The Green Screen touring programme of Irish film kicks off this weekend in Bulgaria, the first destination in a series of eight. The Green Screen touring programme is organised by Bord Scannán na hÉireann / The Irish Film Board and the Irish Film Institute as part of the Cultural Programme to mark the Irish presidency of the EU. The aim of the Green Screen initiative is to showcase Irish talent on the European platform.
Green Screen is an exciting programme of new Irish cinema, which will travel to all of the new EU member states including Bulgaria, Slovenia, Malta, Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Cyprus between March and June this year. In addition, Irish filmmakers will be traveling to the various countries and participating in Q & As with the audiences.
“We are hoping that Green Screen will provide an introduction to Irish cinema in some countries, and in others provide a timely reminder of the vitality and richness of recent Irish films”, said Mark Woods, CEO of Bord Scannán na hÉireann / The Irish Film Board.
Mark Mulqueen, Director of the Irish Film Institute, said “We are delighted to be involved with the Green Screen initiative as it provides a great opportunity for the promotion and appreciation of Irish film culture and filmmakers to a European audience”.
The programme itself features a variety of award-winning Irish Features, shorts and documentaries including Aisling Walsh’s critically acclaimed 'Song for a Raggy Boy', starring Aidan Quinn. Kirsten Sheridan’s debut feature 'Disco Pigs', starring Irish actor Cillian Murphy, will also be screening. Kirsten was recently nominated for an Academy Award® in the Original Script category for 'In America'.
The programme also includes Liz Gill’s 'Goldfish Memory', Robert Quinn’s 'Dead Bodies' and Pat Murphy’s 'Nora', which tells the story of the love affair between James Joyce and Nora Barnicle. There will also be two documentaries screening; 'If I Should Fall From Grace', directed by Sarah Share, a portrait of rock icon Shane MacGowan and 'Oilean Thorai', directed by award winning filmmaker Pat Collins.
The Academy Award® nominated Irish shorts GIVE UP YER AUL SINS, directed by Cathal Gaffney and 'Fifty Percent Grey' directed by Ruairi Robinson, together with Barry Dignam’s 'Chicken' will also be screened.
FULL SCHEDULE OF COUNTRIES
Bulgaria-Sofia: March 4-14
Slovenia-Ljubljana: March 15-25
Malta-Valletta: March 31-April 7
Latvia-Riga: April 15-20
Estonia-Tallinn: April 22-29
Czech Republic-Prague: May 6-9
Cyprus-Nicosia: May 22-29
Poland-Warsaw: June 4-6
Green Screen is supported by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism for Ireland's 2004 Presidency of the EU
