As part of a new series of screenings entitled First Tuesdays, the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) will host a series of preview screenings in Dublin's IFI on the first Tuesday of every month. Tuesday, May 3rd will see a special preview of the first two episodes of Neil Jordan’s new historical drama, ‘The Borgias’. The screening of the series, illustrating the lives of the notorious 15th century Borgias dynasty, will be followed by a Q&A with creator/director Neil Jordan and producer James Flynn.
Created by Neil Jordan and starring Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons, ‘The Borgias’ is set in one of the most prominent periods of history, the Western Renaissance and the discovery of the New World. The series follows the Borgias family of the title, one of the most notorious and infamous families in history.
An Octagon Films co-production, the cast of the series includes Jeremy Irons (Reversal of Fortune); Lotte Verbeek (Nothing Personal); Peter Sullivan (Conspiracy); Holliday Grainger (Jane Eyre) and Francois Arnaud. The screening will be followed by an audience Q&A between the show’s director, Neil Jordan and executive producer, James Flynn.
Following his first feature production ‘Angel’, creator/director Neil Jordan has written and directed 15 feature films including ‘The Company of Wolves’; ‘Mona Lisa’; ‘The Crying Game’; ‘Interview with the Vampire;, ‘The End of the Affair’; ‘The Butcher Boy’; ‘Breakfast on Pluto’ and most recently, ‘Ondine’. He has been honoured with several awards for his films including an Oscar, IFTA awards, BAFTAs, Golden Globe and Film Festival awards. James Flynn has produced several successful features, shorts and TV dramas including the Academy Award nominated ‘The Door’ as well as the Emmy and IFTA winning ‘The Tudors’, ‘Love/Hate’; ‘Nora;, ‘Inside I’m Dancing’ and ‘Dorothy Mills’.
‘The Borgias’ premiered on America’s Showtime network on Sunday, April 3rd to the highest ratings for an opening pilot in eight years. Said premiere attracted over 3.7 million viewers and Showtime has since confirmed that another series of 10 episodes will go into production this summer to air in 2012. Now, IFTA members will get an opportunity to see an exclusive screening before it airs in Ireland and the UK.
The special event is free and exclusive to IFTA members. If you would like to join IFTA and attend this and other events, apply at www.ifta.ie or call the Membership Desk on + 353 1 6624120. Current IFTA members should RSVP by 12:00pm on Thursday, 28th April 2011.
