The Minister for Justice, Mr Simon Harris TD, has today announced the appointment of Dr. Ciarán Kissane as the new Director of Film Classification in the Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO). Dr. Kissane’s appointment follows an open competition run by the Public Appointments Service.
Cinema Submissions For Classification.
Announcing the appointment Minister Harris said: “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Ciarán Kissane, who will bring a wealth of professional experience to this important role. The important work undertaken by the IFCO ensures that the public, and parents in particular, have a modern and dependable system of classification to enable them to make informed viewing choices for themselves and importantly for those minors for whom they are responsible.”
Speaking about his new role, Dr. Kissane said: “I am delighted to be appointed as Director of Film Classification in the Irish Film Classification Office in its centenary year. I look forward to continuing the long standing and important work of the IFCO over the next 5 years”.
The Irish Film Classification Office was established in 1923 by the Censorship of Films Act 1923. The IFCO’s role was further expanded under the Video Recordings Act 1989. The IFCO is one of the oldest agencies in the State; however it has embraced change, transparency and modernisation in recent years and will continue to evolve with Irish society.
In 2022, the IFCO received 979 cinema submissions for classification(consisting of 438 films, 8 short films and 533 trailers) and 1532 video/DVD submissions, including 20 video games rated as 18, by the Pan-European Game Information system (PEGI).
As predicted the most nominated film of the year, namely ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ cleaned up at this year’s Golden Globes.
The rather tragic comedy staged on a remote island off the West coast of Ireland, not surprisingly won‘Best Actor’ for Colin Farrell’ ‘Best Picture’ and ‘Best Screenplay’ for writer and director Martin McDonagh.
The film had been nominated for a total for eight awards; in fact the most Golden Globe nominations any movie had received in one year; since 2004.
Thanking the director who had made it all possible and while accepting the award for ‘Best Actor’, Mr Farrell said he had been surprised by the film’s success. Director Martin McDonagh and actor Colin Farrell, had previously worked together on, and won Golden Globes for the hit ‘In Bruges’.
The brilliant character performance portrayed by Thurles born actress Ms Kerry Condon, (as Siobhán Súilleabháin), who had been nominated for best supporting actress, sadly lost out to actress Jamie Lee Curtis in ‘Everything, Everywhere, All at Once’.
Many who saw the film were particularly struck by the superb performance given by Dublin born, Mr Barry Keoghan, (as Dominic Kearney), latter who came to prominence in the 2017 film, ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’ and earlier in 2010 in season 4 of ‘Love/Hate; the latter which depicted fictional characters in Dublin’s criminal underworld. This is Barry’s third appearance on film in the company of Colin Farrell.
Sadly, superb performances from both Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan in the film ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’, must wait to be rewarded on another day and at another time.
To date “The Banshees of Inisherin” has grossed some $24.7 million worldwide, and has received nine Oscar nominations.
Kerry Condon, Colin Farrell, Barry Keoghan and Brendan Gleeson have all been nominated for top awards ahead of this year’s annual Golden Globes ceremony.
The awards are expected to be televised and hosted by comedian Jerrod Carmichael, on Tuesday January 10th, 2023.
Note: Brendan Gleeson and Kerry Condon are no strangers to Thurles, Co. Tipperary, with the latter named, born and educated here in our Cathedral Town.
Colin Farrell will compete for ‘Best actor’, while Barry Keoghan and Brendan Gleeson will compete against each other for ‘Best Supporting Actor’. Our very own Kerry Condon, not suprisingly, will compete against Angela Bassett; Jamie Lee Curtis; Dolly De Leon and Carey Mulligan, for the title of ‘Best Supporting Actress’.
Director Martin McDonagh[Remember “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”] was nominated in the ‘Best Director’ category.
The Banshees of Inisherin, the most nominated title this year, is also up for best score, best screenplay and best picture.
Nominees for Best Picture are:- Babylon, (Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie). The Banshees of Inisherin, (See above). Everything Everywhere All at Once, (Absurdist comedy-drama film written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert). Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, (sequel to the 2019 film “Knives Out”, with Daniel Craig reprising his role as master detective Benoit Blanc). Triangle of Sadness, (A satirical black comedy film written and directed by Ruben Östlund, featuring the late Charlbi Dean, who passed away in August last, 2022).
“The Banshees of Inisherin“, story tells of a pair of lifelong friends, on a remote Irish island, (set on the Irish Arran Islands), who find themselves at an awkward period in their relationship, when one of them no longer wants to be friends with the other. Pádraic (played by Colin Farrell), latter an affable and kind man living on a fictional remote island known as Inisherin, suddenly has his world seriously shaken when his former close friend Colm (latter played by Brendan Gleeson), chooses to cut off their previously enjoyed, lifelong friendship. What begins as a minor squabble between both of these former old friends, soon sends shockwaves throughout their small close-knit community, thus causing everyone, from Pádraic’s sister Siobhán (Played by Thurles born Kerry Condon) to the local parish priest, to inquire as to the cause of Colm’s sudden active hatred.
Actor Peter Bowles in the role of Major Sinclair Yeates, in “The Irish R.M.” [1983–1985]
Star of “The Irish R.M.”, and author Mr Peter Bowles has sadly died from cancer, yesterday March 16th, at the age of 85 years. The actor whose career began with RADA at the Old Vic is survived by wife of some 60 years Sue, together with his three children Guy, Adam and Sasha.
The well-known and much loved charismatic actor of stage and screen will possibly be best remembered, playing the character of ‘Mr Richard DeVere’, starring opposite Penelope Keith as ‘Ms Margo Leadbetter’, in the smash-hit sitcom, “To The Manor Born”, which saw audiences of some 20 million viewers during its twenty-one episodes.
Starting his career at the Old Vic Theatre in 1956, he starred in 45 theatrical productions retiring at the age of 81 in “The Exorcist” at the Phoenix Theatre, having worked consistently on stage and screen, as the typical English gent, wearing a trademark moustache, in the British sitcoms including, “Only When I Laugh”, “The Bounder” and the TV drama “Lytton’s Diary”, which he devised himself.
From 1958 – 2021, Mr Bowles starred in some 42 films and well over 100 Television series, as well as receiving awards & honours including: – RADA Scholarship (1954); Madge Kendal Prize (1955); ITV Personality of the Year (1983); Male Comedy Star Award (1983); The Golden Gate Award (San Francisco International Film Festival, 1993) and an Hon. Doctor of Letters (Nottingham Trent University, 2002).
His book titles include the autobiography: “Ask Me if I’m Happy” and “Behind the Curtain: The Job of Acting”.
President of LIT Professor Vincent Cunnane has congratulated third year LIT Creative Broadcast and Film Production student Ms Alyssa Fleming who won the People’s Choice Award at the Smedia Awards 2021, with her film “The Daily Grind“.
“Winning a National Student Media Award – or Smedia – in any year is a great achievement, but to create an award-winning film during a time when our movements were limited due to a global pandemic is particularly significant. Alyssa and her fellow students have shown great determination, creativity and resolve to create such excellent work despite the Covid-19 restrictions,” said Professor Cunnane.
“I would like to congratulate Alyssa on her success and acknowledge the work of her fellow creative broadcast student Matt Murphy, who expertly edited the winning film The Daily Grind. Credit must also go to the LIT teaching staff, who continue to teach, encourage and inspire the next generation of broadcasters and film makers.”
Ms Nora Ní Fhlathárta, Programme Leader, Creative Broadcast & Film Production congratulated the Smedia People Choice Award winner, while also paying tribute to LIT’s Laura Mannix, the first-year student of Creative Broadcast, who was nominated for the Short Animation of the Year award
“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic many students had to restructure their original film plans so as to adhere to Government health guidelines. However, all was not lost as sometimes, having to restructure allowed students to embrace formats they might never have considered. Troubleshooting is part and parcel of film making and we are so proud of all our film students who have created a diverse and unique range of film and audio projects this year,” she said.
Alyssa Fleming’s award-winning film tells the story of a stressed coffee shop owner who pushes her eccentric staff for ideas to save the business during lockdown.
Speaking following receiving her Smedia award, Alyssa said, “I’m very grateful to everyone who voted for The Daily Grind and I am also very grateful to my actors and Matt Murphy for editing the piece. Making a film during lockdown was tough, but the final product is something that I am very proud of.”
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