Oscar-nominated director Stephen Frears (High Fidelity, The Queen) has been confirmed to attend next month’s John Ford Ireland Film Symposium in Dublin at which he will discuss his work and Ford’s influence on his 1998 western, ‘The Hi-Lo Country.’
The British director, who has made a notable contribution to Irish cinema, will provide an insight into his filmmaking at an event entitled ‘In Conversation with Stephen Frears’ on Saturday June 9 at 12pm in The Project Arts Centre.
Other noted guests who will attend the June 7-10 symposium include Oscar-nominated directors Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show), Jim Sheridan (In America) and John Boorman (The General), as well as Oscar-winning editor Joel Cox (Unforgiven, Mystic River).
Frears, nominated twice for an Oscar, has won huge acclaim for his film and television work and has previously acknowledged Ford’s influence on his own work. Frears' interpretation of Ford's themes being of particular interest, across his diverse repertoire of films including 'Dirty Pretty Things' and 'The Hi-Lo Country’ which starred Woody Harrelson, Billy Crudup and Patricia Arquette.
In 1990, the 70-year-old director was nominated for an Academy Award for his film ‘The Grifters.’ He was again nominated in 2006 for ‘The Queen.’
Frears’ contribution to Irish film includes two well received adaptations of Roddy Doyle’s novels, ‘The Van’ and ‘The Snapper.’
The John Ford Ireland Film Symposium - inspired and informed by Ford’s work – is an initiative of IFTA, in association with the John Ford Estate in US and supported by the Department of Arts.
It will feature a diverse programme of events designed to entertain, inform and educate delegates and movie fans gathering to celebrate the man whose influence across cinema continues to resonate.
Highlights of the John Ford Ireland Film Symposium include the Ford Film Hub panels, a public interview with ‘The Last Picture Show’ director Bogdanovich; a Gala screening at National Concert Hall of Ford’s epic ‘The Iron Horse’ with the RTE Concert Orchestra and composer/conductor Christopher Caliendo, Music for the Screen panel with Kyle Eastwood and Caliendo; plus the Dublin premiere of Se Merry Doyle's documentary 'John Ford: Dreaming the Quiet Man'.
For the full symposium line-up and information about season passes, visit the John Ford Ireland website.
