-night stand. Shelly discusses -her background in film -the choreography of directing -how A Bump Along the Way came together -prepping for the project -the production design on the film -working with Die Hexen on the soundtrack -working with 50 / 50 cast & crew + Abbey the dog -working on the edit with Helen Sheridan at Yellowmoon post----production facilities -how the film has been received A Bump Along the Way is released in Irish cinemas on 11th October 2019. http://filmireland.net/

Ahead of the this year's IndieCork (6 - 13 October), Gemma Creagh sat down with 2 filmmakers whose films are screening at the festival. Rachel Smyth's film Pit Stop tells the story of one woman’s attempt to flee an abusive relationship. Kerrie Costello's film Nina introduces us to Sarah as she returns to a house to pack up. http://filmireland.net/

In this podcast, Paul Farren talks to Tom Burke, the director of Losing Alaska, which tells the story of a small community in Alaska called Newtok who are dealing with a slow-moving disaster. The 375 inhabitants of Newtok feel the winter storms grow more fierce each year and steal their coastline, they watch their homes disappear into rolling seas as the melting permafrost erodes the edges of their town. The plan is to abandon the town and start again 9 miles up the river on higher, more solid ground. The community is divided between those determined to stay, and those equally determined to move. They are fighting the weather, the indifference of state agencies and now, finally, each other. As well as discussing the intricacies of the ways of life of the people of Newtok and the challenges they face, Tom talks about how the project came to be, telling a big story through the prism of a small situation, people trying to survive in a changing world, the nature of documentary, telling people's stories, not taki

Ahead of the 2019 IFI Documentary Festival (25-29 September) Gemma Creagh talks to three filmmakers whose films feature in the Shorts Programme, which takes place on the 28th September. Nodlag Houlihan (Reality Baby ), Paul Webster (The Vasectomy Doctor ) and Peter Kilmartin (Sunny Side Up) join Gemma to talk about their films and what it takes to put together a documentary. http://filmireland.net/

In this podcast, Paul Farren talks to Mike Ahern & Enda Loughman, Co-Directors/Co-Writers of Extra Ordinary, a supernatural comedy which tells the story of Rose, a sweet and lonely small town driving instructor who must use her supernatural ‘talent’ to save the daughter of a local man from a washed up rock-star looking to use her in a satanic pact that will reignite his fame. Mike & Enda discuss things that go bump in the night, getting the project from script to screen, and working with Maeve Higgins, Will Forte, Barry Ward and Terri Chandler. They also talk about their early days in IADT and experimenting on mini-VHS tape, making music videos, ads, the influences behind their work and being practical with visual effects . Extra Ordinary is released in Irish cinemas 13th September

Reel Horror Show's Mark Sheridan is joined by Dr Sarah Cleary in this special episode to explore the cobwebbed tunnels of horror. Sarah discusses how the horror genre is being controlled, regulated and restricted in response to its alleged effect on children. Other topics include horror as the messenger and reflecting ourselves and society back to us. Trump horror.  A take-down of Stranger Things and the comfort blanket of '80s nostalgia. Franchises! Zombies!! - watching Diary of the Dead in the context of Love Island. The Exorcist as a conservative narrative. Is there ever a cause for censorship? An examination of I Spit on Your Grave. The discomfort of seeing the human in the monster and how horror has always explored how the monster isn't necessarily evil. A look at Midsommar's folk horror. The condition of Irish horror and where it can go. Plus a Rob Zombie love-in. And to quote Sarah - "a good horror should always leave us a little bit looking over our shoulder as we leave the cinema" http://filmirela

In this podcast Gemma Creagh is joined by Emma Fagan, programme manager of The Bleeding Pig Festival (9-11 September) and filmmakers Mia Mullarky (Mother & Baby) and Laura O'Shea (Hold the Line), whose films are screening at the festival.

In this podcast, Paul Farren talks to Ivan Kavanagh about his latest feature Never Grow Old and the influences behind it, and discuss the Western genre and its enduring appeal. Ivan also talks about working with John Cusack, Emile Hirsch and Déborah François and the craft of filmmaking. In Never Grow Old, Irish carpenter and undertaker Patrick Tate (Hirsch) lives with his young family on the outskirts of a small frontier town on the California trail during the 1849 gold rush. It’s a tough but relatively peaceful place, until outlaw Dutch Albert (Cusack) and his gang take over, killing anyone who stands up to them. Patrick initially plays a dangerous game, profiting from the outlaws’ mayhem, but it is only a matter of time before he must protect his own from the bloodshed. Starring Emile Hirsch (Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, Into The Wild), Déborah François (L’Enfant) and John Cusack (High Fidelity, Being John Malkovich), Never Grow Old was filmed in Galway and Luxembourg and was produced by Dominic Wright

Sarah Cullen and Richard Drumm return to give us their latest contemplations and ruminations on film. This episode's reviews include The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid, Never Grow Old and Toy Story 4. Netflix fodder Secret Obsession and Kidnapping Stella, plus a daylit look at MidSommar, Woman at War, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Good Boys. http://filmireland.net/

In this podcast, Gemma Creagh is joined by Carmen García and Dr Jennifer O'Meara to talk about the Dublin Feminist Film Festival, which runs 22 - 24 August 2019. Carmen García is a feminist videojournalist, journalist and filmmaker. Her film Tra na mban / Ladies Beach screens at the festival as part of the shorts programme on Thursday, 22nd August. Dr Jennifer O'Meara is an Assistant Professor in Film Studies at Trinity College Dublin, and a programming manager for the Dublin Feminist Film Festival. Tra na mban / Ladies Beach (2019) Mexico (6.36) Dir. Carmen Garcia Gonzalez In the west coast of Ireland, a group of Irish women 40 to 80 years old swim every morning in the Atlantic cold waters come rain or shine. Martell, who hasn’t missed a day in 10 years now, let us know how is it for her and the swimmers to meet at the Ladies Beach in Galway, vent together under the cold water and share a hot coffee and a warm chat afterwards. A tight-knit bunch brought together by their love to the sea.

June Butler talks to filmmakers Garry Keane and Andrew McConnell about their documentary Gaza, a portrait of the resilience of people in the most challenging of circumstances and living under the constant threat of a looming war. http://filmireland.net/

In this podcast, we welcome three filmmakers whose works are screening at this year's GAZE International LGBT Film Festival (1 - 5 August). Maya Derrington, Katie McNeice and Tom Speers join Gemma Creagh to talk about their films and filmmaking. Plus festival director Roisín Geraghty pops in to give us a quick look at this year's programme. http://filmireland.net/

In this podcast, Gemma was joined by writer Stephen Shields (The Hole in The Ground, 2019) to chat to Hugh O'Conor about his feature directorial debut debut Metal Heart. Hugh talks about pitching "Twin Peaks in Terenure" to writer Paul Murray, the development process, a darker version, casting and working with the actors. Hugh explains how his own background as an actor influences his directing and learning from other directors he's worked with as an actor. Finally, Hugh sheds light on getting the soundtrack right, Louise O'Neill's influence on the script and creating a complex bad guy. http://filmireland.net/

In this podcast, Gemma Creagh sits down with three filmmakers whose short films screen at this year's Galway Film Fleadh. Director Rioghnach Ni Ghrioghair (Break Us), writer Sarah Ingersoll (The Bridge) and producer Marissa Aroy (The Ferry) join us to talk about their films, their roles as director, writer and producer and their individual approaches to the craft of filmmaking. http://filmireland.net/

Sarah Cullen and Richard Drumm return to open up the bonnet of film. In this episode, our podders shine a light on Netflix fodder Rim of the World, I Am Mother, When They See Us and The Perfection and take a look at some recent cinema releases including Too Late To Die Young, Diego Maradona, Brightburn, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, High Life, Godzilla: King of the Monsters and In Fabric. http://filmireland.net/