Following the success of the Irish Adverts Project, which gained over a quarter of a million views in less than three days, the IFI have made LGBT-themed films from Irish talents such as Anna Rogers, Barry Dignam and Zlata Filipovic available for free on the platform.
Others already available on the player are The After ‘16 Collection, The Radharc Collection and those of Monsignor Reid, O’Kalem, The Horgan Brothers, Gael Linn and Father Delaney among others.
A full list of films available in the LGBT+ Collections is provided below.
Aaron Healy, Coordinator, IFI Player:
“We are thrilled to be able to add this new collection of LGBT+ shorts to the IFI Player. There is such a wealth of talented filmmakers in Ireland who have made and continue to produce acclaimed films and documentaries on gay issues and themes. In particular, we would like to thank TENI and BelongTo for their contribution to this collection. We hope in addition to the wealth of other films and content on the IFI Player, it will also become a destination for all LGBT+ Irish films, so that they can reach a large global audience for generations to come.”
Collection Highlights‘I am’
Directed by Anna Rodgers and produced by Zlata Filipovic, this beautiful and poignant film commissioned by TENI (Transgender Equality Network Ireland) is a conversational piece which explores gender identity and transgender experiences in Ireland.
‘Me First’
Me First is a story about an unhappily married woman who finds comfort in the arms of her daughter’s college friend. The film is directed by Leanne Byrne and stars Ray Reilly, Seaná Woods, Siobhan Bolton and Niamh Walsh.
Chicken
Chicken is a micro-drama about two boys hanging out on a beach at dusk. A game of dare tests the limits of their trust and redefines the boundaries of their relationship. Directed and produced by Barry Dignam and based on a screenplay by Audrey O’Reilly, this short focusses on the difficulty that young gay men often have in expression affection for one another.
Hold on Tight
Directed by Anna Rodgers, producer of The Story of Yes, and winner of the 2011 Absolut Gaze Filmmakers Award, this beautiful short documentary explores how gay and lesbian couples show affection, and how small interactions like holding hands in public can carry, not only huge personal significance, but also the power to create social change.
James
Young James struggles as the outsider kid at his school. His teacher, Mr. Sutherland, is the only person he feels he can connect with. When James finally puts a voice to his feelings, Mr. Sutherland’s response isn’t what James had hoped for.