19th Galway Film Fleadh To Celebrate Diversity In Film In July

The 19th Galway Film Fleadh will take place from July 10-15 and will offer film lovers a weeklong programme of events which include world premieres, classic screenings, Irish and international documentaries, features and shorts.
The Galway Film Fleadh will showcase an eclectic range of Irish cinematic treats. 'Garage' comes straight to Galway following its premiere in the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
'Puffball', a tense supernatural thriller from legendary filmmaker Nic Roeg, is the story of the powerful forces unleashed through one chance event and seen through the eyes of four generations of women.
'Kings', directed by Tommy Collins tells the story of a group of Irish speaking men from Connemara who emigrated from Ireland to London in the late seventies but who never made it home. One not to miss is 'Tonight Is Cancelled', directed by Brendan Grant which is set in Post War Kosovo.
'Bitterness' is a debut film of new Irish talent, Brian Launders which tells the story of Francis whose life is consumed with bitterness since he was jilted at the altar. A must for all parents of teenagers is Marian Quinn's debut feature film 32A which tells the story of the confusing 'in between' time of a girls life when she is no longer a child but she is not yet a woman.
An innovative section in this year's festival is 'Wild Cards' where a selection of new films from emerging filmmakers who have sought to make films outside of traditional funding sources in Ireland will be screened.
The shorts programme will showcase an exciting mix of short films, documentaries and animation and this year over seventy Irish shorts will screen in competition during the Festival.
Leading the way in the international features programme and opening the Galway Film Fleadh is 'Red Like The Sky', a beautiful film set in Tuscany in Italy in 1971.
'Seraphim Falls', a taut psychological thriller will close the Festival.
Set in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, 'And When Did You Last See Your Father' is a funny and sad exploration of the emotional ties that bind father and son. 'House Of Sand' tells the story of a woman who along with her mother is taken in 1910 to a far away desert by her husband. 'Exit' is a non-stop thriller where an innocent man is framed for a crime he didn't commit and has to find the killer before he is captured. Angelina Jolie's performance in the powerful 'A Mighty Heart' is a career best playing real-life journalist Marianne Pearl, whose husband was kidnapped by terrorists while they were in Pakistan.
'Away from Her' is a beautiful moving love story which deals with the difficulties and trauma facing couples when a long term partner begins to suffer gradual memory loss.
This year's selection of documentaries is amongst the strongest the Fleadh has ever hosted. Narrated by Nicole Kidman, 'God Grew Tired Of Us' explores the indomitable spirit of three 'Lost Boys' from Sudan in America. 'The War Tapes', is a film with a difference as it is the first war movie to be filmed by soldiers on the front line in Iraq.
The Clash's Joe Strummer's life, music and politics are the subject of Julian Temple's documentary, 'The Future Is Unwritten'. Lovers of jazz should watch 'Music Inn' and 'Manufacturing Dissent' is a documentary that seeks to separate fact, fiction and legend.
'The Cats Of Mirlkani' is an intimate exploration of the lingering wounds of war. 'John And Jane' follows the stories of six call agents that answer American 1-800 numbers in a Mumbai Call centre. 'I'm A Sex Addict' is a comic reconstruction of autobiographical filmmaker Caveh Zahedi.
Fionnula Flanagan is the subject of this year's Irish tribute and will be 'In Conversation' with Lelia Doolan on Saturday 14 July. Jeremy Irons will take part in a public interview on Sunday 15 July. Terry George will be the subject of the 2007 Screenwriters Tribute while Volker Schloendorff is the focus of the Fleadh's Director Tribute.
This year's focus country is Poland. Films directed by renowned Polish directors such as Kieslowski, Polanski, Wadja and Fabicki will be screened.
See the website at www.galwayfilmfleadh.com
(DS)