How It’s New York: the DOC NYC Festival is, in its very title, a New York event, which takes place this year from Nov. 2 – 10. And the films are being shown at the IFC Center and NYU’s Kimmel Center, around Washington Square. The IFC Center, where these are shown, is at Sixth Avenue at 3rd Street (322 Avenue of the Americas). We’re highlighting the Irish ones, but there are many on the bill that look really fascinating, like Jealous of the Birds, about Holocaust Survivors who chose to remain in Germany, or Brooklyn Boheme, about the vibrant African-American Arts in Fort Grene, Brooklyn. Check out the schedule to see what’s left!
How It’s Irish: Both films look at aspects of Irish life you might not have seen before, and which will fascinate you. One night only for Ballymun Lullaby, with director Frank Berry, and one showing left (Tuesday A.M.) for Blazing the Trail: The O’Kalems in Ireland.
We have some new bloggers for the site who will attend and review so stay tuned! Here are their press descriptions.
Ballymun Lullaby
music teacher Ron Cooney enlists a composer to create a world-class collection of music for Ballymun Estate students to perform and to overturn negative views of the area. Despite his own health problems, Cooney leads the music program to unexpected heights that will send viewers soaring.
TONIGHT – 9:15 PM, Mon. Nov. 7, 2011 – IFC Center
US PREMIERE – Director Frank Berry to attend.
(we’ve had quite a bit on Ballymun in New York lately, from Fishamble Theatre’s production of Sean McLoughlin’s Noah and the Tower Flower to Axis: Ballymun’s production of Dermot Bolger’s The Parting Glass.)
Blazing the Trail: The O’Kalems in Ireland
Blazing the Trail reveals the legacy of New York’s silent movie pioneer The Kalem Film Company, toplined by the creative combo of director Sidney Olcott and actress Gene Gauntier. In 1910, they traveled to Ireland to produce the country’s first feature film, The Lad from Old Ireland, and built on its success with other tales of immigration, romance and rebellion. Uncovering never-before-seen footage, this remarkable history will capture the hearts of cinema lovers.
11:00 AM, Tue. Nov. 8, 2011 – IFC Center
Trailers after the jump!
Ballymun Lullaby Trailer from Frank Berry on Vimeo.
BLAZING THE TRAIL: THE O’KALEMS IN IRELAND | Trailer from PETER FLYNN on Vimeo.
