#irish film institute in Dublin

[binda94]

[brian-in-finance]

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Irish Film Institute

Remember… if you happen to be in Dublin between 27 December and 5 January, you could attend screenings of ☘️ films An Cailín Ciúin, The Banshees of Inisherin, Belfast, Nothing Compares, and Róise & Frank.

[irelandseyeonmythology]

DIAS Black Friday Sale

Once a year, the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS), offers a sale for Black Friday -- DIAS is one of the major publishers for Celtic Studies, many of the best studies of medieval Irish material have come through there.

Some books that I recommend, personally:

Fergus Kelly, A Guide to Early Irish Law (26.25 Euro, normally 35) (THE introduction to law in medieval Ireland)

"", Early Irish Farming (26.25 Euro, normally 35) (Everything you wanted to know about day to day life in medieval Ireland but were afraid to ask. Literally. Everything.)

Medieval Irish Prose

Fergus Kelly, Audacht Morainn (18.75 Euro, normally 25)

Are you planning on becoming a medieval Irish king? Do you want to know what you should do to involve the total destruction of the natural order? Then this is the text for you! Now with English translation!

In all seriousness, this text is used a LOT with regards to studies of ideal kingship in medieval Ireland.

Cecile O'Rahilly, The Táin from the Book of Leinster (26.25 Euro, usually 35)

I'll be real with you, lads: I hate Cú Chulainn. I hate him. I hate his smug, misogynistic face. His creepy multi-pupiled eyes. The shitty way he treats Emer. The way that his presence is like this black hole in the study of medieval Irish literature that means that the Ulster Cycle can get a prestigious yearly conference held in its honor while the other cycles are left with either crumbs or outright dismissal. I think the Táin is boring and episodic as a piece of lit and I've never found anything overly redeeming about it over any other piece of medieval Irish literature, especially since imo other pieces of literature do women (and homoeroticism) much better and get much less praise for it.

...that being said. It's important. It IS iconic, both as a piece of medieval Irish literature and, in general, to Irish literature. Its status as The Irish Iliad means that, if you want to study medieval Irish stuff...you have to read the Táin. And this is a version of the Táin that you might not have gotten, translated and edited by a master of Old Irish, with commentary.

"", Táin Bó Cúailnge: recension I (10 Euro, normally 35)

See above.

Early Irish History and Genealogy

T.F. O'Rahilly, Early Irish History and Genealogy (30 Euro, normally 40)

So. On the record, a lot of what he says here is absolutely not currently believed in the field. Just. No. BUT. There's a reason why I always recommend him anyway, and it's because if you're serious about doing a study of Irish Mythology, whatever we take that to mean...you will not be able to avoid this man. His ideas were very popular for decades and still often are to people who don't really focus on mythology. It's better to know where these ideas come from and to identify them than not, and O'Rahilly, in his defense, had an *excellent* knowledge of his sources. It's dense, it's difficult (rather like the author himself, from the accounts I've heard), but it's necessary if you really want to attack this.

Joan Radner, Fragmentary Annals of Ireland (22.50, normally 30)

There is so much weird shit in the Fragmentary Annals. So much.

Welsh

Patrick Sims Williams, Buchedd Beuno: The Middle Welsh Life of St Beuno (22.50 Euro, normally 30)

I know what you're thinking: "Why the FUCK are they recommending this book about a random Welsh saint? Answer: Because this is how I learned Middle Welsh. The introduction to Welsh at the front of the book + the VERY good index at the back is still one of the best ways to learn Middle Welsh. Also if anyone was watching the Green Knight film and going "Why is there a lady with her head chopped off?" this answers that question.

 R. L. Thomson, Pwyll Pendeuic Dyuet: the first of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi, edited from the White Book of Rhydderch, with variants from the Red Book of Hergest (15 Euro, normally 20)

Once you've gotten enough of a hang of Middle Welsh to know the basics, it's time to dive into the classics, and what better way to do it than with the Mabinogi, starting at the very beginning, with the First Branch? Personally, I dislike a lot of Thomson's orthographic decisions, but, hey, it's the First Branch, and that's Middle Welsh orthography for you.

Ian Hughes, Math uab Mathonwy (22.50 Euro, normally 30)

The Fourth Branch, my beloved. Incest, rape, bestiality (well...pseudo bestiality, really), creating a new life while not being willing to deal with the consequences of it...it truly has it all. Not for the faint of heart, but absolutely worth the read if you can stomach it because imo it handles its themes very well and it's incredibly haunting.

And a lot more -- go in, shop around, see what's available. Even with the older books, they're often things that we're still referencing in some way into the present.

[ireland2023july]

Entry for July 4th

For reasons beyond my understanding, woke up at the godforsaken hour of 5 am. Did go on a lovely run through the Irish countryside, which was nice. That being said, I would’ve rather been sleeping.

Today was my first day going into Dublin! Maynooth is about 30 minutes away by car and 40 by train. I think most people following me know how I feel about trains but…I LOVE trains.

On the way, met some mean swans and their babies at this pretty canal. Contemplated jumping in and fighting the swans but didn’t due to my excellent self-control and overall wisdom and maturity.

The train into Dublin was so pretty. I don’t have many pictures but among the things I saw out the window were sheep, graves, big fields perfect for frolicking, and green. So much green. Really gives the PNW a run for her money.

Here’s the study abroad squad! The photo on the left was taken at Dublin trinity college, and the one on the right was taken at the Dublin film institute. We got to watch an Irish language film called Roise and Frank (which was also playing in Bellingham for a bit) and then talk with the producer afterwards, which was beyond cool. My understanding is that there’s a bit of an Irish language film renaissance happening at the moment. I’m excited to come back home and make everyone I know watch Irish movies with me.

On the left, funny business name. Not much else to be said about that. On the right, really good donuts outside of Pearse Street station. 10/10.

Ok we’re getting off the train and I’m out of pictures I’m allowed to post so part two coming soon!

[fionabrennanartisttours]

A page in issue #9 of Gay Community News (1988) detailing Halloween events, with the main attraction of course being the Annual Halloween Ball hosted by the former staff of Flikkers Dance Club of the Hirschfeld Centre. The 6th iteration of the legendary ball would be held at the Irish Film Institute, 6 Eustace Street, Dublin 2.

If you're searching for costume inspiration this year, look to the photos from these incredible balls - my favourite image is of a man dressed as a gin and tonic, complete with bubbles and a lemon wedge!

Happy Halloween!

More info here: https://archive.gcn.ie/spotlight/sin-and-sleaze-at-halloween

Publication: Gay Community News

Date: October 1988

Issue Number 9

Copyright © GCN.

[2o3dinge]

Colin & Jared hot takes: They could’ve actually met in Dublin in 1995.

There’s this funny synchronicity: Jared, at 23, is staying in Colin’s hometown for "two or three months" shooting his first ever movie with a leading role in which he pretended to be a 17-year-old black-haired Irish boy in the 1970ies.

Colin, at 19, was that kind of boy in real life in the 90ies. Like Jared's character he was also kind of in-between phases, not sure which way to go, but already contemplating acting. After dropping out of secondary school prematurely (according to himself), he'd been in Australia for a while in 1994. Back home again he jobbed as a model (e.g. on an Irish daytime TV show wearing a red thong and not much else), waited tables and took a lot of ecstasy (according to himself). This was before he listened to his brother Eamon and tried his luck at the Gaiety drama school in '96.

Jared was in town shooting his very first movie "The Last of the High Kings" which is an adaptation of a coming of age novel by Irish writer Ferdia MacAnna. Miramax produced. Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Rea, Colm Meaney were in this, too, all established Irish actors. And Jordan Catalano from "My So-Called Life", who was neither established nor Irish, but very hot news! According to a post by the Irish Film Institute, people do remember this well. They tried to get hired as extras.

Would Colin and his three older siblings, those upper middle class kids who were all into performing arts (and who all found their destination there eventually) have missed this? Their uncle being an established musical actor in London, Eamon the director of an arts school in Dublin, Catherine enrolled at the Gaiety acting school - wouldn't they have known about it too, maybe try to nab a job in this?

Fun fact: the exam scene was shot in Castleknock college, a private school that Colin went to for several years (and was kicked off)

Who else does remember the summer of 1995?

Jared does. Unusually expressive when reminded of it. Over the years he’s said these things…

But a big part about music is getting out and sharing it with people, and we’re very much a live band, so it’s important for us to be on the road. We’re psyched to be able to come back to Dublin, which is a very close place to my heart too. The first time I was in Dublin was in 1995, so it’s been a long time. I talk with Irish people and I feel like I need to just shut up.

Hot Press (February 24, 2010)

"The Last of the High Kings was my very first film. It was an Irish movie, and I played a young man from Howth. I've had a long love affair with Dublin, and to be able to come back and play a show with my band in the O2 recently meant a lot to me. It was a pretty amazing experience being in Ireland for the film in 1995, and coming back in 2010 was great."

Irish Independent (March 7, 2010)

He would get his first movie break in Ireland when he starred in the lead role of a young Dubliner experiencing a sexual awakening in the late 1970s. The Last Of The High Kings was based on the Ferdia MacAnna novel of the same name, and Leto remembers the movie with affection.

"I spent some great months in Dublin in the summer of 1996," he says. "It's such a beautiful city, so different to any place I'd been."

Few American actors can nail a contemporary Irish accent, but Leto managed it. "I'm getting a bit nostalgic just listening to your accent, man," he says. "I got really into the role and spoke with an Irish accent 24/7 while making that movie. Friends would call me from the US in the middle of the night and wake me up and they'd think they'd got the wrong person because I would speak like an Irish guy even when I'd just woken up and wasn't conscious of what accent I was speaking with." [...]

He would get his first movie break in Ireland when he starred in the lead role of a young Dubliner experiencing a sexual awakening in the late 1970s. The Last Of The High Kings was based on the Ferdia MacAnna novel of the same name, and Leto remembers the movie with affection.

He's had to content himself with small parts in other fine films -- Fight Club and American Psycho, among them -- as well as the odd turkey. Oliver Stone's Alexander is often cited as the worst big-budget film of the decade, but Leto prefers to talk about the fun he had with Colin Farrell.

"I don't know if you've spent any time in Colin's company, but that guy is just so amazing. His zest for life is infectious. I consider him to be a good friend and hopefully if he's in Dublin when we're there, we'll get to hang out."

Irish Independent (January 25, 2008)

... it's still a theme in 2022 ...

While world-famous now, Leto’s first leading role in a movie was Irish film Last of the High Kings, which was shot in and around Howth in Dublin in the mid-90s. His face lit up as he recalled his first experience making a movie in the Irish capital, which is now a hub for international productions.

“That was my very first movie that I’d starred in. And of course, Dublin was a very different town. ”But even before we all had the internet, there seemed to be unfounded rumours of celebrity deaths. There was a rumour, I guess, it was reported on the news that I had died. So people would come up to me on the street and be like ‘I thought you were dead’.

“And I’d be like, 'Oh my god, that’s hilarious, but no not yet'. That was bizarre, that happened all the time filming,” he recalled which much laughter. “Then when the movie came out I was mentioned on the news, I believe, as an ‘upcoming Irish actor'." Leto, who has since performed here multiple times when touring with his band, clearly has very fond memories of the film, which co-starred Gabriel Byrne.

“It was a beautiful experience, it changed my life," he said. "I love the country, any time I see someone from Ireland I have a warm feeling, I feel like family. It’s a great place, a very special place, I miss it."

Buzz (March 28, 2022)

re: a "long love affair with Dublin"

[scotianostra]

The award winning Scottish screenwriter Troy Kennedy Martin was born on February 15th 1932 at Rothesay on the Isle of Bute.

I’ll hazard a guess many of you will not know the name here, but the vast majority of you, well here at home anyway, will know one of the most iconic lines out of a classic movie, the words  “You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off.”  

His father was an engineer and his mother a teacher. Moving frequently because of the second world war and his father’s work, his was a talented and creative family.

The family established themselves in north London, only to have the household income, never large, halved by the death of Troy’s mother when he was 15. The Catholic church helped to keep them afloat, and Troy went to Finchley Catholic grammar school, followed by Trinity College Dublin. After completing his National Service he wanted to move into the Foreign Office, but Troy, although having a toffee nosed name, did not speak with toffees in his mouth and was rejected. He thought if he was a published writer this might be a route in so set about work on a short work of poetry of novel, his novel, Beat on a Damask Drum but it wasn’t this that kick started his career on civvy street, but an article he wrote on boy soldiers in Cyprus the BBC picked it up and asked him to adapt it into a TV play. Based on his own experiences during national service as an officer with the Gordon Highlanders, this became the television play Incident at Echo 6, screened in 1958.

And that was the start of a career spanning over five decades, Troy Kennedy Martin is responsible for an impressive body of work and has left an indelible impression on the history of television. His work has touched the lives of millions of people all over the world and shaped the vocabulary of television today.

Kennedy Martin’s array of television successes include Z-Cars, The Sweeney and Edge of Darkness. He also made regular forays into cinematic script writing, most notably with his screenplay for The Italian Job. Another fantastic film he penned was  Kelly's Heroes, which featured some great actors in Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland and Harry Dean-Stanton 

Innovative and influential, Kennedy Martin showed that quality drama could be accessible. His nuclear thriller, Edge of Darkness , one of the key television works of the decade, was repeated on BBC1 a mere 10 days after the final episode had been transmitted on BBC2. His ITV production Reilly: Ace of Spies is another favourite of mine was also highly praised and was one of several works screened at his 2006 British Film Institute retrospective. Based on the true story of  Sidney Reilly, I never knew the story beforehand and I was shocked when Reilly played brilliantly by Sam Neill fell after a shot rung out and was left lying in the snow, I was willing him to get up....... Kennedy Martin;s script really hit home. 

They were a talented family, his sister Mo, was a member of the London/Irish folk group folk group The Tinkers, his brother was also a talented writer for television, he created the popular BBC Cop drama, Juliet Bravo, and The Sweeney, enlisting Troy to pen some of the episodes. 

Described as a “ A talented, generous and agreeable man, he was dedicated to his work. He married the Z Cars cast member Diane Aubrey in 1967 and remained devoted to their two children after their divorce.

Troy  Kennedy Martin  died of lung cancer on 15th September 2009 aged 77, in Ditchling, East Sussex.history television movies films

[pastedpast]

Heather and Mam.

Tish Murtha, 1979.

From the 'Juvenile Jazz Bands' series.

Photo © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved.

I bought a postcard featuring this photograph when I lived in Dublin in the 1990s, probably from a shop in the Dublin Film Institute* of which I was a member. There is something about the older lady which reminded me very much of my Grandma, who'd grown up as one of ten siblings in Bradford, West Yorkshire, from Irish immigrant parentage. (She was the grandma who married the grandfather I never met, Archibald the clock-maker). Only now do I discover that the photograph was taken by the great Tish Murtha, herself one of ten and of Irish descent.

*I still have the membership card somewhere! Will try to dig it out and post on here when I get chance.

[denimbex1986]

'All Irish eyes will be on Cillian Murphy, Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan for Sunday's Baftas, while Dublin production company Element Pictures will be hoping for acclaim after scooping 11 nominations for Yorgos Lanthimos’s Poor Things.

Presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, accolades will be handed out for the best feature-length film and documentaries from across the globe that were screened at British cinemas in 2023. This will mark the 77th year of the event.

Cillian Murphy is competing in the best actor category for his role as J Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. He will go head to head with Barry Keoghan, who starred in the 2023 flick Saltburn, a black comedy psychological thriller film written, directed, and co-produced by Emerald Fennell.

Murphy plays theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer while Keoghan received critical acclaim for his role as a student at Oxford who pays a visit to the sprawling estate of a wealthy classmate that turns sinister.

Paul Mescal received a nomination for best supporting role following his performance alongside Dubliner Andrew Scott in All Of Us Strangers. The movie is being described as an unconventional ghost story that sees a man reunited with his parents, despite their death in a car crash decades earlier.

Meanwhile, Irish film professional Robbie Ryan was nominated in the best cinematography category for Yorgos Lanthimos’s Poor Things.

The Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology graduate is best known for Yorgos Lanthimos’ 2018 movie The Favourite, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Achievement in Cinematography.

The event will take place at the Royal Festival Hall in London's Southbank Centre this Sunday.

It is hoped Irish film buffs will have further reason to celebrate next month when Cillian Murphy competes for the Best Actor Oscar. This will be the star’s first Oscar nomination as he prepares to go up against fellow nominees Bradley Cooper, Colman Domingo, Paul Giamatti and Jeffery Wright.'

[binda94]

Anyone in Ireland looking to see the short film 'Strange Way Of Life' its on for ONE screening only at the Irish Film Institute in Dublin at 6.30pm. Go show it some love! Bit off topic but anyone else think Pedro(far right) looks like his hands are making a heart? Probably not🤣🤣

[brian-in-finance]

J Vespa / Getty Images

The Stunning Transformation Of Caitríona Balfe

Few shows have had as big a cultural impact as "Outlander." Based on the novels by Diana Gabaldon, the show follows a World War II nurse who finds herself transported to 17th-century Scotland when she finds magical stones in the Highlands. The show was Caitríona Balfe's big break — previously, the Irish actor had worked as a model and appeared in only a few small productions. However, since playing "Outlander's" Claire, she has become one of TV's most recognizable faces. She has also landed roles in films like "Ford v Ferrari" alongside Matt Damon and Christian Bale and Kenneth Branagh's Oscar-winning "Belfast."

With "Outlander" nearing its series finale in 2023, Balfe is looking ahead to new projects such as the upcoming "The Amateur," as the era draws to a close. It's the perfect time to reflect on her career so far. So, without further ado, here is the stunning transformation of Caitríona Balfe.

Caitríona Balfe’s upbringing in Northern Ireland colored the rest of her life

J Vespa / Getty Images

Caitríona Balfe was born in 1979 in the rural village of Tydavnet (1) near the Northern Irish border. Her upbringing in Ireland has colored her entire life. "It's such a part of the fabric of your life when you live in those areas," she told Vanity Fair in 2022. "It's really not until you get older that you look back and you realize the craziness of it, or the strangeness of it."

And by the sounds of things, it was certainly an abnormal place to grow up. Growing up so close to the border, Balfe was used to being surrounded by British soldiers and once even found herself in the middle of a bomb scare. 

Her father was a garda, the national name for the Irish police force, and she was sometimes bullied for it. "Let's say being the daughter of a garda in 1980s borderland counties was not the easiest thing," she later told The Irish Times.

Caitríona Balfe was a voracious reader as a child

As a young girl, Caitríona Balfe filled most of her time with reading. In fact, when she was young, her father took away the family's TV, so instead, she looked to literature for stories and entertainment. As she told The Irish Times, she raced through the classics, including Emily Brontë, Aldous Huxley, George Orwell, and Robert Pirsig — she also was a fan of modern writers like Ian McEwan. 

When Balfe reached adulthood, her love of literature continued to be a big part of her life. "You always find her on set with a book," her co-star Maria Doyle Kennedy said. "She's a ferocious reader." And, in 2019, Balfe told Stylist, "I could just lock myself away and just read for a month, which would be so lovely."

She even started her own book club on Instagram where she posts videos about what she's reading for her fans. "First rule of book club.... We read ! Then we talk..!" she wrote in one of the first posts in 2020.

Caitríona Balfe grew up wanting to act

J Vespa / Getty Images

From a very young age, Caitríona Balfe knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life: acting. "It's in you, right?" she said to Backstage when asked about her first inspirations. "Like it's something you're either cursed with, you know, this need for attention and need to perform and all those things," she added, laughing.

Not only was she the fourth of seven children and therefore used to seeking out attention, she also had acting in her blood. After all, her father was something of an amateur actor himself, having appeared in a comedy troupe. "If my dad has some inclination towards it, there is probably something passed down," she mused to The Irish Times. Plus, she added, acting offered a much-needed form of escapism. "[T]here wasn't an awful lot of things to do," she said.

When she got older, Balfe pursued her passion for acting taking a course at the Dublin Institute of Technology.

Caitríona Balfe moved to Paris and began working as a model

Jesse Grant / Getty Images

Before Caitríona Balfe finished her course at drama school, she was scouted by a modeling agent. "I took what I thought was going to be a year out," she told Backstage, "and I never went back. Very, very bold of me."

Balfe dove into her unexpected modeling career, setting off for Paris. "I always just wanted to travel," she explained to Vanity Fair. "Growing up, we never did that — there were too many of us. We didn't have the money."

Even though Balfe had always dreamed of acting, modeling also appealed to her innate desire to perform. As she put it, "There was something about the theatricality of the runway shows — and the event of it — that I really loved." And she was pretty good at it. She appeared in shows for all of the big designers, including Chanel, Alexander McQueen, and Valentino, and even walked the runway as a Victoria's Secret Angel. And so, for a while at least, she committed herself to a career in the modeling industry.

Caitríona Balfe moved to New York City as her relationship with modeling soured

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

Throughout her 20s, Caitríona Balfe's modeling career careened from success to success. She modeled all over the world but eventually found herself settled down in New York City. "That's been the longest of anywhere since I left Ireland," she told Backstage in 2020. After a decade of modeling, Balfe began to crave something new. "For the last couple of years [of modeling] I was miserable, really," she confessed to Vanity Fair. "It's not exactly the nicest industry or the healthiest industry."

So, discontented with modeling, she revisited her passion for acting, first taking a few classes and later landing a tiny role as one of the "clackers" in the 2006 film "The Devil Wears Prada." "I think they just came to modeling agencies and were like, 'We need a bunch of women who can walk in heels,'" she recalled of the lucky break during an appearance on "The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter" podcast. "My agency knew I wanted to act and if people would come looking for stuff, they were sending me out to a few auditions." 

Caitríona Balfe moved to LA to start an acting career

Frederick M Brown / Getty Images

When Caitríona Balfe had finally had enough of modeling, she decided to take a leap of faith into the world of acting — so, she left New York behind and set off for Los Angeles. "LA is where I came and said, 'OK, this is what I wanna do with my life,'" she said to Backstage of her first impressions. She continued taking classes — one was even a $5 class. As she told The Irish Times, "These are the weird things I did when I was wanting to be an actor in LA when I first got here."

In fact, it sounds like Balfe's early years in L.A. were filled with bold, "weird" decisions. For one thing, she only knew one person in the city when she moved. Balfe knew that moving to LA was a bit crazy — but she committed to living in a "bubble of delusion." As she put it, "I guess ultimately I was like: 'I can make this work.'"

At first, following her dream of acting wasn't easy

MJ Kim / Getty Images

Life in L.A. was anything but easy for Caitríona Balfe when she first arrived. Initially, she faced rejection after rejection. "I started from scratch. I didn't have any managers, I didn't know any agents, I hadn't acted in almost a decade," she told Backstage of her initial struggles to land work.

But even though Balfe dealt with lots of rejection, she persevered. Luckily, modeling had given her a thick skin that served her well. "In an audition, if it didn't work out, it wasn't always because you didn't do a good job, or you weren't good," she explained to The Guardian. "It was other arbitrary things like your name's not big enough. Which can also be soul-destroying, but I don't know, it's different."

Balfe did land a few roles, but they were few and far between. In 2011, she had a small role in the film "Super 8." In 2012, she landed a guest role on "The Beauty Inside" and the show "H+." In 2013, there were several films: "Crush," "Now You See Me," and "Escape Plan." Slowly, she was building a stronger CV.

Caitríona Balfe landed her big break with Outlander in 2014

Laura Cavanaugh / Getty Images

Everything changed for Caitríona Balfe in 2014 when she landed the lead role on the much-hyped Starz show "Outlander." "It was a total crapshoot," Balfe later recalled of the audition for the show while speaking to The Guardian. "I had done a few jobs, nothing of note really. I was living in LA and I was really struggling, actually, it was about four or five months since I'd had a job." 

At the time, she didn't realize how big the book series was. "I wasn't even aware of the book series when I got the first audition," she said to Vogue. "Apparently, they had been searching for [Claire] for a very long time."

Balfe landed the role when she was about to head off on a holiday in India. Because her career was going slowly in LA, she decided to leap headfirst into a new life, filming in Scotland. "I didn't realize I'd still be there almost eight and a half years later," she later admitted to The Guardian. 

Caitríona Balfe shot to fame almost instantly afterward

Almost as soon as "Outlander" came out, Caitríona Balfe became one of TV's biggest names. Ronald D. Moore, who developed "Outlander," had warned Balfe about just how life-changing the role would be. "I walked her to the elevator, and just before the doors closed on her, I said, 'Your life is about to change forever,'" he said to Backstage, recalling the day she was cast. "And she gave me a grin that was both thrilled and slightly nervous. I never saw her hesitate after that."

The first episode premiered at Comic Con. "It was insane," she told Vogue. Soon enough, she began to notice her fame growing. As she told Backstage, she had only a few hundred followers on Twitter before playing Claire. "Within about a month or two, it was thousands of people — and my phone, I didn't know how to turn off the alerts, so it was just going all the time," she said. That's when she realized just how big she was becoming.

Caitríona Balfe became lifelong friends with her co-star Sam Heughan

Ethan Miller / Getty Images

Fame wasn't the only life-changing thing to come from her role in "Outlander" — Caitríona Balfe also gained a lifelong friend in Sam Heughan, her co-star. As Balfe explained to Parade, the pair made a conscious decision to become friends before filming even began. "We were just talking about it and we were like, 'Who knows what this is going to be?'" she recalled. The pair agreed to "have each other's backs." She added, "[W]e've done that from day one."

Since then, the pair have only become closer. In fact, during ATX TV's Women of "Outlander" panel, Balfe explained that she and Heughan have never even argued — although they have bickered. Heughan chimed in: "As our lives have gotten more complicated and busy, we may not see each other as much as we used to, but that core and that friendship and that base that we have has never changed." How adorable is that?

Caitríona Balfe landed a number of big roles in the 2010s

As Caitríona Balfe's fame grew in the wake of "Outlander," she landed more big roles in Hollywood — and worked with bigger and bigger stars. 

In 2016, she landed a role in Jodie Foster's all-star film "Money Monster" — her co-stars included George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Dominic West, and Giancarlo Esposito. Sadly, Balfe didn't get to work with them too much as most of her scenes were filmed in front of a green screen. Nevertheless, she was starstruck to be working with Roberts. "I couldn't stop staring at her during our first read-through," she told W Magazine. 

In 2019, she played Mollie Miles, the wife of Christian Bale's character, in "Ford v Ferrari." Matt Damon also starred in the film. "I walked into that film with the idea that I was gonna be very intimidated by both him and Matt [Damon]," she told Collider. But she was pleasantly surprised. "Immediately, when you meet both of them [and] the first thing that struck me about both of them is that they're just these great, humble family men. There was no ego or bravado. It was lovely."

Caitríona Balfe starred in Kenneth Branagh's Belfast in 2021

Caitríona Balfe landed a huge role in Kenneth Branagh's "Belfast" in 2021, playing Ma, the mother figure in Branagh's semi-autobiographical tale about the Troubles in Ireland. For Balfe, the role was particularly meaningful — after years of acting in Scotland, "Belfast" was much closer to home for the Irish actor. "As an Irish person, you read so many of these scripts about the Troubles, and they all have this romantic version of the violence," Balfe told Vanity Fair. "Belfast," she explained, was different.

In fact, Balfe even saw her own family in the script. "Even though this is very much Ken's story, there's a universality to it that allows you to see your own," she told The Scotsman. "I definitely thought of my own mother in playing Ma."

Clearly, Balfe was extremely proud of the film. It was a huge hit and quickly generated awards buzz. However, Balfe remained characteristically humble. "I'm just happy that it's turned out as beautifully as it has and that it's getting the recognition it deserves because it's shot so beautifully and the hard work and heart and soul that went into making it are second to none," she said.

Caitríona Balfe had her first child in 2021

Caitríona Balfe began dating music producer (2) Tony McGill in 2015 (3). The pair married in 2019, and in 2021, they had their first child. Naturally, having a child gave Balfe a new set of priorities. Even though rumors circulated that she'd be nominated for an Oscar for her role in "Belfast," she found her self preoccupied with her new son. "Luckily, I'm doing a lot of that [changing nappies], so I'm actually not thinking about the awards too much: It's more, 'Stop peeing on me!'" she joked to The Guardian.

However, having a child also brought out Balfe's protective side — especially when she found out that a small group of fans online were convinced that her child was actually the product of an imagined affair with her "Outlander" co-star Sam Heughan. "I don't want those crazies — because that's what they are — I just don't want them talking about [my son]," she told Vanity Fair. Apparently, that's why she and McGill have kept their son's name private.

Caitríona Balfe is preparing to say goodbye to Outlander

Mike Marsland / Getty Images

In 2023, Starz announced that "Outlander" would be coming to an end after its eighth season. After the WGA and SAG-AFTRA writer/actor strikes, filming for the final season was delayed. However, Balfe has already begun to mourn the end of the show that gave her her big break.

"Sam and I were doing a video for this season and I started to get emotional already," she told the Express. "It's going to be so weird. It's been such an amazing ride that it's nice to wrap it up while we all still love each other and we are all still feeling like we're making a good show."

Even though "Outlander" may be ending, we can't help but feel that Balfe's career is only just beginning. In fact, she's already set to appear in the film "Amateur" (4) in 2024 alongside Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, and Laurence Fishburne. We can't wait to see what else she does next.

The List

Errors that caught Brian’s attention: (1) Dublin (2) artist/band manager (3) 2014 (4) First paragraph says “The Amateur,” as Malek has and IMDb did. Who knows? 🤷🏻‍♂️ The first promo art will tell us. 🍿

Remember…  I walked her to the elevator, and just before the doors closed on her, I said, “Your life is about to change forever.” — Ronald D Moore

Cut & Paste journalism 🤦🏻‍♂️

[aroundtheworldmary]

Visited December 1st to December 4th, 2023

This was one of my final trips and it was Dublin! Dublin is a city that has elements that date back to the Viking ages. In the early 16th century it was a particularly turbulent time in Dublin’s history. After King Henry VIII’s split with the church, monasteries closed and religious institutions with papal ties were destroyed. This also brought about a revolution in landholding in the city. Ireland’s first university remains in place in Dublin and is a very prestigious school to attend. It was also home to part of the filming of Normal People by Sally Rooney. The city has tons of food, shopping, and pubs and is known for its Claddagh rings. Walking through the more suburban parts you will observe Georgian townhouses, Edwardian facades, and Victorian parks. While there we saw all the landmarks including Trinity, Temple Bar, and some of the older houses.  A day trip to Galway was also taken as it is only about a 2-and-a-half-hour drive. While there we attended a Christmas market and saw the cathedral. We also walked around the town and made it to the coast and ocean which was beautiful. Galway was more quiet and less bustling but still full of beautiful wildlife and culture. Being from an Irish family this trip was special to me and I am glad I was able to see where some of the land my ancestors grew up on. All the photos were taken by me or Laura Josler from December 1st to December 4th, 2023. 

[asoiaf-source]

This video is about George RR Martin, author of Game of Thrones and the Song of Ice and Fire Series. This video is posted so that people can watch answers to his most popular questions non-stop, possibly before they interview him or watch him live so that they don't keep asking the same damn questions over and over again. There will be a second video with such answers as "Who is your favorite Character" and 'Why did you kill Ned?" Post comments on other stupid questions he keeps getting asked. Hopefully in the future, interviewers will ask more original and interesting questions.

CONTENTS INCLUDE: On idea for game of thrones on first professional submissions on where he would live in westeros on names in westeros on keeping secrets in books books vs tv show on taking something written back on his writing origin (bayone new jersey) on future of writing storytelling on crazy fan theories on adding cut material tv favorite scene on initial writing encouragement books vs tv on sexual content on show how he writes on fantasy tropes on who he read in high school on prequel stories on show power on hardest chapter to write on keeping ideas straight on when he writes on religions in westeros on politics in westeros on original trilogy idea on first published words on women in power

This video is about George RR Martin, author of Game of Thrones and the Song of Ice and Fire Series. This video is posted so that people can watch answers to his most popular questions non-stop, possibly before they interview him or watch him live so that they don't keep asking the same damn questions over and over again.

There will be a second video with such answers as "Who is your favorite Character" and 'Why did you kill Ned?"

Post comments on other stupid questions he keeps getting asked. Hopefully in the future, interviewers will ask more original and interesting questions.

CONTENTS INCLUDE: Are the Wall & statue of Braavos built by man? On good vs Evil How long does he plan to write On brans paralysis, mental or physical Are wildlings related to humans? What made him use different POVs On early story influences ART vs Commerciality On turning books to movies On reading great fiction On RA Lafferty on meeting howard waldrop and gardner dozois on harlan ellison and writing with howard on howard waldrop on armageddon rag and Fair use lyrics on the first hugo losers party on first horror award on meeting wife first time paris on being a toastmaster on good/bad cons and guest of honors at events on 1979 kentucky convention on first writing convention panels

George RR Martin Q&A The Grove Los Angeles July 26, 2011

George RR Martin answering a few questions before his book signing at the Barnes and Noble at The Grove in Los Angeles.

George RR Martin Q&A The Grove Los Angeles July 26, 2011

George R.R. Martin in conversation with Maura McHugh of Dublin 2019: An Irish Worldcon after a special screening of Forbidden Planet in 35mm. Recorded at the Irish Film Institute on the 17th of August 2019.

Oldest George RR Martin Interview (1991)

[27timescinema]

WORKSHOP – EUROPA CINEMAS 2023 #2

By Rahel Jung (DE) // Photos © Marija Mireckaitė (LT)

On the 4th September, the second half of us 27 had the workshop on best practices at Europa Cinemas with Irene Angel Echeverri, the project coordinator for Portugal, Spain and Greece at the Europa Cinemas network.

In this workshop we considered film a product in order to understand the importance of cinemas in the film value chain and took a closer look at strategies that cinemas implement to stand out.

Before a film comes to the theatres, it has a very long journey to take. Broken down in a very simple way, it starts with a screenplay, followed by its production. After that, the licensing happens, which means that the producer gives the film to a sales agent who places it on the market and sells it to distributors in different countries who create sales strategies in order to commercialize the film in a way suited for the specific country trying to reach the widest audience possible.

Born from Europe Creative Media, the Europe Cinemas network counts at the moment 1,221 cinemas in 744 cities in 38 countries supporting European films.

In order to learn more about certain strategies, we got the chance to take a closer look at two cinemas. Therefore Axelle Jean presented the Cinéma Méliès to us and Eamon Hughes the Irish Film Institute.

The Cinéma Méliès is situated in Montreuil, in the eastern suburbs of Paris, well connected to the center of the capital. It is the biggest independent art house cinema in Europe and first opened in 1971. It has a really diverse program, showing 31 films at the moment. In addition to the regular screenings, it organizes a wide series of special programs, reaching from 'Japanim', a series of screenings of Japanese films to 'Circuits courts', where short films by local filmmakers are shown. It organizes a film festival and with 'Voyage dans la lune' it runs a program to engage with local schools.

An important part of its brand making is the emphasis on the locality and considering itself as part of a community. Furthermore its most important values are inclusion and diversity and show that cinema is for everyone.

In the heart of Dublin, you can find the Irish Film Institute (IFI), which considers itself as the “Home of the Irish Cinema”. In 1943, it started as an archive, preserving Irish cinema. Almost half a century later, in 1992, it became officially the Irish Film Institute, with the mission to exhibit, preserve and educate. It showcases the new and the old, the Irish and the foreign. For example, film festivals screening only films from certain countries like France or Poland. Films made by women are so called 'F-rated' and by this immediately recognizable as such. Often, after screenings, the IFI organizes panels on certain topics or Q&As with filmmakers etc.

Very important is also the educational branch of the IFI. It provides films for schools and organizes e.g. screenings of foreign films which are especially suitable to learn a foreign language. Accessibility is certainly an important point as well, there are screenings with e.g. audio description for people with special needs.

After these presentations, we split up in two groups, taking a closer look at the cinemas with the help of the so-called SWOT analysis, taking into account what makes them unique.

In the end, we presented to each other the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that we had found out about the Cinéma Méliès and the Irish Film Institute.

It was really interesting to get to know more about the structure of Europa Cinemas and especially to take a closer look at two extraordinary cinemas and within this noticing what a wide range of different experiences an art house cinema can offer.

[mariadoylekennedyofficial]

Come and watch some incredible films with me next Tuesday at the IFI, Dublin .

I could chose movies for weeks, there are a gazillion I would like to watch in their beautiful cinema space ….but these two called to me first ( or loudest) …I wanted to see something that would make me think and something that would make me laugh ….there is such depth of feeling in Andrea Arnold’s work and the visual colour and sunshine setups of Napoleon Dynamite ( not to mention the BEST dance sequence EVER) are a pure joy. Come and see them and maybe hang out for a chat afterwards.

#Wasp

#NapoleonDynamite

#AndreaArnold

#JaredHess

#movies

#cinema

#joy

#feeling

😊❤️

[sunflowersmoon]

Douglas Reddan has directed film “The 38th House on the Left” inspired by Harry Styles’ album Fine Line, which will be used as a soundtrack of the movie.

The film will be screening on the 26th of April at the Irish Film Institute in Dublin.

Description:

"The 38th House on the Left" is a mesmerizing episodic dance and poetry infused film that follows the journey of its central character as he navigates through different mental states in search of his true self. Set to the evocative soundtrack of Harry Styles' critically acclaimed album 'Fine Line', this film is an exploration of the human experience and our ability to process difficult moments.

On this journey, we experience the highs and lows of self-discovery, learning to embrace his vulnerabilities and celebrate his unique journey.

The themes of love, discovery, and celebration of oneself are woven throughout the film, as the character learns to navigate his past and present and embrace his true identity. The use of dance and poetry serves to amplify the emotional intensity of each scene, with every movement and word conveying a deep sense of vulnerability and authenticity.

As the character moves through each mental state, he gradually sheds his inhibitions and embraces a new sense of freedom and liberation. The film is both exciting and vulnerable, full of life and love, and ultimately represents a journey home, the journey back to oneself.

The film asks the audience to reflect on the question "what you do you know of love?" as it explores the power of love to transform and heal even the most wounded of souls.

"The 38th House on the Left" is a powerful cinematic experience that offers a profound exploration of the human condition. With breathtaking cinematography and a soulful soundtrack, this film is a must-see for anyone seeking to find their way back to themselves and celebrate the power of love.

[x], [x]