Opening Night Gala - Thursday, March 1
Theater on the lake
7:00 PM - Reception with Cocktails & Buffet
8:00 PM - Screening
8:00 PM - Screening
In the name of peace: john hume in america
“A timely and important examination of John Hume’s remarkable career that charts his evolution from civil rights activist to nationalist leader and international statesman.” -Galway Film Fleadh 2017
Midwest Premier | 2017 | 90 mins
John Hume saw that by harnessing the political influence of the Irish American diaspora in Washington it was possible address the legacy of colonial division in Ireland and to achieve peace*. In the Name of Peace: John Hume in America is a compelling feature documentary, narrated by Liam Neeson, with dramatic footage from the conflict in Northern Ireland and stirring accounts by Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter as well as US Congressmen and Senators. This film shows how one man with courage and charisma, inspired by Martin Luther King, mobilized Irish Americans and America to bring an end to years of bloody violence in his homeland. With musical score by Bill Whelan (Riverdance), this beautiful film reminds us of the redemptive powers of politics to overcome hatred and division: in the words of Hume’s fellow Derryman, Seamus Heaney, when, ‘once in a lifetime, the longed-for tidal wave of justice can rise up, and hope and history rhyme’. At a time of great world instability, this is a timely film highlighting creative leadership and the need for steady international co-operation.
*The Good Friday Agreement was a deal between the warring Catholic and Protestant factions in Northern Ireland to bring an end to the troubles. The deal involved eight political parties from Northern Ireland, as well as the British and Irish governments. It particularly focused on civil and cultural rights, as well as justice and policing. It came against a backdrop of three decades of terrorism and sectarian violence between the rival communities.
Director: Maurice Fitzpatrick - Director attending
Producer: Maurice Fitzpatrick
Music: William Ahern
Narrated by: Liam Neeson
John Hume saw that by harnessing the political influence of the Irish American diaspora in Washington it was possible address the legacy of colonial division in Ireland and to achieve peace*. In the Name of Peace: John Hume in America is a compelling feature documentary, narrated by Liam Neeson, with dramatic footage from the conflict in Northern Ireland and stirring accounts by Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter as well as US Congressmen and Senators. This film shows how one man with courage and charisma, inspired by Martin Luther King, mobilized Irish Americans and America to bring an end to years of bloody violence in his homeland. With musical score by Bill Whelan (Riverdance), this beautiful film reminds us of the redemptive powers of politics to overcome hatred and division: in the words of Hume’s fellow Derryman, Seamus Heaney, when, ‘once in a lifetime, the longed-for tidal wave of justice can rise up, and hope and history rhyme’. At a time of great world instability, this is a timely film highlighting creative leadership and the need for steady international co-operation.
*The Good Friday Agreement was a deal between the warring Catholic and Protestant factions in Northern Ireland to bring an end to the troubles. The deal involved eight political parties from Northern Ireland, as well as the British and Irish governments. It particularly focused on civil and cultural rights, as well as justice and policing. It came against a backdrop of three decades of terrorism and sectarian violence between the rival communities.
Director: Maurice Fitzpatrick - Director attending
Producer: Maurice Fitzpatrick
Music: William Ahern
Narrated by: Liam Neeson
“A very educated and organized Irish lobby in the United States Congress, was in turn making it clear to the White House, through a succession of presidents from Carter through to Reagan and Clinton, that this was a priority for the American people.” -Maurice Fitzpatrick
A Little Bit of Tear
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2017 | 12 mins
A drunken, homeless clown whose street performances are constantly looked down upon by passers-by, has his world turned upside down when he follows a girl into a local theatre and watches a show that changes his fortune. * Starring world-renowned dancer, artist and actor Michael Flatley, who wrote, produced and directed the film. Director: Michael Flatley Thank you to Michael Flatley and Festival Formula Limited |