Independent Irish film will be recognised at this year’s Melbourne Underground Film Festival, with a showcase of six low-budget Irish films screening from August 24-28.
Terry McMahon’s ‘Charlie Casanova’ will open the festival this Friday (August 24), kicking off a nine-day event full of Irish and Australian low-budget film. Emmett J Scanlan (Hollyoaks) stars as unhinged Casanova, who relies on a card game to decide his fate, in a dark tale of modern Ireland and middle-class society.
McMahon wrote and directed the script on a budget of less than €1,000, relying on social networking to garner a crew and equipment. The feature was released in Irish cinemas last May, and earned the cast and crew recognition from IFTA, the European Independent Film Festival, the Galway Film Fleadh and the Washington Festival.
Ivan Kavanagh’s ‘Tin Can Man’ will follow ‘Charlie Casanova’ by screening on Saturday, August 25. The 2007 horror sees Peter, played by Patrick O’Donnell, come to the realisation he hates his day job after his girlfriend dumps him. Further heartache is to come when an unexpected visitor wreaks havoc on him in his own home.
Kavanagh wrote and directed the feature, with Michael Parle (The Looking Glass) and Emma Eliza Regan (Ninety Seconds) also starring.
Kavanagh’s 2009 drama ‘Fading Light’ will also screen on Tuesday, August 28. His follow up to ‘Tin Can Man’ sees Yvonne, played by Valene Kane, forced to make life-changing decisions after she returns home to visit her sick mother.
Kavanagh also wrote and directed ‘Fading Light’, with Emma Eliza Regan and Henry Garrett starring alongside Kane.
Monday August 27 will see Irish feature ‘The Looking Glass’ screen, a thriller that follows a young couple living in a rural cottage whose lives are turned upside down when Paul, played by Patrick O’Donnell, ends up on a journey of self-discovery blending fantasy and reality.
Colin Downey wrote and directed the script, with Natalia Kostrzewa and Eddie Webber also starring.
‘The Shaken 3’ will also screen Monday August 27, the third feature in a series written and directed by Gary Kenneally. Researchers Eddie and John are finally closing in on the identity of the creator of The Shaken virus. Michael Parke also stars.
Horror fans will be further treated to frightening scenes with Gerard Lough’s short adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘The Boogeyman’ screening on Tuesday August 28. Written and directed by Lough, the short follows a man as he tells a psychologist an evil creature is responsible for the deaths of his three children.
Released in 2010, Simon Fogarty, Michael Parle and Joanne Cullen all star.
The new ‘Irish Low Budget Cinema’ section at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival has been developed by Australian filmmaker Richard Wolstencroft with support from Irish actor Michael Parle. The festival is in its 13th year, and takes place from August 24 to September 1.
For more information on all screenings at this year’s festival, visit www.muff.com
