LAIFF Closes with Tribute to Iconic Irish Actor Richard Harris
One of Los Angeles' most anticipated film events came to an end Sunday (October 3, 2010) with the annual Steve Brennan Tribute Award presented by Brennan's widow, Bernadette O'Neill, to Jared, Damian and Jamie Harris, the three sons of acclaimed Irish actor Richard Harris (1933-2002), and Harris's young grandson, Marlowe. The ceremony was followed by a screening of Jim Sheridan's THE FIELD, for which Harris received an Oscar Nomination for his performance as 'Bull' McCabe. The award plaque, made from the famous Connemara marble, was fittingly inscribed with the 'Bull''s enduring words: "My only want is that green grass, that lovely green grass, and you want to take it away from me, and in the sight of God I can't let you do that!"The Closing Night event for the 3rd Los Angeles Irish Film Festival took place at the historic Aero Theater in Santa Monica, after four days of screenings and musical performances. The 2010 Los Angeles Irish Film Festival (LAIFF) ran from Thursday, September 30 to Sunday, October 3. Before the screening of THE FIELD, audiences were entertained with a haunting, soulful musical performance by Colin Devlin, whose 1994 critically debut album (with brother Peter, as The Devlins) won four stars in Rolling Stone.
A lively Q&A followed the screening of THE FIELD, moderated by director/actor Paul Quinn ("This is My Father"). Harris's sons regaled the audience with entertaining stories about their father including his achievement as a relatively unknown actor of negotiating third billing above the title for "Mutiny on the Bounty" alongside Marlon Brando and Trevor Howard; a memorable drive from Limerick to Dublin to make a flight back to America with many stops along the way and a delay of over week to return to the US; his passionate love of Ireland and how he often felt like a rejected lover but would have killed anyone who said a word against his country; his despair at his sons' English accents even though his sons reminded him that it was he who had after all sent them to be educated at English public schools; their recollection of the astute observation made by Dublin producer Noel Pearson (My Left Foot, The Field, Dancing at Lughnasa) summing up their father's personality: "He's a circus of a man!".
The 3rd Annual Los Angeles Irish Film Festival opened Thursday, September 30 at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences© Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood with a packed house. In attendance were Jim Sheridan (In America, In the Name of the Father, My Left Foot), Brenda Vaccaro (You Don't Know Jack, Midnight Cowboy) James Frain (The Count of Monte Cristo, Reindeer Games, Hilary and Jackie), Patrick Bergin (Patriot Games, Sleeping with the Enemy), Colin Devlin (composed for Closer, Batman Forever, HBO's Six Feet Under - nominated for a 2010 Meteor Award - the Irish Grammys) and many other VIPs. Parallel Films' crime comedy/drama "Perrier's Bounty" starring Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Jim Broadbent and Jodie Whittaker kicked off the festival to an enthusiastic reaction from the audience.
Jonathan Loughran, representing the Irish Film Board, addressed the audience saying, "When my CEO Simon Perry stood here last year he spoke of an uncertain future for the IFB in the wake of a recommendation to wind us up. 12 months on, we were the first recommendation to be taken off the table thanks to a grass roots campaign to save the arts that was supported by the likes of Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson who spoke before a Government Oireachtas committee and Gabriel Byrne became Ireland's 1st global cultural ambassador, underpinning this government's strategy that culture is a vital export and the necessity of Section 481 tax relief and IFB funding. As you will see tonight and throughout the LAIFF, the indigenous film sector of which we are the primary funder continues to punch well above its weight. 2010 was an amazing year for Ireland with 5 Oscar nominations, 3 of which were for IFB funded films and we added to our enviable record in the short film category of 6 nominations in 8 years. I am also very happy to say that 2010 will be the biggest year of production spend in Ireland on record with Ireland." Founding sponsor Pascal Ladreyt (E.L.M.A.) spoke of his six years in Cork and his enthusiasm for promoting Irish cinema with LAIFF.
In her Opening remarks, Festival director, Lisa McLaughlin spoke of the LAIFF's mission "to examine Irishness is all its glorious, inexplicable complexity and present it to our audience using the most fitting medium for the task - art." Referring to the themes of the Opening Night films, McLaughlin said, "Tonight we celebrate the Irish outlaw and that rebellious spirit that's an undeniable part of our national psyche. It's a trait that, in truth, can be a bit dodgy at times and one that causes us to take a very "interesting" attitude towards rules, regulations, socially responsible behavior... that sort of thing. In Ireland, ignoring the rules and getting away with it is a national pass-time - one we are loving less and less in our bankers! So tonight, as true bloody-minded Celts, we honor the Irish outlaw. Here's to the rebel in all of us!"
In what is becoming a treasured tradition at LAIFF, two rare Irish silent films "Ireland A Nation" and "Will Rogers in Dublin" also screened with original scores composed by Eimear Noone. Hollywood studio executives and VIPs joined in the festivities following the screenings accompanied by music from Brian Walsh and his traditional uilleann pipes.
Over the four days, the audiences were moved to tears, impressed and entertained at the US premieres of "Swansong: Story of Occi Byrne" directed by Conor McDermottroe and Alan Gilsenan's heartbreaking documentary about the Clancy Brothers, "The Yellow Bittern," produced by John Murray and Anna Rodgers. Other favorites were "My Brothers" directed by Paul Fraser and "Ballybrando," directed by Brendan Byrne. The festival's hospitality venue was generously provided by Griffith O'Reilly and Rosemarie McCaffrey at Rosemarie McCaffrey's Antiques on Montana Avenue, Santa Monica.
Following the Closing Night events and a reception at the bookstore "Every Picture Tells a Story," opposite the Aero Theater, the Los Angeles Irish Film Festival officially closed its doors, but is expected to return next year for its much-anticipated 4th edition.
The 2010 Los Angeles Irish Film Festival is co-presented by The American Cinematheque. The Irish Film Board (Bord Scannán na hÉireann), Ireland's national film agency, and Culture Ireland are partners of LAIFF. ELMA (European Languages and Movies in America) is a founding sponsor. The Irish Film Institute is a premier sponsor. Other sponsors include Bushmills, Kerrygold, Kensington Caterers, Rosemarie McCaffrey, Guinness, MyIrishPride.com, Grafton on Sunset and ElaineKim.com.
For more information about the festival go to http://www.lairishfilm.com/