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The Celtic Cultural Center and the UW-Madison Celtic Studies Program announce this year’s Madison Celtic Film Festival. This free, two-day event offers the Madison community 8 feature films and 3 shorts that will appeal to both film buffs and Celtic culture fans.
This year’s festival features both English-language and Celtic-language films by Irish, Scottish, Cornish, and Welsh filmmakers. Highlights of this year’s festival include: Dambe – The Mali Project, Small Engine Repair (winner of the Galway Film Festival in 2006), and the 1997 winner of the Celtic Festival, Boy from Mercury.
This year’s festival is made possible by the generous support of the UW Anonymous Fund, the Celtic Cultural Center of Madison, and the Irish Film Institute. Event sponsors include the UW Celtic Studies Program, departments of History, English, Theatre and Drama, and the UW Visual Culture Cluster.
Each showing begins with 5-minute introductory remarks about the film.
| Saturday, February 14 | Sunday, February 15 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00 am | Boy from Mercury (84 minutes) | 11:00 am | Adam and Paul (83 minutes) |
| 12:35 pm | Marion agus an Banphrionsa (8 minutes) | 12:35 pm | 35 Aside (27 minutes) |
| 1:00 pm | 32A (95 minutes) | 1:30 pm | Seachd (90 minutes) |
| 3:00 pm | Small Engine Repair (100 minutes) | 3:30 pm | Dressing Granite (93 minutes) |
| 5:00 pm | Dambe - The Mali Project (94 minutes) | 5:30 pm | Eldra (90 minutes) |
| 6:50 pm | 6 Farms (7 minutes) | ||
Based on the life of Eldra Roberts, a Welsh Romani Gypsy, this award winning film was originally produced for Welsh language television. An adolescent in 1930s Eldra was “every inch a Romani.” With the stunning backdrop of the mountains of Snowdonia, we share a summer when she experiences the tensions between generations and social classes, and the rich confluence of the Welsh and Romani cultures.
Eldra was the UK’s 2003 submission to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. Robin Huw Bowen wrote the score and plays the triple harp.
Irish musicians Paddy Keenan and Liam O Maonlai cover thousands of miles in Mali West Africa on a musical traditions exchange project with world famous performers as well as the nomadic herdsman they encounter. O Maonlai sums up the experience as an enthusiastic sharing of the treasures of “social wealth, the social capital” with the people of Mali. The documentary’s vivacious colors and sounds culminate in the Festival Au Desert where the gorgeous garments and the fantastic performances unveil the links in the vibrant musical heritages forged in the midst of the endless Sahara sands.
Runner up for the Audience Award at the 2008 Jameson Dublin International Film Festival
The Boy from Mercury is Harry—an 8 year old stranded in 1960s Dublin with an Earthling family trying to cope with the death of their father and husband. Feeling abandoned Harry takes refuge in Flash Gordon films. He sits on his rooftop at night sending signals to the planet he calls home, hoping that he and his dog will soon be rescued. But then Uncle Tony, an alien of sorts himself, arrives…
Winner: 1997 Celtic Film and Television Jury Award
Small Engine Repair, winner of the Best First Film award at the 2006 Galway Film Fleadh, is a study of male relationships strained by infidelities and betrayals. Country and Western music holds the promise of success for aspiring musician Doug. He finally produces a demo tape that could be the ticket out of his claustrophobic Irish midlands town.
Winner: Best First Film, Galway Film Fleadh 2006; IFTA IFB & NIFTC Breakthrough Talent Award 2007; Nashville Film Festival Dreammaker Award 2007. Director of Photography: Tim Fleming (other credits: Once)
Maeve, Ruth, Orla and Claire are 13. It’s 1979 and they’re growing up in Dublin. Boys complicate their friendships but the girls rebound, learning important lessons about love and loyalty. 32A has been shown at film festivals worldwide and has been nominated for the 6th Annual IFTA Best Feature Film award. The IFTA ceremony takes place 14 February 2009 in Dublin.
Winner of numerous awards including the Best First Feature Film at the Galway Film Fleadh in 2004, Adam and Paul is the story of two Dublin junkies in quest of a fix. Director Lenny Abrahamson noted that he was influenced by Beckett’s work. While observing these abject characters’ relentless pursuit, the viewer alternately shifts between delight at the humor and abhorrence at the desperate amorality of the pair. The film is hauntingly evocative of Beckett’s “you must go on, I can’t go on, I’ll go on.”
IFTA 2004 Best Film Director.
Filmed in Cornwall, and employing local actors, this beautiful film sensitively explores regional as well as universal topics. It is based on a play by Pauline Sheppard about a father and son, two stone masons, who are both very proud of their craft. As his commissions diminish and his father slips into dementia, Matthew is faced with the responsibility of providing care for Ben but also for preserving the rich tradition he has inherited.
The film had its premiere at the 2007 Cornwall Film Festival where it was the opening event.
When Angus was 9 years old his parents died in a climbing accident. He was raised by his grandfather who buried the truth about their deaths in mythical tales of ancient Scotland. As a young man he returns to his dying grandfather’s bedside to find answers. The first feature film in Scottish Gaelic, Seachd was filmed on the Isle of Skye and spotlights wonderful local talent and world renowned musicians in a spectacular presentation of Scottish Gaelic culture.
As a little girl Marion excitedly plans for Princess Grace’s visit to Ireland. She wears her Communion dress to the parade prepared to look her best for the special meeting.
Director Pullen won the 2007 Gradam Gael Linn Award.
Phillip’s father is in prison and a bully is picking on him at school. To make matters worse he’s the only boy not selected for the football team. His mother steps in and takes control with amazing results.
Winner of numerous awards worldwide from festivals in Italy, Hungary, India, Germany and more.
Director/writer Tony Donoghue visits the parish of Terryglass Kilbarron, in north County Tipperary recording everyday life on 6 neighboring farms.