Virgin Media Television supports Irish Film and Drama with a week of Irish content
Posted: 19th February 2019
To coincide with the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival, Virgin Media Television will continue to support Irish film and drama, with a week of home grown movies and feature film specials airing on Virgin Media Three.
Running from Saturday 16th February until Saturday 23rd February, Virgin Media Three will air a host of classic Irish movies and Irish Shorts including Cardboard Gangsters, My Name is Emily, Its Not Yet Dark and Silent Grace.
To coincide with the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival, Virgin Media Television will continue to support Irish film and drama, with a week of home -grown movies and feature film specials airing on Virgin Media Three from Saturday 16th February to Saturday 23rd February.
Kicking off on Saturday 16th February at 9pm Virgin Media Three will air Irish box-office hit, Cardboard Gangsters. The film was the highest grossing Irish film of the year in 2017. Directed by Mark O’Connor and staring John Connors (Love/Hate, King of the Travellers) in the lead role as Jay Connolly the story follows a part-time DJ and low-level drug dealer.
On Sunday 17th February the 1995 classic, Circle of Friends airs at 10.05pm followed by Domhnall Gleeson’s Irish Short Noreen at 12.05am. Noreen stars Domhnall’s father Brian Gleeson and the story surrounds two guards who are called to investigate a house where there has been reports of a gunshot.
Then, on Monday 18th February contemporary thriller Pursuit starring Brendan Gleeson airs at 9pm.The film is inspired by the Irish legend 'The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne', a tale of love, betrayal and revenge, and the desire for a life beyond crime.
My Name is Emily, starring Evanna Lynch airs on Tuesday 19th at 9pm. On her 16th birthday, Emily escapes from her foster home and with the help of Arden, the boy who loves her, she sets out to find her father Robert, a visionary writer locked up in a psychiatric institution.
On Wednesday 20th February, Marian Keyes’ Watermelon will air at 9pm. The Irish classic starring Anna Friel is the funny story of what happens when a tangled web of deceit pitches one woman, two men and a baby into a romantic minefield.
Irish up and coming star, Barry Keoghan stars in Mammal on Thursday 21st at 9pm. Following the loss of her teenage son, Margaret, a separated woman living alone in Dublin, develops an unorthodox relationship with Joe, a homeless youth. Their tentative trust is threatened by his involvement with a violent gang and the escalation of her ex-husband's grieving rage.
On Friday 22nd, Pat Shortt’s comedy, Man About Dog airs at 9pm. The comedy classic is set in the world of greyhound racing in which three Belfast losers (Mo Chara, Scud Murphy and Cereberal Paulsy) try to take on the bookies with no money and a greyhound that runs only when it suits him!
To finish off the week of home-gown specials, Virgin Media One will air the classic Irish movie The Snapper on Sunday 25th February at 9pm starring Tina Kellegher, Colm Meaney and Brendan Gleeson.
Tune into Virgin Media Television from Saturday 16th February to Saturday 23rd February for a week of great Irish movies and film shorts.
Below is a list of all the Irish films and shorts airing on Virgin Media Three from Saturday 16th February to Saturday 23rd February in support of the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival.
Cardboard Gangsters
21:00 Saturday 16th February 2019
(2017)
A group of young Cardboard Gangsters attempt to gawin control of the drug trade in Darndale, chasing the glorified lifestyle of money, power and sex.
Breakfast Wine
22:50 Saturday 16th February 2019
Two alcoholics (Dylan Moran and David Pearse) have their morning drink interrupted by the arrival of a mysterious, embittered woman (Ruth Bradley) in this fast-talking short. Wit and dark humour feature throughout, with Pat Shortt also lending his comic talents to this black comedy from Ian Fitzgibbon. (S) (HD)(D)
Circle of Friends
22:05 Sunday 17th February 2019
(1995)
Dublin, 1957. Benny (Minnie Driver) and Eve (Geraldine O'Rawe) eagerly escape their hometown to attend college in Dublin. There they meet Nan (Saffron Burrows), a girl who already knows her way around the university social circles from her days as a precocious high school girl. She introduces them both to Jack Foley (Chris O'Donnell), the handsome star of the rugby team. He is at first smitten with the beautiful Eve, but forms a bond with Benny, the one considered by many to be fat and unattractive. Whilst Nan chases Simon (Colin Firth) and Eve falls in love with another, Benny and Jack's relationship reaches a crucial point. Also starring Aidan Gillen and Alan Cumming.
Noreen
00.05 Sunday 17th February 2019
Written and directed in 2010 by Domhnall Gleeson the film stars his father Brendan Gleeson and Brother Brian Gleeson. The story surrounds two guards who are called to investigate a house where there has been reports of a gunshot. Brian plays an emotional Frank, inexperienced and heartbroken. Brendan plays Con, middle-aged and weary. First on the scene they find themselves alone in the house, where their lack of intelligence begins to let them down. Brilliantly cringe worthy, this is a short film you won't be able to predict, with a lovely dynamic between the Gleeson father and son duo. Domhnall Gleeson ties Irish humour and wit into a smart and well-structured script, the perfect celebration of Irish film for St. Patricks' Day. Starring Brendan Gleeson, Brian Gleeson, Gerard Byrne (S) (HD)(D)
Pursuit
21:00 Monday 18th February 2019
(2014)
Pursuit is a contemporary thriller inspired by the Irish legend 'The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne', a tale of love, betrayal and revenge, and the desire for a life beyond crime. Mr. King, the boss of the criminal underworld, dreams of going legit and attaining respectability. He kept his daughter Grainne away from the street and groomed her for a career in show business. She was to be his ticket out of the ghetto until she went into meltdown and her career fell apart. Fionn runs Mr. King's drug smuggling operation. Fionn has a bodyguard Diarmuid, whom he saved from the street as a boy. Fionn takes care of everyone and everything. He is the people's true chief. Mr. King fears the threat, tries to have Fionn assassinated, but fails. Starrring Brendan Gleeson, Liam Cunningham, Ruth Bradley, Barry Ward and Owen Roe.
Pentecost
Irish Short Film
21:00 Monday 18th February 2019
(2011)
After Irish altar boy Damien accidentally knocks Father O'Toole off the altar, his punishment is not being allowed to watch football. Starring Andrew Bennett, Scott Graham and Michael McElhatton
Silent Grace
Irish Short Film
23:05 Monday 18th February 2019
(2001)
Directed by the award - winning Maeve Murphy, Silent Grace is the untold story of the women prisoners in Armagh Prison during the 1980 Prison Protests and 1st Hunger Strike for political status.In this emotive film, Aine a young tear away criminal is thrown into the same cell as Eileen, a high ranking Republican prisoner and leader. At first, both are at odds. But soon friendship begins to grow and Eileen helps save Aine's sanity. Eileen then embarks on a hunger strike and Aine risks all to support her life. Starring Patrick Bergin and Orla Brady.
My Name is Emily
21:00 Tuesday 19th February 2019
(2015)
On her 16th birthday, Emily escapes from her foster home and with the help of Arden, the boy who loves her, she sets out to find her father Robert, a visionary writer locked up in a psychiatric institution.
It's Not Yet Dark
Irish Short Film
22:55 Tuesday 19th February 2019
(2016)
Narrated by Colin Farrell, It's Not Yet Dark tells the incredible story of Simon Fitzmaurice, a young Irish filmmaker who becomes completely paralysed from Motor Neurone Disease, but goes on to direct an award winning feature film through the use of his eyes.
Marian Keyes' Watermelon
21:00 Wednesday 20th February 2019
(2003)
Contemporary comedy drama inspired by the best-selling novel by Marian Keyes. Anna Friel (Me Without You) stars in this charming, funny story of what happens when a tangled web of deceit pitches one woman, two men and a baby into a romantic minefield.
The Wednesdays
Irish Short Film
22:30 Wednesday 20th February 2019
(2017)
Sometimes, when you’re in the autumn of your days, you’ll try anything just to put a smile on your face again. And so in this funny, sad (and sometimes wobbly) tale we meet two pensioners who manage to re-ignite the love they’d almost forgotten about. Unfortunately, soon the law comes knocking at their door. Starring Tina Kellegher, Alan Devlin, Pat Laffan, Doreen Keogh and Des Keogh.
Session Moth
Irish Short Film
22:50 Wednesday 20th February 2019
(2018)
Session Moth is a short documentary film from Thinkhouse which follows the story of young Irish professional wrestler Karen Glennon AKA Martina 'The Session Moth' as her international career is set to explode.
Mammal
21:00 Thursday 21st February 2019
(2016)
Following the loss of her teenage son, Margaret, a separated woman living alone in Dublin, develops an unorthodox relationship with Joe, a homeless youth. Their tentative trust is threatened by his involvement with a violent gang and the escalation of her ex-husband's grieving rage.
Two Hearts
Irish Short Film
23:00 Thursday 21st February 2019
(2011)
Seeing the world through the eyes of recovering addict and single mother Lorna (Roxanna Nic Liam), Two Hearts confronts social deprivation and drug abuse in this hard hitting short. Living a fragile but clean life, Lorna finds herself tempted to fall back into old ways when one-time boyfriend Gavin (Johnny Ward) is released from prison. Committed to honestly depicting a drug addict struggling to conquer her own dependencies Two Hearts is a piece of social realism that throws a harsh light on the underbelly of society.
Man About Dog
21:00 Friday 22nd February 2019
(2004)
Pat Shortt stars in this comedy set in the world of greyhound racing in which three Belfast losers (Mo Chara, Scud Murphy and Cereberal Paulsy) try to take on the bookies with no money and a greyhound that runs only when it suits him!
Frankie
Irish Short Film
22:40 Friday 22nd February 2019
(2007)
Frankie is fifteen and preparing for fatherhood. He's determined he's going to be the best dad ever, but as his day goes on, he starts to realise how impossible this will be for him. Frankie was produced as part of the Short Cuts funding scheme. Starring Ryan Andrews, Mary Murray and Aoife Mulally.
Newboy
Irish Short Film
23:00 Friday 22nd February 2019
(2009)
Based on a short story by Roddy Doyle, this poignant and comedic short film deftly captures the experience of being the new boy in school through the eyes of Joseph, a nine-year-old African boy. Starring Olutunji Ebun-Cole, Simon O’Driscoll, Fionn O’Shea
The Snapper
21:00 Sunday 24th February, 2019
(1993)
Directed by Stephen Frears and starring Tina Kellegher, Colm Meaney and Brendan Gleeson, the film is based on a novel by Irish writer Roddy Doyle, about the Rabbitte family and their domestic adventures.