The third annual John Ford Ireland Film Symposium will take place across three days in venues around Dublin, from June 6 – 8, 2014. The symposium will include a number of screenings, discussions, master classes, lectures, workshops, music and song, that encourages vibrant discussion, fresh understanding and renewed appreciation of Ford’s mastery in film.
The unique three-day event explores and honours the work and prevailing legacy of one of the most influential filmmakers of all time – the legendary John Ford. An Irish-American, Ford is considered among Ireland’s greatest emigrant sons, responsible for creating some of the most enduring films in cinematic history. Those films continue to inspire and influence filmmakers across the globe, and resonate with audiences of all ages.
In the first three years, John Ford Ireland has welcomed a wide range of renowned luminaries as well as young creative talent and veteran filmmakers such as Clint Eastwood, Peter Bogdanovich, Bertrand Tavernier, John Boorman, Neil Jordan, Jim Sheridan, Stephen Frears, Joel Cox and Sean Bobbitt; members of Ford’s family and company (including Dan Ford and Patrick Wayne); and Ford experts, academics and authors, including Joseph McBride, Glenn Frankel and Gaylyn Studlaramong.
The symposium’s opening night will be held at the Savoy Cinema with a discussion and presentation reflecting on Ford’s monumental time in Hollywood, followed by the screening of the classic western from that year, ‘Stagecoach’, starring the indomitable John Wayne. Edward Buscombe will give a presentation on the importance of ‘Stagecoach’ to Ford’s career and the Western genre. The days following will incorporate masterclasses with directors and screenwriters such as Ben Wheatley (Down Terrace, Kill List), Whit Stillman (Metropolitian, The Last Days of Disco), Kieron J Walsh (When Brendan Met Trudy, Jump) and a host of award winning producers including James Flynn (Calvary, Vikings), Laura Hastings Smith (Hunger, Macbeth) and Andrew Reid (Head of Production, Northern Ireland Screen), all of whom will be participating on this year’s Ford Producer’s Panel. There will also be free outdoor screenings of ‘The Quiet Man’, ‘They Were Expendable’ and ‘My Darling Clementine’, and an In Conversation event with author Scott Eyman.
On Sunday, June 8, John Ford Ireland - in conjunction with The National Museum of Ireland, Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks – will host a special WWII Display titled Ford at War. The event will include a screening of John Ford’s Oscar Winning War Documentary ‘The Battle of Midway’, followed by a discussion with grandson Dan Ford; Talks surrounding John Ford’s work during the Second World War; a portrayal of typical WWII troops at the front lines by seasoned re-enactment group WW2 Club; Tours of the National Museum of Ireland’s Soldiers and Chiefs exhibition and much more. All event activities are open to the public but pre-booking is essential for some.
For a full programme of events, check out johnfordireland.org.
