IFTA Members are invited to an exclusive First Look Screening of Steve McQueen’s 12 Years A Slave. 12 YEARS A SLAVE is based on an incredible true story of one man's fight for survival and freedom.  In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.  Facing cruelty (personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by Michael Fassbender) as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity.  In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) forever alters his life. The film is directed by Steve McQueen (IFTA Winner 2008, Hunger) and written by John Ridley (All Is By My Side).

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IFTA has a limited number of tickets for Members to attend a special preview screening of new Sky Drama series Moonfleet, followed by a Q&A with Ray Winstone and cast... Read more

Join creator/writer Richard Warlow, Exec Prod Will Gould, producer Stephen Smallwood and Irish HODs to discuss season 2 of Tiger Aspect/Element production of ‘Ripper Street’ for BBC. Read more

'Ripper Street' Season 2 airs from October 28th at 9pm Monday nights on BBC.

Tuesday 29th October in Light House Cinema, Smithfield, Dublin 7 at 6.30pm
IFTA Members are invited to an exclusive preview screening of the Venice Film Festival award-winning Philomena, starring Dame Judi Dench and Steve Coogan.

The film, directed by Stephen Frears, tells the story of an Irish woman’s fifty-year search for her son who she gave away for adoption and the journalist who helps her. The film has a significant Irish connection with scenes shot in Northern Ireland and strong supporting performances from actors Cathy Belton, Ruth McCabe, Sean Mahon, Charlie Murphy and Michelle Fairley. Philomena also features cinematography from Robbie Ryan and costume work courtesy of longtime Frears-collaborator Consolata Boyle.

With thanks to Eclipse Pictures. Philomena goes on general release on November 1st.

For more information on this event please email Membership@ifta.ie

Tuesday October 22nd in The Savoy Cinema, Dublin at 6.30pm.
IFTA Members are invited to a First Look Screening of new feature film release Closed Circuit, directed by IFTA Award winner John Crowley (Intermission, Boy A).

Written by Academy Award-nominated Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things, Eastern Promises), it stars Eric Bana, Rebecca Hall, Jim Broadbent, Ciaran Hinds & Anne-Marie Duff. The film is a suspenseful London-based thriller focusing on a high-profile terrorism case which unexpectedly binds together two ex-lovers on the defense team - testing the limits of their loyalties and placing their lives in jeopardy.

Closed Circuit is released on October 25th by Universal Pictures.

Friday 18th October 2013, 1 - 2pm at The Merrion Hotel, Dublin.
IFTA is delighted to invite Members to a lunchtime interview with BAFTA Award-winning actor, producer, comedian & writer Steve Coogan for his new film, Philomena.

This lunchtime interview, facilitated by John Maguire, will explore the making-of and behind-the-scenes process of the award-winning Philomena together with the shooting & actor preparation favoured by both him, director Stephen Frears and co-star Judi Dench. It will also provide insight into the turning of real-life events from the novel, written by Coogan’s character, into a film and how this informed his acclaimed performance. The interview will also place a special focus on Coogan’s script, co-written with Jeff Pope, which was awarded ‘Best Screenplay’ at the recent Venice Film Festival.

For more information on this event please email Membership@ifta.ie

Tuesday 28th September, Dublin, 12.30pm
Neil Marshall is one of the most exciting, visually imaginative & original British filmmakers of the last decade. His work includes Dog Soldiers (2002), The Descent (2005), Doomsday (2008) and Centurion (2010) as well as critically acclaimed television (his Emmy Award-winning Season Two ‘Blackwater’ episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones featured “the best battle sequence ever produced for television”, Entertainment Weekly.)

IFTA is delighted to welcome Neil to Dublin for this event as he currently shoots the eagerly-awaited Episode 9 of Game of Thrones Season 4 in Northern Ireland.

To RSVP for for this event please email Membership@ifta.ie

Tuesday 24th September, Odeon Cinema at Point Village, 6pm.
A return to his beloved New York, Blue Jasmine is Allen’s 43rd feature film & features a customarily impressive cast including Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Peter Saarsgaard, Sally Hawkins, Bobby Cannavale and Louis C.K. The film has received unanimous acclaim upon release in the States with the New York Observer calling it “the best summer movie of 2013 and one of the most memorable Woody Allen movies ever.”

“Blue Jasmine” cert 15A opens across Ireland on September 27th.

Wednesday 18th September, Savoy Cinema Dublin, 6.30pm
The O’Briens, filmed entirely in Galway on a shoestring budget & financed independently by the films producers, has already made waves this summer when it was the recipient of the Outstanding Filmmaking Achievement Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival in California.

The film features Liam McMahon (Hunger, Titanic: Blood & Steel), Tommy O’Neill (Fair City), Kellie Blaise (The Borgias), Amber Jean Rowan (Vikings), Paddy C. Courtney (Shameless), and writers/producers Emmett Hughes and Slaine Kelly.

The film’s cast & crew will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.

In Conversation With... Award-Winning Screenwriter Guy Hibbert, Facilitated by Mary Callery (Irish Film Board) on Thursday 12th September, Clarence Hotel, Dublin at 6pm.

Guy Hibbert is one of the most acclaimed British scriptwriters working today with a career that includes critically lauded and Award-winning feature films along with over two decades of enthralling, often groundbreaking Television.

His signature style of concise, politically complex writing, described recently as “tense, stifling, understated, intelligent...[and] beautifully crafted” by The Guardian, is widely admired by contemporaries & its influence distinctly seen in modern crime and thriller scripting.

BAI Chairperson Bob Collins to give briefing on BAI’s public consultation regarding its future strategy 2014-16

The Irish Film & Television Academy will host an industry breakfast for Academy Members this Tuesday 3rd September at 7:30am.

Mr Collins, will discuss the BAI’s public consultation process for its future strategy 2014-16, which was launched this week via the new ‘BAI Future’ website and will present a short breakfast briefing to key industry representatives and IFTA Members, giving an insight and background into BAI’s upcoming phase of strategic consultation with Irish audiences, public & industry.

The BAI’s draft strategy statement is available to view at: www.baifuture.ie

The Irish Film & Television Academy invites all Academy Members who are visiting the Galway Film Fleadh (9 - 14 July) to join us for lunch and drinks in the Radisson Blu Hotel at 1pm on Saturday 13th July where you will meet with Academy Members and invited Fleadh guests.

To RSVP for you and a guest please email: membership@ifta.ie

25th Galway Film Fleadh - special tribute to former Irish Film Board Chair and founding member and CEO of Windmill Lane Pictures, James Morris.
This event takes place at the Cinemobile outside the Town Hall Theatre in Galway on Saturday July 13 at 12.30pm.

The Second Annual John Ford Ireland Film Symposium takes place this June 6-9 with a programme of over 20 events including Industry hubs, Screenings, Public Interviews, Masterclasses and Social & Networking events, along with the Ford Film School.

Filmmakers young & old, along with Ford enthusiasts from around the world will descend upon Dublin to not only enjoy some great Irish hospitality but to discuss, learn and be inspired by one of the greatest directors of all time.

Click here to view image gallery from the 2013 Symposium

johnfordireland.org

IFTA’s First Look season continues with new Irish romantic comedy, ‘The Food Guide to Love’. This charming feature film is an Irish, Spanish and French co-production and features a strong Irish ensemble cast including Bronagh Gallagher, Simon Delaney and David Wilmot.

IFTA is delighted to host this First Look Screening of Neil Jordan’s new film, ‘Byzantium’. A mother-daughter vampire story, ‘Byzantium’ stars multiple IFTA-winning actress Saoirse Ronan and Gemma Arterton.  

IFTA will host a special preview screening of new Irish feature ‘Milo’. This touching drama about a 10-year old boy suffering from an unusual genetic disease has already been an audience favourite at festivals around Europe.

IFTA has been allocated a limited number of tickets for Members to attend the Irish premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s much-anticipated big screen adaptation of ‘The Great Gatsby’ starring Leonardo Di Caprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan.

To celebrate Gerard Barrett, the winner of the Irish Film Board Rising Star Award at the IFTA Awards Ceremony in February this year – The Irish Film & Television Academy will host an evening Screening of Pilgrim Hill, followed by Q&A with director Gerard Barrett on Wednesday 10th April, 7.15pm, Lighthouse Cinema.

Click here to view images from the event

Click here to view official trailer

To celebrate and mark ten Years of the Irish Film & Television Academy, IFTA London invites you to 'A Celebration of Irish Craftmanship in Film & Television' at the London Irish Centre on March 27th honouring Irish craftspeople who work behind the scenes. Irish creatives working behind the scenes - from the early stage of development this panel discussion will include Irish Casting Director with Ros Hubbard (The Commitments, Far and Away, Enemy at the Gates); character development through Costume Design Joan Bergin (The Tudors, The Prestige) and Lorna Marie Mugan (Ripper Street, Shadow Dancer ); Directing with Aisling Walsh (Loving Miss Hatto; Song for a Raggy Boy), Cinematography with Suzie Lavelle (One Hundred Mornings) and colourist Aidan Farrell (Downton Abbey, The Shadow Line). The event will be facilitated by Nik Powell (Director National Film & Television School).

Click here to view images from the event

IFTA has a limited number of tickets available for Members to attend Sky’s Season 3 Preview Screening of the IFTA, BAFTA and Emmy-Award winning ‘Game of Thrones’.

IFTA Members are invited to this special screening of John Ford’s digitally remastered classic ‘The Quiet Man’.

IFTA will host the First Look Screening of new Irish sci-fi comedy ‘Earthbound’, the debut feature of writer-director Alan Brennan. The award-winning film stars Rafe Spall, Jenn Murray and David Morrissey.

IFTA Members can exclusively attend this Sky Living HD event as they present a preview of ‘Love Matters’, a brand new season of one-off comedies featuring finest acting and writing talent on British television.