The Irish Film Festival of Ottawa is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with a three-day extravaganza of music, film, dance, and more. Running from April 25-27 at the Ottawa Art Gallery, it promises to be a celebration of Irish culture for Ottawa’s Irish diaspora and beyond.
Apt613 chatted with Patrick Murray, festival co-founder, about the festival and what audiences can expect this year.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Apt613: What can attendees expect from this year’s festival in terms of films, programming, and special events? Are there any new or unique features of this year’s festival that you’re particularly excited about?
Patrick Murray: What we are most excited about that is different from recent years is we’ll be hosting our first guest from Ireland since 2022. All Ireland fiddle champion Edith Lawlor will be joining us in person on Saturday, April 26 for the screening of Fidil Ghorm/The Blue Fiddle. She is the star of the film that is suitable for the whole family and those who loved An Cailin Ciuin/The Quiet Girl (Opening night 2023), will love this charming family musical drama.
Edith, who is the star of The Blue Fiddle, will be present with fiddle in hand to answer questions and play some live music for attendees as a special bonus to the screening.
Edith will also be part of a special filmmaker’s panel on Saturday at 12:30 pm along with local professional film director Max McGuire and professional actor Karen Cliche to talk about storytelling through vision and image. The panel is free all is welcome. Details will be on our website.
Apt613: Who is the typical audience for the Irish Film Festival of Ottawa, and do you see any growing interest in Irish cinema from outside the Irish community?
Murray: Our typical audience is Irish diaspora, persons of Irish and Celtic decent, cinephiles, in particular cinephiles shared with the Canadian Film Institute patrons. The Canadian Film Institute has been an enthusiastic supporter of Irish Film Festival Ottawa since its inception and has been generous with sharing our festival info through social media.
We have seen growing interest for Irish cinema outside of the Irish community thanks to our diverse programs of contemporary films with universal themes. Our films over the years run the gambit of drama, comedy, romance, family, horror, crime, action, historical and period films, documentaries, and great storytelling regardless of genre and theme. We curate a program that has something for every cinephile.
Apt613: How does the festival foster a connection between Canadian audiences and Irish culture?
Murray: We curate a lot of films with universal and shared themes that both Canadian and Irish audiences can relate to. We also try to bring guests whenever possible as ambassadors of Irish film to meet with Canadians to talk about film and filmmaking. We welcome all community and cultural organizations regardless of ethnicity, religion, nationality etc. to participate and partner with Irish Film Festival Ottawa. There are many similarities between Canadians and the Irish and our cinemas. We try to showcase those similarities whenever possible.
Apt613: Is there anything else readers should know?
Murray: Our opening night film includes a post-screening party with food and live music at the Albion rooms across the street from the Ottawa Art Gallery. I’d also like to highlight our LGBTQ+ themed family comedy on Sunday afternoon, Four Mothers, which is about a struggling author who provides full time care for his mother and is suddenly tasked with the full time care of three other mothers. This happens after his friends take a spontaneous vacation together. Lots of heart and comedy as he navigates his duty to care for these four very different women while trying to launch his book and career.
Tickets for the Irish Film Festival of Ottawa are available on the festival website starting at $12. The OAG is fully accessible, with multi-user washrooms, and admission is always free. The accessible entrance is at 10 Daly Ave. Free childcare is available during exhibition opening receptions.
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