THE IRISH IN HOLLYWOOD

a special ifta preview event

Due to the adverse weather conditions in Dublin this event has been cancelled.

The Irish Film and Television Academy is delighted to invite you to launch of The Irish in Hollywood documentary, followed by a festive drinks reception.

With over two years of extensive research and archive work, The Irish In Hollywood is a unique and historical documentary spanning more than 100 years of Irish talent in Hollywood's film history. The programme will air on Christmas Day at 9.00pm on TV3 and IFTA will screen brief selected highlights for Academy Members and special guests at this exclusive preview.

ABOUT THE IRISH IN HOLLYWOOD

The Irish in Hollywood is a documentary produced and directed by Paul Howard of Imagine Films, tracing the roots of Irish talent in Hollywood down through the ages and the historical and cultural impact that these men and women have left in Ireland, Hollywood and the World. The documentary is based on the book Emerald’s in Tinseltown co-authored by the late Steve Brennan, veteran reporter and key editor for The Hollywood Reporter, and Bernadette O’Neill, and follows the story of the early "Pioneers" such as Rex Ingram, to John Ford (widely credited as having created the Western), the "Golden Age" of Hollywood examining the impact of the Abbey Players and Maureen O'Hara, and right through to contemporary cinema.

The documentary, narrated by Patrick Bergin, examines the impact the Irish have had on what was to become the defining Art of America - the movies - through archival material and rare footage of the Irish greats - Pat O’Brien, James Cagney, John Ford, Maureen O’Hara, and Barry Fitzgerald, and features interviews with leading Irish actors, directors and writers, critics, historians and commentators about all aspects of the Irish in Hollywood, including Gabriel Byrne, Fionnula Flanagan, Jim Sheridan, Anjelica Huston, John Boorman, Brendan Gleeson, Pierce Brosnan, Noel Pearson, John Moore, Saoirse Ronan and many others. 

Producer and Director Paul Howard will be among the guests attending, speaking about the documentary he said:
"The magical story of the Irish in Hollywood continues - the Irish contribution to Cinema and Hollywood is so significant when you consider how small a population we are and that Ireland is just a small Island off the western edge of Europe."

Some Quotes from the Documentary:

Johnny Grant (The Mayor of Hollywood)
“The Irish played a huge part in the original Hollywood, they were the original cast.”

Gabriel Byrne
“There was a time when we in Ireland did not know the nature of our own landscape visually on film - it took outsiders to come in like John Ford and David Lean ... they mythologized the Irish landscape.”

Brendan Gleeson
“For me Hollywood is the gateway to an audience, its the opportunity to work with technically brilliant people, with artistically brilliant people.”

Saoirse Ronan
“I feel so proud to be part of the group of Irish actors and actresses working in Hollywood today and to be recognised as an Irish actress.”

This incredible documentary was produced with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, TV3 and Irish Film & Television Academy.