Very soon the first ever Irish Film Festival will take place not only in Turkey but in Kas! - A selection of Irish feature films and shorts will be shown in the Kas Ancient Theatre between 11 – 13 November and all ages are welcome to attend for free.
The selection of films will reflect the best in Irish cinema over the last few decades and the organisers – an Irish TV producer, Kate Fennell, Kas Culture House and Kas Municipality – hope that this will give a Turkish and foreign audience the opportunity to become more acquainted with various aspects of Irish culture and history.
There is already a shared history between the two countries dating back to the 3rd century BC when the ancestors of the Irish, the Celts, or Gauls as they were also known, settled in the highlands of Central Anatolia for more than five centuries and had Ankyra (Ankara) as their capital. They gave the name Galatia to the region, and, it is believed, were eventually absorbed into the local population.
“I’ve lived in Kas for nearly a year now,” says festival director, Kate Fennell, “and I find that there are many similarities between the Turks and us. I’m not at all surprised to find out that we’ve been here before! It’s exciting to be bringing one’s culture here for locals to experience. I think they’ll enjoy it and I hope it leads to more collaborations in the future.”
Over the three days there will be two screenings per day in the atmospheric Ancient Theatre; one at 5pm and one at 8pm. The organisers advise people to bring warm clothes and as Kate says “pray for no rain!”
The films shown will include the award-winning “The Wind That Shakes the Barley” about Ireland’s struggle for freedom, the contemporary love story “Once” which offers a glance at modern Dublin, “In the Name of the Father” about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, starring Daniel Day Lewis, “Poitín,” an Irish language feature film about small-time smugglers on the west coast of Ireland, and a selection of the best Irish short movies over the last ten years.
There will be Irish music played in various bars and restaurants in Kas which will add to the festive atmosphere.
The films will be screened in English with Turkish subtitles excepting Poitín, which will be subtitled in both English and Turkish. The director, Bob Quinn, a renowned film and documentary maker from Ireland, will travel to Kas for the festival and will give an illuminating talk about the ancient cultural connections he has documented between the maritime cultures of North Africa and Asia and the island of Ireland.
During the festival, local talent will also be on show from a young film club in Kas called the Apple Tea Filmmakers/Elma Cayi Sinemacilari. For the last year, they have been learning how to make short films under the tutelage of local producer Ozkan Yilmaz. Their short films, which were shot last year, will be shown before the main films during the weekend. Check their Facebook page for more information.
For more information call: Kate Fennell - 0 543 867 95 33
Kas Irish Film Festival Kas, Turkey
Festival Director: Kate Fennell
Production Co-ordinator: Miray Wertien
Assistant Co-ordinator: Haluk Elbeyli
Website Designer: Cormac Bracken
Telephone: 0 242 836 4105
Mobile: 0543 867 9533
Fax: 0242 836 2936
Email:
kate (at) kasirishfilmfestival.com
pr (at) kasirishfilmfestival.com
Festival Office Address:
Cumhuriyet Meydani No. 8
Kas / Antalya 07580 Turkey
