The Kerry International Film Festival are one of an increasing number offering their festival all-online in 2020. With an intriguing programme of features, shorts and panels launched today, they’re offering pre-booking from the 9th, to access a selection of films later this month.
Kerry International Film Festival have officially launched their 2020 online programme. Celebrating the 21st edition of the festival, the programme includes an array of unique feature films, documentaries, animation, short film programmes and online industry events not to be missed.
In keeping with current Government guidelines surrounding Coivd-19 and to maintain the safety of KIFF audiences everywhere, the festival recently opted to present an exclusively online event in 2020. Movie enthusiasts everywhere can log on to www.kerryfilmfestival.com from 9th October and pre book tickets for KIFF 2020 which will take place 15 – 18 October.
Speaking at the launch, festival programmer Eibh Collins said:
“We are clearly gutted that we are not able to meet all the filmmakers in the foyer of Cinema Killarney this year to share in the excitement of showcasing their work or to see the return of the loyal faces who have supported the festival over the past 21 years. However, I am extremely proud of the robust KIFF team for assembling such a strong event and grateful to the people of Kerry for their ongoing support during these challenging times. I am also so indebted to all the filmmakers, artists and creatives for having the guts to jump into the deep end of the unknown online festival world, just to be able to keep our film industry moving forward and our audiences entertained.”
Some of the highlights in this year’s programme include three low-budget directorial debuts from independent Irish filmmakers; Chris Aylmer (Go Get Davey), Allan El Atrash (Thursday’s Child) and Adam William Cahill (Follow the Dead). Alongside a selection of new work, they’ll also look back and celebrate the 15 – year anniversary of Perry Ogden’s Pavee Lackeen, paired with Ciara Nic Chormaic’s Skin + Soul, which covers the work of Perry as a filmmaker and photographer. Both filmmakers will join KIFF for a pre-recorded discussion about their work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73FcCEGy57A
The programme will also have a host of exciting Irish and International Documentaries, including Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound, Directed by veteran Hollywood sound editor Midge Costin. This documentary will be followed by a Making Waves in Irish Sound Design Panel and discussion. More workshops are available, including the festival working with Kerry’s Filmmaker in Residence Mieke Vanmechelen on a tailored screening of Un Film Dramatique and workshop specifically for young film enthusiasts down in the Kingdom.
The KIFF 2020 programme includes a vast selection of other panels aimed at new and established short filmmakers, covering the “How To’ of marketing and promoting a short film online. This will also include a talk from one of Hollywood’s leading Public Relations agencies, Joshua Jason PR, who will present a case study on the ‘Path to the Academy Awards’.
An impressive strand of over eighty shorts will also be available during the festival. While a living, breathing festival is everybody’s preference at the moment, KIFF are taking advantage of the opportunities provided by online festivals, with their NON-geo blocked programme of short films, shared with KIFF partnering festivals and International Irish Festivals. This is part of their aim to showcase Irish filmmaking, ensuring the wealth of Irish talent and culture can continue to travel far and wide, even where the people themselves cannot. Finally, the festival’s short films selection will see the return of the Kerry Connection Best Short Film Competition and the Shorts for Shorties: Kids Animation Selection, among other highlights.
Film In Dublin are thrilled to see the festival also pairing up with Dublin Feminist Film Festival. Like many other arts organisations DFFF had to cancel their 2020 plans, but will provide a special strand for the Kerry festival by screening a selection of six short films, including new work from Megan K Fox, as well as three exciting features, Nia DaCosta’s Crossing the Line (also known as Little Woods), Áine Stapleton’s Horrible Creatures & Vivienne Dick’s New York Our Time.
Since attendees can’t meet up physically safely at this time, the KIFF team will be providing selected filmmakers with as much as time and support as possible, including giving them an opportunity to talk about their work. Hence, more panels, Q&A’s, and talks will be announced by the festival over the coming two weeks.
In the lead up to the festival, KIFF will be sharing their Jessie Buckley Interview: The Maureen O’Hara Award recipient 2020 – In conversation with Esther McCarthy. This will be free to view anytime from Friday, 9th October. The rising Irish star has been awarded with the KIFF honour, named after Irish screen-icon O’Hara, in what what would have been her centenary year.
Upon receiving the KIFF 2020 Maureen O’ Hara award, Jessie Buckley said:
“It means so much, when your own people and own country get behind you like this and say you’re doing alright kid, that means a lot.”
Meanwhile, a selection of the festival’s 2019 Irish Winning films will be available to view on their platform from Friday 2nd – 9th October, including last year’s hit Documentary Kilimanjaro Mama about Kerry Teacher Louise Quill.
KIFF continues to strive to be as inclusive and accessible as possible and in support of this aspect of the festival, and so they are providing several open and close caption options, as well as audio description titles and subtitled Q&A and talks where possible.
Upon pre-booking tickets from Friday 9th of October, screening will not be available to watch until the scheduled time and date. Once rented, audiences will have from the scheduled screening time until Monday 19th of October to watch their selected title(s), with the playback window of 36 hours. Prices start at €5 and competitively priced ticket bundles and season tickets are available.
Press release courtesy of KIFF.