As the Irish film industry counts down the days to the annual Galway Film Fleadh on July 10, IFTN is on hand to give a run down of all industry events taking place in the west from July 10-15.
First up is FÁS Screen Training Ireland’s directors masterclass with acclaimed Spanish director Ventura Pons on Wednesday July 11 from 2pm-5pm. Pons has won critical acclaim since he burst onto the scene with documentary ‘Ocaña, an Intermittent Portrait’, which was officially selected at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in 1978. In 1997 his film ‘Caricies’ was selected for the Berlin International Film Festival. Since then, he has directed 22 feature films and is the only director to have films screened at the Berlin Festival five consecutive times.
Kieron J. Walsh, director of the highly-anticipated film ‘Jump’, which is screening at the Fleadh on July 13, will facilitate the masterclass. For more information on this event please visit Screen Training Ireland.
On Thursday July 12 the Irish Film Board’s Real Deal: The Business of Creativity takes place at the Radisson Hotel. Sony Pictures’ Dylan Leiner has been confirmed as this year’s keynote speaker at the Radisson Hotel venue. Leiner, who currently holds the position of Executive Vice President of Acquisitions & Production at Sony Pictures Classics, has worked on Hollywood blockbusters such as ‘To Rome With Love’, ‘Midnight in Paris’, Irish feature ‘The Guard’, and this year’s Palme D’Or winner ‘Amour’.
The Real Deal 2012 event focuses on building sustainability for the future, and Leiner will give a keynote address as well as give the audience an opportunity to converse with him over business matters in the film industry.
The day-long event will also hold a panel discussion entitled ‘Money Talks and Art Matters’ from 11.50am until 12.50pm, which will focus on the future trends, sales and distribution in the film industry. Industry professionals such as Jeremy Baxter (head of acquisitions at Protagonist Pictures in the UK), Eamonn Bowles (president at Magnolia Pictures in the US) Fox Searchlight’s Lucas Webb, and Vincent Lucassen of Under the Milky Way in Austria will participate in the panel.
Other highlights of the event include a discussion on creative producing with Swedish producer Marianne Gray of Yellow Bird Films, whose credits include ‘Headhunters’ and ‘Wallander’, and UK producer Elizabeth Karlsen of Number 9 Films (Made in Dagenham, Byzantium). This discussion will be held from 1.30-2.30pm.
Irish VFX industry experts Liam Neville of Egg Post production, Ed Bruce of Screen Scene and Ciaran Crowley from Windmill Lane will give an interactive session on VFX and post production technologies. This will be held from 3.30-4.20pm.
The Real Deal: The Business of Creativity will take place at the Radisson Hotel in Galway on Thursday July 12 from 10.15am - 4.20pm. For the full breakdown of the schedule of events please visit the Irish Film Board’s website.
Also on Thursday July 12, FÁS Screen Training Ireland hosts a screenwriters masterclass with acclaimed writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. The duo shot to fame with the release of ‘Ed Wood’ in 1994, and continued to climb the Hollywood social ladder with their 1996 hit ‘The People vs Larry Flynt’ and 2002’s ‘Auto Focus’.
The writing pair are currently working on a biopic with Tim Burton called ‘Big Eyes’, which is based on the life of painter Margaret Keane. Their masterclass will take place at the Radisson Hotel and will be facilitated by Irish screenwriter Mary Kate O’Flanagan (Kick the Habit).
On Sunday July 15, the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) will host a public interview with renowned French actress Isabelle Huppert, who is considered one of France’s greatest acting talents. Huppert holds the record for most César Award nominations as a female, and has won the Cannes Film Award for Best Actress twice, a rare feat in the acting world.
She has graced both the big and small screen in over 90 productions, starring in such films as 1995’s ‘The Ceremony’ and ‘The Piano Teacher’ in 2001.
IFTA and the French Embassy are supporting the public interview, which takes place in the Galway Town Hall Theatre on Sunday July 15 at 3pm. IFTA Members are also invited to an exclusive IFTA reception on Saturday, July 14, where they will have the opportunity to discuss and catch up with industry professionals. To become an IFTA Member, follow this link.
The Fleadh will close on Sunday night, July 15, with a screening of ‘Shadow Dancer’, with star Martin McCann tipped to attend. Before the final curtain however, the Fleadh will hold its annual awards ceremony at the Town Hall Theatre from 7.15pm. Awards for Best Feature Film, Best Cinematography in a Short Film, the Pitching Award, the Bingham Ray New Talent Award plus many more will be given out on the night to industry professionals and newcomers.
For the full Galway Film Fleadh programme click here. The event will be held from Tuesday July 10 to Sunday July 15.
