In 1912, when composer Ernest Ball set music to the lyrics of ‘When Irish Eyes Are Smiling’ by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff Jr, he probably had no idea of the song’s enduring popularity for more than a century, or that he would be the subject of the 1944 biopic Irish Eyes Are Smiling. In April this year, the Irish film and media industry had reason to smile when the government announced a €200 million investment in the sector over the next decade. Ireland may be widely known as one of the spectacular locations for Game Of Thrones and Star Wars, but there is much more to the country’s film industry than that. Over the last decade or so, the country has been making giant strides in the world film arena.
While there have always been intermittent breakout films like Waking Ned Devine (1998), The Snapper (1993) and The Commitments (1991), to name just three, for a long time, the only Irish filmmakers known internationally were Neil Jordan (The Crying Game) and Jim Sheridan (In The Name Of The Father). Though directed by British filmmaker Ken Loach, The Wind That Shakes The Barley, set during the Irish war of independence put the country back on the map when it won the Palm d’Or at Cannes in 2006. I missed Lenny Abrahamson’s feature debut Adam & Paul (2004), but was struck by his storytelling competence in Garage (2007), a quiet but devastating portrayal of small-town anomie that won the CICAE award at Cannes. Abrahamson is now enjoying a flourishing career that includes the Oscar-winning Room (2015).
Also in 2007, John Carney charmed the world with his musical, Once, that won the audience award for best film at Sundance and the Oscar for best song. Since then, Ireland has been producing winners thick and fast. There’s Lance Daly’s Kisses (2008), Tom Collins’ Kings (2007), John Michael McDonagh’s Calvary (2014), Nora Twomey’s The Secret of Kells (2009) and The Breadwinner (2017), Aisling Walsh’s Maudie (2016), Juanita Wilson’s As If I Am Not There (2010), Rebecca Daly’s The Other Side Of Sleep (2011) and many more. John Crowley shot to fame with Intermission (2003) and Boy A (2007) and had an international hit in Brooklyn (2015) that cemented Saoirse Ronan’s position as one of the best actresses of our time.
There is plenty to look forward to as well. Ryan and Andrew Tohill’s The Dig, Viko Nicki’s Cellar Door, Ross Whitaker’s Katie, Keith Walsh’s When All Is Ruin Once Again, Jessica Patterson’s The Wiremen, Sean Mullen and Meelis Arulepp’s The Overcoat and Lance Daly’s Black 47 have been accruing festival acclaim. And, John Butler’s Papi Chulo will have its world premiere at Toronto in September.
The Irish film resurgence is supported by several internationally renowned film festivals in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Fingal, Kerry, Limerick and several locations across the country, featuring not only Irish films, but a range of world cinema. And the festivals attract top international talent. Ireland may have a small film industry compared to behemoths, but it packs a powerful punch.