Pic: Press 22
HOW does a tiny core of film makers make an international film festival here in Limerick attended by an industry kingpin such as Jared Harris? The son of our late, loyal Richard Harris, Jared inherits the mantle of patron from his older brother Damien, who was present throughout all of last year’s inaugural Richard Harris International Film Festival (RHIFF) with daughter Ella.
Arts page sat down to grill festival founder Zeb Moore on how this unfunded initiative, Friday October 24 to Sunday October 26, that will operate out of 69 O’Connell Street took shape and substance.
“It’s tough,” Moore admits. But reader, this actor/ producer/ engineer is of tough stock too. His dad Des Moore is a guitarist musician of renown (U2, Christy Moore, Riverdance, Celtic Woman) and movies. Credited on the score to ’The Field’; he was the guitar player for ‘Room with a View’ and for Disney’s ‘Camelot’ – “to name but a few!!” laughs Zeb.
The precarious world of film is in Moore veins, Zeb starring this year alone in ‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’ and ‘The Quiet Hour’. This is due to premier in London with Dakota Blue Richards in lead role.
This year’s RHIFF programme rolled out at Thomond Park, a place loved by and played on by Richard H with an encouraging Mayor, Michael Sheahan and film maker Stephen Hall officiating and committee members Eleanor McSherry, Rob Gill and Paddy Murphy. Set in stone is the three day attendance by Harris brothers Jared (‘Mad Men’, ‘Lincoln’) with actor wife Allegra; actor Jamie Harris (‘In the Name of the Father’) and returning, Ella.
“We open with a gala showing of ‘The Field’ on Friday 24 with John B’s widow Mary Keane and son Billy attending, while the Shorts competition on Saturday 24 is now open to international film makers. We have had over 50 submissions and our professional selection committee is choosing 10 for screening,” Zeb explains. “We are now collaborating with Newport Beach Film Festival in California and will send on our two best. They in turn will choose which film Short will be screened in California at Newport festival next April”.
“We will also have representation from the Irish Film Board and Irish Film Institute in Limerick also”.
Incentive and exposure for local film makers is core to festival objectives.
Weekend highlights include ‘What Richard Did’ with Jack Reynor and Limerick fiancée Madeline Mulqueen eager to show,should his production company release him; hot UK movie ‘Starred Up’ with Jack O’Connell (Irish parents) and Rupert Friend and schmoozing in Clohessy’s with Behind the Scenes film networking.
George Boutique Hotel rolls out the gala reception after ‘The Field’ in its cool leather bar upstairs on Friday 24; the festival wrap party will be at The Curragower Seafood Bar by the river c.9pm on Sunday 26.
Tickets through www.limetreetheatre.ie
