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Jon Kenny, the Irish comedy legend, has unfortunately passed away at the age of 66. After entertaining the audience for years, his death has undoubtedly sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry. Fans and artists from all over the world are paying their tribute, and bidding farewell to Kenny.

Jon Kenny in The Matchmaker | Lyric Theatre Belfast/YouTube

The accomplished comedian and stage actor made many contributions to TV, theater, and even cinema. He also starred alongside Colin Farrell in one movie, which showcased his range and versatility as a performer. So, let’s remember the icon together and pay homage to his incredible journey.

Jon Kenny Starred in The Banshees of Inisherin Alongside Colin Farrell Colin Farrell in The Banshees of Inisherin | Film4 Productions

Jon Kenny passed away on November 15, 2024, after suffering from health issues. He was hospitalized in Galway Clinic for treatment but did not make it (via The Irish...

Jon Kenny, one half of the famous comedy team D’Unbelievables, died at Galway Clinic on Friday night. He was 59. This was the end of an era in Irish entertainment. He was 66 years old.

Kenny, from Hospital in County Limerick, became famous nationwide with his comedy partner Pat Shortt in the 1990s. Their unique style forever changed Irish humor. Fellow comic Dara Ó Briain said they “opened the door for all the rest of us.”

Even though Kenny had many health problems, he kept up a busy job in show business. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2000, which meant he couldn’t act for a while. He went back to the stage as a solo act after treatment that went well, which included a stem cell transplant at St. James’s Hospital.

Kenny’s acting skills went beyond comedy, and he received high praise for his parts in movies...

Netflix has debuted the trailer for the dark comedic thriller ‘Bodkin’.

The show follows a motley crew of podcasters who set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of three strangers in a quaint, coastal Irish town. But once they start pulling at threads, they discover a story much bigger and weirder than they could have ever imagined. As our heroes try to discern fact from fiction — about the case, about their colleagues, and, most painfully, themselves — the series challenges our perception of truth and exposes the stories we tell ourselves to justify our beliefs or validate our fears.

Created by Jez Scharf, the show stars Sobhán Cullen (Dove), Robyn Cara (Emmy), Chris Walley (Sean O’Shea), David Wilmot (Seamus), and Will Forte (Gilbert).

Guest stars include Pom Boyd (Mrs. O’Shea), Fionnula Flanagan (Mother Bernadette), Áine Ní Mhuirí (Sister McDonagh), Charlie Kemp (Damien), Pat Shortt (Darragh), Ger Kelly (Teddy), Denis Conway (Sergeant...

A podcaster, his assistant, and a journalist travel to Ireland to investigate a cold case in Netflix’s Bodkin. Described as a dark comedic thriller, the trailer reveals that the Irish townsfolk aren’t thrilled about being invaded by a podcast team and definitely aren’t ready to disclose all their secrets to strangers who are determined to dredge up unwelcome memories.

Will Forte stars as Gilbert Power, the podcaster; Robyn Cara plays Gilbert’s assistant, Emmy Sizerghy; and Siobhán Cullen stars as Dove, the investigative journalist who reluctantly joins forces with Gilbert. The cast also includes Chris Walley as Sean O’Shea and David Wilmot as Seamus. Pom Boyd, Fionnula Flanagan, Áine Ní Mhuirí, Charlie Kemp, Pat Shortt, Ger Kelly, Denis Conway, and John Olohan guest star.

Bodkin follows “a motley crew of podcasters who set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of three strangers in a quaint, coastal Irish town.

Immersive cinema experiences are big business these days, with fans being invited, briefly, into the reconstructed worlds of Stranger Things, James Bond and other major titles. But few would put Martin McDonagh’s melancholic Irish comedy The Banshees of Inisherin as next in line.

Enter Luke Mee, who has painstakingly rebuilt JJ Devine’s — the traditional pub where the friendship between Colin Farrell’s Padraic and Brendan Gleeson’s Colm goes sour — in the backyard of his own pub by using the original set.

Having known about the production and even gone to visit the film’s fake bar during the shoot on the west Irish Island of Achill (where locals were reportedly upset when it was dismantled — reportedly because they had served beer at the end of each day), Mee had been intrigued by what had happened to it when everything wrapped and decided to track down the pieces.

SisterS is coming soon to IFC. The new dark comedy series comes from real-life best friends Sarah Goldberg and Susan Stanley. The duo stars in the six-episode series.

Also starring Harki Bhambra, Liam Carney, Frank Laverty, Donal Logue, Rory Nolan, Darragh Shannon, Pat Shortt, and Sophie Thompson, the series follows a woman who travels to Ireland to find her birth father after her mother’s death has led to a shocking discovery.

Read More…...

Critics love Martin McDonagh’s new film “The Banshees of Inisherin,” which reunites Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, his two leads from 2008’s black crime comedy “In Bruges” as feuding former friends.

The film had its world premiere at the 2022 Venice Film Festival, where Farrell won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and McDonagh won for Best Screenplay. Five years ago, McDonagh won the same award for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” which set the stage for an Oscar in the same category. “Billboards” stars Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell also won Oscars.

So could this be the film that might finally get Farrell his first Academy Award nomination? The actor, who netted a Golden Globe for “In Bruges,” is overdue for some Oscar love, as is Gleeson, an Emmy winner for 2009’s “Into the Storm.”

Here’s what you need to know about when and where to watch the movie,...

The Banshees of Inisherin is an excellent film written and directed by Martin McDonagh. It is starred by Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Kerry Condon.

You need to be blind to not notice it: this is an absolutely special movie. It is noteworthy from the very first frame in everything.

Storyline

Pádraic gets up in the morning like he does every day to visit his friend Colm. But this day there is a problem and it is that Colm, for no real reason, no longer wants to be Pádraic´s friend.

Movie Review The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

A film in the flavor of John Ford, quality filming in each frame, composition, very studied photography, elaborated narrative and devoted acting that is outstanding in the two leading roles.

But the film has a character that does not appear: Martin McDonagh, who is outstanding as he was in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing...

(l-r) Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell in the film The Banshees Of Inisherin. Photo by Jonathan Hession. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.

The brilliant The Banshees Of Inisherin reunites In Bruges co-stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson with Martin McDonagh for the writer/playwright/director’s dark comedy about a long friendship coming apart on a tiny Irish island in shocking fashion. But in this film, the comedy is darker and with a looming threat of violence, putting it more in the vein of one of playwright McDonagh’s plays like “The Hangmen” or “The Pillowman.” If you have been lucky enough to see any of his plays on stage, you know his signature combination of dark humor with undercurrents of violence, packed with biting witty dialog and thought-provoking subject matter, usually with a distinctly Irish accent.

Like a lot of the writer/playwright/director’s work,...

The Banshees of Inisherin Review — The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) Film Review, a movie written and directed by Martin McDonagh and starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan, Gary Lydon, Pat Shortt, Sheila Flitton, Aaron Monaghan and David Pearse. Two longtime friends named Pádraic Súilleabháin (Colin Farrell) and Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson) [...]

Continue reading: Film Review: The Banshees Of Inisherin (2022): Martin McDonagh’s Film is a Beautifully Crafted Gem With Amazing Performances Throughout...

"You can't just stop being friends with a fella!!" Searchlight UK has debuted a brand new UK trailer for the latest film The Banshees of Inisherin from acclaimed writer / director Martin McDonagh, known for his films In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths, and Three Billboards. This premiered to rave reviews at the 2022 Venice Film Festival & Toronto Film Festival, and it also just played at Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX as well. Set on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland, two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, leading to alarming consequences for both. Banshees features another stellar cast: Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as the two friends (the same two from In Bruges! ha!), plus Kerry Condon, Pat Shortt, and Barry Keoghan. We already posted the US trailer back in August, but more than happy to bring some extra attention to this fine film.

Click here to read the full article.

Ireland’s rural West was the setting for a cluster of plays hatched out of a remarkably prolific early period in the mid-‘90s that thrust Martin McDonagh onto the map. But aside from the title initially intended to complete his Aran Islands trilogy, The Banshees of Inisherin remained for decades at a larval stage, unproduced and unpublished. The playwright considered it an immature work, floating the possibility of returning to it later in life. Preserving the title but spinning an entirely new yarn to flesh out its suggestion of folk balladry, the writer-director’s superbly acted fourth feature is his most Irish work for the screen to date, and also one of his best.

A dark comedy that evolves steadily into an unexpectedly poignant account of friendship severed — with violent force when distance doesn’t have the desired effect — though never erased,...

The Banshees of Inisherin Trailer — Martin McDonagh‘s The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) movie trailer has been released by Searchlight Pictures. The Banshees of Inisherin trailer stars Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Pat Shortt, and Barry Keoghan. Crew Martin McDonagh wrote the screenplay for The Banshees of Inisherin. “Produced by Graham Broadbent and Peter Czernin.” Poster The [...]

Continue reading: The Banshees Of Inisherin (2022) Movie Trailer: Colin Farrell & Barry Keoghana’s Friendship Comes to an End in Martin McDonagh’s Film...

"We won't call it quits. We'll call it the 'start.'" Searchlight Pictures has unveiled the first official trailer for the latest film from acclaimed writer / director Martin McDonagh, known for his films In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths, and Three Billboards previously. The Banshees of Inisherin is set to premiere at the 2022 Venice Film Festival in September (and likely at Telluride + TIFF too), then lands in theaters this October. Set on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland, two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, leading to alarming consequences for both. Banshees features another stellar cast: Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as the two friends (the same two from In Bruges! ha!), plus Kerry Condon, Pat Shortt, and Barry Keoghan. No surprise coming from McDonagh, this looks fantastic!! Impressive to see a story that's entirely about a friendship ending going to so many wacky places.

"Sooner or later the party has to end." "Why?!" Freestyle Digital Media has released the official US trailer for Animals, an indie dramedy about two wild young women wrestling with the ways of the world. This originally premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, and it was released in the UK last year (here's the first trailer). Made by Australian filmmaker Sophie Hyde, the film is based on Emma Jane Unsworth's novel of the same name about two best friends living in Dublin who will never not be best friends. Described as "wild, outrageous and utterly hilarious," Holliday Grainger and Alia Shawkat star as best friends who often get drunk, party hard, and live the good life. Until one of them meets a guy and life begins to change - unless they hold onto their old ways. Also starring Fra Fee, Dermot Murphy, Amy Molloy, Pat Shortt, Olwen Fouéré, and Kwaku Fortune.

"Sooner or later the party has to end..." "Why?!" Picturehouse in the UK has debuted the first official UK trailer for the indie dramedy Animals, which initially premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and is playing at Sundance London coming up this week. Made by Australian filmmaker Sophie Hyde, the film is based on Emma Jane Unsworth's novel of the same name about two best friends living in Dublin. Described as "wild, outrageous and utterly hilarious," Holliday Grainger and Alia Shawkat star as best friends who often get drunk, party hard, and live the good life. Until one of them meets a guy and life begins to change - unless they hold onto their old ways. Also starring Fra Fee, Dermot Murphy, Amy Molloy, Pat Shortt, Olwen Fouéré, and Kwaku Fortune. This is a quirky, fun, wild film that was made because Hyde felt a need...

Break Out Pictures launches with four upcoming titles slated for Irish release.

A new Irish distribution company has been launched by former Element Pictures execs Nell Roddy and Robert McCann Finn.

Break Out Pictures launches with four upcoming titles slated for Irish release. As well as distribution, Break Out will focus on event cinema. Roddy and Finn most recently headed up publicity and sales respectively for Element.

This summer the company will release Hugh O’Conor’s coming-of-age drama Metal Heart, starring Jordanne Jones, Leah McNamara and Moe Dunford.

Three further titles are slated for an autumn release, including Ian Fitzgibbon’s pitch-black comedy,...

It will be the world premiere of the Irish crime drama starring Michael Smiley.

The world premiere of Irish comedy drama The Belly Of The Whale, the debut of producer turned director Morgan Bushe, will open the 30th anniversary edition of the Galway Film Fleadh (July 10-15).

Michael Smiley, Lewis McDougall and Pat Shortt star in the film about a teenager who breaks free from his foster home in an Irish seaside town in a bid to reclaim his family’s caravan park and salvage his friendship with his best friend and drinking partner. They join forces with others, hatching...

UK outfit picks up international rights to Galway Film Fleadh title.

International sales rights for Irish romance-drama Twice Shy have been picked up by 7&7 Producers’ Sales Service for the Marché du Film ahead of the film’s summer release by Wild Card Distribution in Ireland.

Featuring Ardal O’Hanlonand Pat Shortt, the film follows the journey of a young couple played by Shane Murray-Corcoran and newcomer Iseult Caseyas who travel to England for a legal abortion (the procedure is illegal in Ireland).

The film, which played at last year’s Galway, Indie Cork and Irish Screen America festivals, features a soundtrack including The Corrs, Gavin James and Ash.

Producer Fionn Gregor pulled the finance together from private sources in Ireland.

Maura Ford of 7&7 said: “We are excited to introduce Twice Shy at this year’s Marché and give the film the international exposure it deserves. Its subtle and engaging take on a very topical issue will resonate...

Twice Shy, an independent Irish film that tackles the topical subject of abortion is delighted to announce that is will screen in Los Angeles at the Irish Screen America festival in September, and at the Indie Cork Festival in Ireland in October. The film features top Irish talent such as Ardal O' Hanlon and Pat Shortt, with leading roles from Shane Murray-Corcoran and Iseult Casey, who makes her screen debut. Twice Shy successfully premiered to a packed audience at the Galway Film Fleadh in July, becoming one of the first films to sell out there. The film is a modern coming of age drama that revolves around a young, unmarried couple who set off on a road trip from Ireland to London as the result of an unplanned pregnancy. The film portrays their journey, through the ups and downs of their relationship and features support from a stellar cast including Ardal O’ Hanlon (Fr.

Following his award winning, micro budgeted first feature Trampoline, up and coming Irish director Tom Ryan is tackling the timely subject of abortion with Twice Shy, the intimate story of a young Irish couple who travel to London after an unplanned pregnancy. Starring Shane Murray Corcoran, Iseult Casey, Pat Shortt, Ardal O’Hanlon, the independent feature is in the early stages on it’s festival run with the news that has been selected as part of Irish Screen America’s 2016 program, rubbing the shoulders with other Irish features like the iconic documentary Queen of Ireland, Mammal, and Tiger Raid. But that’s not all, with Ryan set to pick up the festival’s inaugural Rising Star Award. Speaking of the decision, festival organiser Niall McKay: “When we saw Twice Shy at the Galway Film Fleadh, we recognised it as the kind of truly independent production Irish Screen America was...

Twice Shy, an independent Irish film that tackles the topical subject of abortion, has been officially selected for the Galway Film Fleadh 2016. The film features top Irish talent such as Ardal O' Hanlon and Pat Shortt. Twice Shy is a modern, coming of age drama that revolves around a young, unmarried couple who set off on a road trip from Ireland to London, as the result of an unplanned pregnancy. The film charts the ups and downs of their relationship by juxtaposing their dramatic journey with flashbacks to happier times in their romance. Speaking of the story, director Tom Ryan said, “Although it's fundamentally a story about young love, Twice Shy will explore how an unplanned pregnancy can affect both parties in a relationship. We hope to do this in a relevant non-judgemental manner.” The film stars Shane Murray-Corcoran and Iseult Casey in the lead roles and features support from...

Title: Song Of The Sea Director: Tomm Moore Genre: Animation Voices: Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, Lisa Hannigan, Pat Shortt. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 87th Academy Awards in 2015, ‘Song Of The Sea’ is the latest gem produced by the Irish production company Cartoon Saloon. The story is set in the Emerald Isle (famous for its stories about fairies and Celtic creatures), during the 1980s. Ben is a ten year old who lives with his little sister Saoirse and father Conor in a lighthouse, on an island off the Irish coast. Bronach, their selkie mother, returned to the sea six years previously, leaving Ben [ Read More ]

The post Song Of The Sea Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

Haifaa Al-Mansour’s A Storm In The Stars and comedy Halal Daddy among those supported in latest funding round.

A culture-clash comedy set in Ireland’s first Halal meat factory is among the productions backed by the Irish Film Board (Ifb) in its latest round of funding decisions, which totals more than €3m.

Halal Daddy - the story of a young Muslim’s struggle to manage a rundown abattoir in the West of Ireland - has received a production funding commitment of €500,000.

It is one of a number of comedies backed by the Ifb as it faces the challenge of building on what has been a buoyant period for the Irish film industry, with a number of projects performing strongly throughout awards season. Comedy traditionally performs well with domestic audiences.

Halal Daddy will begin shooting in Sligo in early summer and was written by Conor McDermottroe (Swansong: Story Of Occi Byrne) and Mark O’Halloran (Adam & Paul...

Twice Shy, an independent Irish movie, that tackles the topical subject of abortion, is near completion, after less than a year in production. The film features top Irish talent such as Ardal O' Hanlon and Pat Shortt. Twice Shy is a modern coming of age drama, that centres around a young couple who set off on a road trip from Ireland to London. The young, unmarried couple is played by Shane Murray Corcoran (King Arthur, Angelas Ashes) and Iseult Casey, who makes her debut on the big screen. They take the trip as the result of an unplanned pregnancy and have some life changing decisions to make. The film portrays their journey, through the ups and downs of their relationship, and features support from a stellar cast including Ardal O’ Hanlon (After Hours, Fr. Ted), Pat Shortt (The Guard, Garage), Mary Conroy (Ros na Run) and Paul Ronan (Love/Hate...

Filming is well under way for Twice Shy, director Tom Ryan’s follow-up to his debut indie feature, Trampoline, and he has announced two exciting new additions to his cast, with Pat Shortt (The Guard, Garage) and Ardal O’Hanlon (Father Ted) coming onboard the young director’s second feature, a comedy/drama about a young couple (Iseult Casey and Shane Murray-Corcoran) who set off on a road trip to London after an unplanned pregnancy. With shooting already having taken place in Dublin and Co. Tipperary, the production moves to London for its final phase of filming. Twice Shy is expect to hit the festival circuit in 2016.

Produced by the Ireland-based animation studio, Cartoon Saloon, and distributed by Gkids, "Song of the Sea" is an animated Oscar contender for its exquisite hand-drawn beauty and stirring story about the last Seal-child trapped between two worlds. It debuted in Toronto. Ben and his enchanted little sister Saoirse (a Selkie) are hurled into a fading world of ancient legend and magic as they attempt to return to their home by the sea. The film takes inspiration from the mythological Selkies of Irish folklore, who live as seals in the sea but become humans on land. "Song of the Sea" features the voices of Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, David Rawle, Lisa Hannigan, Pat Shortt, and Jon Kenny. The score is composed by Bruno Coulais and Irish band Kíla, who previously collaborated on "The Secret of Kells." "I had heard plenty of Selkie stories growing up and had seen the 'Secret of...

A charming new trailer has been released for director Tomm Moore's upcoming animated Irish Folklore film Song of the Sea. This is the same director who created the wonderful animated movie The Secret of Kells.

Song of the Sea is based on a number of Irish folklore tales, and the magical story centers on two siblings named Ben and Saoirse. "They belong to the mythological race of Selkies who live as humans on land and as seals in the sea. Together they embark on an adventure to free fairy creatures trapped in the modern world."

The movie features the voices of Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, David Rawle, Lisa Hannigan, Pat Shortt, Jon Kenny, Lucy O’Connell, Liam Hourican, and Kevin Swierszsz.

If you haven't watched The Secret of Kells yet, it's available on Instant Netflix. If you enjoyed that movie, then I'm sure that you're going to enjoy this one as well.

Realizing you’re about to watch a new movie by the director of Point Blank, Deliverance and Zardoz is an odd experience. In his 81st year, we find John Boorman in a reflective mood, gazing into his own past and trying to assemble fragmented memories into a coherent whole. The result is Queen & Country, a loose sequel to his award-winning 1987 classic Hope & Glory.

That film followed Bill, a fictionalized childhood analogue of Boorman, through the chaos of London Blitz. Queen & Country picks up his story a decade later in 1951. Bill (Callum Turner) has just turned 18, making him eligible to be conscripted for two years of national service. Though just six years since Ve Day, the mood in the country has perceptibly shifted; the vague rumblings from Korea feeling inconsequential in comparison to the previous threat of wartime bombardment.

The majority of the film takes place within a training camp for conscripts somewhere near London.

Life’s a Breeze

Written by Lance Daly

Directed by Lance Daly

Ireland, 2013

Greed is an interesting thing, one of the seven deadly sins which sometimes brings out the very worst in people. Money is a very attractive motivator and in desperate times, can turn good-natured individuals into devious scoundrels. The Irish dramedy Life’s a Breeze does focus on greed and the unfortunate effect it has on family but it does it in a way that is light and at times, rather farcical. It is a film about family, first and foremost, and how something as material as money can either bring the family together or tear it apart.

Nan (Fionnula Flannagan) is an aging woman living by her lonesome in gritty part of Dublin, Ireland. Her family consists of oddball slackers who mean well but end up irritating Nan to no end. The “leader” of the clan is...

Irish director Lance Daly's Life's a Breeze faces a curious dilemma. How to depict the degrading effects of poverty when your central character, 79-year-old grandmother Nan (Fionnula Flanagan), lives in squalor by choice, having saved up close to a million euros? Her problems begin when her extended family, realizing that she's a virtual contender for Hoarding: Buried Alive, throws out most of her possessions, including the mattress where she's stashed the money. Led by her dim son Colm (Pat Shortt), they then go on a wild chase in search of it. Along the way, Nan and Colm's teenage niece Emma (Kelly Thornton) share many pleasant moments of conversation. Ken Loach's recent comedies of working-class life seem to be Daly's main inspiration here. Life's ...

The Little Foxes: Daly’s Heartfelt Family Drama Pleasantly Rendered

Arriving with a bit more investment than its airy title would suggest, Lance Daly returns to Ireland for his latest film, Life’s a Breeze. A simple, working class fable, Daly fills in the schmaltzy pot holes with dry humor, relying on his comfortable cast to sustain the tale’s relatable charm. Pared down to a brisk eighty or so minutes, Daly’s film never outwears its welcome and proves to be a great showcase for the superb Fionnula Flanagan.

Times are tough for all over, and an extended Dublin family centered on matriarch Nan (Fionnula Flanagan) don’t seem to have many monetary options available to them. Her eldest son, Colm (Pat Shortt) is still living with mum and in his late forties, the house a mess with decades of old and useless belongings cluttering the rooms and halls.

Life’S A Breeze Magnolia Pictures Reviewed for Shockya by Harvey Karten. Data-based on Rotten Tomatoes Grade: C Director: Lance Daly Screenplay: Lance Daly Cast: Kelly Thornton, Fionnula Flannagan, Pat Shortt Screened at: Review 1, NYC, 8/18/14 Opens: September 19, 2014 Fionnula Flannagan is cinema’s gift from Ireland, that country’s most engaging actress of a certain age, perhaps the equivalent here in the U.S. of Blythe Danner. But her presence in “Life’s a Breeze,” presumably an ironic title, cannot save the movie from being little more than a sitcom that you might find on commercial TV or, to be magnanimous, on a cable station like HBO. “Life’s a Breeze,” taken from [ Read More ]

The post Life’s a Breeze Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

Tomm Moore follows up his Oscar-nominated "The Secret of Kells" with an even more ambitious Irish folk tale, "Song of the Sea," which plays Toronto on Saturday. Produced by the Ireland-based animation studio, Cartoon Saloon, and distributed by Gkids, "Song of the Sea" (opening December 19th) looks to be a sure Oscar contender for its exquisite hand-drawn beauty and stirring story about the last Seal-child trapped between two worlds. Ben and his enchanted little sister Saoirse (a Selkie) are hurled into a fading world of ancient legend and magic as they attempt to return to their home by the sea. The film takes inspiration from the mythological Selkies of Irish folklore, who live as seals in the sea but become humans on land. "Song of the Sea" features the voices of Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, David Rawle, Lisa Hannigan, Pat Shortt, and Jon Kenny. The score is composed by Bruno Coulais and Irish band Kíla,...

Cartoon Saloon and director Tomm Moore's follow-up to their visually sublime The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea will be making it's European premiere, as well as headlining the festival's Family programme gala, with two screenings on October 18th and 19th. Drawing heavily on celtic folklore, the movie follows two children who find themselves on an adventure in the world of ancient magic, and features the voices of Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, Pat Shortt, and Jon Kenny. This marks Song of the Sea's second festival showing, with the movie showing this weekend as  part of the children's section of the Toronto International Film Festival. No general release date has being given for the movie, but hopefully we'll see it sooner rather than later. The 58th BFI London Film Festival runs fro the 8th of October to the 19th.

This has been out in the wilds for a while now, but it's criminal that the teaser for the follow up to the visually sublime Irish animation The Secret of Kells hasn't gotten a bigger showing on the internet. So here it is, the teaser trailer for Song of the Sea. Taking its inspiration from Irish folklore, specifically the legend of the Selkies, it tells the story of Ben who discovers his sister Saoirse is the last Seal-Child, part of an ancient race who become seals in the water and human on land, and embarks on a fantastic journey into Irish legend with her. Featuring the voices of Brendan Gleeson, Pat Shortt, Jon Kenny, Fionnula Flannagan, Song of the Sea promise to be an absolutely beautiful piece of animation. Check out the teaser below. No concrete release date has been given as of yet, but it is expected to hit...

The lineups for the Mavericks, Discovery, and Tiff Kids parts of the Toronto Film Festival were announced, wrapping up a series of lineup announcements for the Toronto International Film Festival.

With the added films, the festival’s entire slate is now a whopping 393 movies. Two hundred eighty-five of those movies are feature films, of which 143 are world premieres.

The Mavericks portion of the festival includes onstage discussions following the screening of each film. Do I Sound Gay? will be followed by a talk between director David Thorpe and sex-advice guru Dan Savage. Also premiering in that space is The 50 Year Argument,...

Bill Murray is coming to Toronto folks. Actually, the film he stars in (Theodore Melfi’s St. Vincent) is having its official World Premiere launch at the jaw-dropping 285 feature film 2014 Tiff line-up. In the final batch of items we finally get the confirmation that 2014′s Palme d’Or Winner Winter Sleep (which gets added along with a trio of others to the Masters Programme) will show, and Tomm Moore’s highly anticipated Song of the Sea (among the four item line-up for Tiff Kids) also lands. Worth mentioning are the sprinkling of add-ons to the various other sections (Marjane Satrapi’s Sundance preemed The Voices, Matt Shakman’s Cut Bank and the world preem of Danis Tanovic’s Tigers) with a Studio Ghibli docu item being fitted into the Tiff Docs, but it is the Discovery Programme that finally takes shape.

The “up-and-comers” include Berlin Film Fest (and future Nyff...

In the midst of his confession, a man promises to kill Father James (Brendan Gleeson) in one week's time. Not because he's a bad priest, but because he's an innocent priest. His reasoning comes as the result of being raped for several years by a priest when he was a young boy and while the man responsible for such deplorable acts has now died, this confessor believes to kill the criminal would have been worthless anyway, but to kill an innocent priestc Well, that would turn some heads. These are the opening moments of John Michael McDonagh's sophomore effort Calvary, a movie that left me emotionally rattled in a way I can't say I've experienced in some time. Set in a small Irish village, McDonagh makes good use of a small number of locals, touching on a wealth of societal touchstones including religion, drug abuse, banking scandals, adultery, domestic...

Harry Potter may well have kickstarted Daniel Radcliffe’s career and now Horns is the movie that finally cements him as a rock solid actor and not just the kid that messed around with a magic wand. For the last few years Radcliffe has been moving away from all things Potter with the likes of “The Woman In Black” and threading the boards in Equus and most recently on Broadway, where Radcliffe and Pat Shortt have finished their long run of The Cripple Of Innishman. I’ve always said that Radcliffe is a decent actor and if he could shake the Harry Potter vibes, then he’s on his way to some serious, potentially award winning, performances. Horns is just the thing that the actor needs. It’s spooky, it’s funny, it’s dark and Daniel Radcliffe looks phenomenal here. In the aftermath of his girlfriends mysterious death, Ig...

As we look ahead to the Tony Awards on Sunday, EW is taking a closer look at this season’s nominated selection of new musicals, plays, and revivals, all of which will be competing for Broadway’s highest honor. Today, we dive into this year’s nominees for Best Revival of a Play.

The Cripple of Inishmaan

Opened: April 12, 2014

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Sarah Greene, Ingrid Craigie, Pádraic Delaney, Gillian Hanna, Gary Lilburn, Conor ManNeill, and Pat Shortt.

Written by: Martin McDonagh

Directed by: Michael Grandage

Synopsis: The dark Irish comedy set in the remote island of Inishmaan tells the story...

A delightful trailer has been released for director Tomm Moore's new film Song of the Sea. This is the same director who brought us the fantastic animated film The Secret of Kells. His newest film looks absolutely wonderful.

Song of the Sea pulls from several aspects of Irish folklore, more specifically the Selkies, who are seals in the sea, but shed their skin to become human on land. The story focuses on siblings Ben and Saoirse (who is the last Seal-child) who embark on a great adventure. The movie stars the voices of Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, David Rawle, Lisa Hannigan, Pat Shortt, Jon Kenny, Lucy O’Connell, Liam Hourican, and Kevin Swierszsz.

Cartoon Saloon is likely to release the movie sometime in 2015, and I'll be looking forward to it. If you haven't seen The Secret of Kells yet, you should check it out. It's currently on Netflix.

Cannes -- When John Boorman released "Hope and Glory" in 1987, I was already fascinated by stories of living through WWII, and I thought his film painted a remarkable, unsentimental portrait of what it was like to be a child during the Blitz. It was all about somehow being able to have a childhood while the world was burning down around him, and it had a spectacular sense of time and place. Walking into "Queen and Country," his latest film, I had no idea it was a sequel. Written and directed by Boorman, this film takes place as Will, the little boy in the first film, is turning 19 and leaving home, conscripted into Army service as England is sending soldiers over to help fight the Korean War. There's actually a very short clip from "Hope And Glory" at the beginning, and then we dissolve to the island in the Thames where...

Celebrating opening night, Daniel Radcliffe walked the red carpet at the Cort Theatre in New York City on Sunday night (April 20).

The “Harry Potter” actor kept it casual before suiting up in his costume for “The Cripple of Inishmaan,” in which he stars alongside Pat Shortt and Gillian Hanna.

The play is a dark comedy by Martin McDonagh who links the story to the real life filming of the documentary Man of Aran and is set in Ireland.

McDonagh discussed his work and said, "I hope someday they’ll be regarded as true Irish stories; I don’t think they are at this minute. It will take a long time for the baggage of me being a Londoner to be in the past.”...

Daniel Radcliffe is currently prepping for his third stint on Broadway, this time in a quirky play called The Cripple of Inishmaan, a dark 1996 comedy from Martin McDonagh. Radcliffe stars as Billy, a disabled Irish boy who has big dreams of making it in Hollywood when a documentary crew shows up to film on a nearby Irish island.

This production originally premiered in London last year at the Noel Coward Theater. The upcoming Broadway outing reunites Radcliffe with his West End cast mates, including Ingrid Craigie, Padraic Delaney, Sarah Greene, Gillian Hanna, Gary Lilburn, Conor MacNeill, Pat Shortt, and June Watson.

After making a bold Broadway debut in the powerful equine drama Equus and following up with a singing, dancing stint in the glossy 1960s musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, the always astonishing Daniel Radcliffe is back for round three on the Broadway stage — in something completely, totally different.

Radcliffe willreprise his role as Billy in playwright Martin McDonagh’s 1996 black comedy The Cripple of Inishmaan, which follows a handicapped Irish boy (Radcliffe) who dreams of appearing in a documentary being filmed by a Hollywood crew on a nearby island (the real-life 1934 film Man of Aran). The...

Gkids has signed on to be the North American distributor for Oscar-nominated Irish director Tomm Moore’s second animated feature "Song of the Sea." For this much-anticipated follow-up to 2009’s The Secret of Kells," Moore has re-teamed with composer Bruno Coulais and the Irish band Kíla. The film will feature the voices of Brendan Gleeson, David Rawle, Lisa Hannigan, Pat Shortt, and Jon Kenny. Regarding partnering once again with animation studio Cartoon Saloon and Moore, Gkids founder and president Eric Beckman said, “We are absolutely thrilled to renew our collaboration with Cartoon Saloon for Song of the Sea. Tomm brings an unprecedented level of artistry and passion to his filmmaking and he and the team at Cartoon Saloon have created something truly incredible with this film. Us audiences have a very, very special treat in store for them.” Moore continues exploring his fascination with Irish folklore with a story that...

Exclusive: The Secret of Kells director’s sophomore animation gets sales company.

WestEnd Films has signed on to sell Tom Moore’s anticipated animation Song of the Sea, the director’s follow up to Oscar-nominated animation The Secret of Kells.

Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, David Rawle, Lisa Hannigan, Pat Shortt and Jon Kenny are among the voice cast in the Cartoon Saloon-produced family-animation, due for release late this year.

Like Moore’s previous film, Song of the Sea takes inspiration from Irish folklore, centring on the legend of the Selkies, mythological creatures that are part seal, part human.

The storyline revolves around brother and sister Ben and Saoirse, who are forced to leave their coastal home to live with their grandmother following their mother’s mysterious disappearance.

Oscar-nominated composer Bruno Coulais again joined forces with Irish Band Kíla to create the score after their collaboration on 2009 feature Kells.

Previous deals done with producers include StudioCanal for the...

Last week saw the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, and a slew of new films vying for people's attention. While some films may never make it in front of mass audiences, movie studios are always there to make some purchases. I've gathered up a list of some of those purchase announcements so that you can see what will be coming your way in the future!

Let's get started (these are copied from the press releases I received to better reflect the information):

* Lionsgate (NYSE: Lgf) and Roadside Attractions, and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (Spwa) each announced today that the respective companies have acquired rights in all territories to Craig Johnson’s drama The Skeleton Twins. Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions have jointly acquired Us rights to the film, while Spwa is taking all worldwide rights outside of the Us. Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions are planning a theatrical release for the feature film...

Score! Here’s great news about a movie that we really can’t wait to see. Fox Searchlight have acquired the U.S. rights to John Michael McDonagh’s Calvary, starring Brendan Gleeson, Chris O’ Dowd, Dylan Moran, Pat Shortt, Aiden Gillen and a whole host of fantastic Irish talent. Fox Searchlight’s purchase also includes some International territories too. Calvary will be distributed in Ireland and the UK by eOne. Our American readers are in for an absolute treat when this hits American cinema screens later this year! On this side of the pond though, Calvary screens at the Jameson Dublin Film Festival on Feb 13th and if you can’t make that then you’ll have to hold on until April 11th...