Kieron J Walsh’s ‘Jump’ and Gary Kenneally’s ‘Let the People Sing’ will open the Los Angeles Irish Film Festival on September 26.
The festival, which runs until October 1, will screen a number of Irish features, shorts and documentaries as well as a number of cultural events over the six-day event.
‘Jump’, which will receive its US premiere at the festival, first opened to critical acclaim at this year’s Belfast Film Festival. It tells the story of four 20-something’s whose lives all collide one fateful New Year’s Eve.
Nichola Burley, Martin McCann (Shadow Dancer), Richard Dormer (Good Vibrations), Charlene McKenna (Raw) and Ciarán McMenamin (Saving the Titanic) all star.
Walsh adapted the script with Steve Brookes from a Lisa McGee play, with Walsh also directing. The film received its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last week, receiving critical acclaim for Burley’s performance.
Walsh will attend the premiere to introduce the screening.
Kenneally’s documentary ‘Let the People Sing’ charts the rise of Irish group The Wolfe Tones from their beginnings in Dublin to their success all around the world. The film features interviews and archive footage with people linked to the band.
Kenneally directed, Paddy Kenneally produced and Timmy Ryan narrated.
Other productions screening include Oscar-winning short ‘The Shore’ by Terry George, IFTA-winning documentary ‘Bernadette – Notes on a Political Journey’ from Lelia Doolan, Ian Fitzgibbon’s ‘Death of a Superhero’, and psychological horror ‘Citadel’ by Ciarán Foy.
This year’s festival, which is now in its fifth year, will also see veteran Irish actress Fionnula Flanagan host a special celebration of the Solas Galway Picture Palace in the West of Ireland with a ‘Leading Liberators and the Maddest, Baddest & Most Dangerous Irish Women Anywhere!’ event.
