Cinema - Thurles Information

Former Thurles Ursuline Convent Students Walk Green Carpet At Oscar Wilde Awards.

*L-R: Ms Kerry Condon and Ms Jessie Buckley*

Two top actresses, currently both in huge demand, and both previously educated at the Ursuline Convent Secondary School here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, were among those who walked the Green Carpet at the Oscar Wilde Awards last night; latter organised by the US-Ireland Alliance.

Seeing both actresses, namely Ms Kerry Condon and Ms Jessie Buckley, ushered in a huge sense of pride for the people of Thurles and Tipperary, through their many achievements to date, within the entertainment industry.

The US-Ireland Alliance is a proactive, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to consolidating existing relations between the United States and the island of Ireland and building that relationship for the future. The Oscar Wilde Awards event is an annual event of the US-Ireland Alliance.

Green Party Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Minister, Ms Catherine Martin, travelled to Los Angeles, with the aim of developing stronger links with the entertainment industry.
While many eyes are currently focused on Ireland’s 14 nominations, here was an ideal time to attempt to attract film companies, granting them opportunities to build stronger relationships with Ireland’s scenic locations and its supberb acting talent.

We understand Ms Martin has already met with Sony, Disney, and with representatives from Marvel.

We wish all those nominated for Academy Awards, (latter awards to be announced on March 13th, 2023), the very best of luck.

Death Announced Of Chaim Topol.

Israeli actor, singer, and illustrator, Chaim Topol (also spelled Haym Topol), sadly passed away yesterday, March 8th, 2023, aged 87 years.

Mononymously known to most people as Topol, he is possibly best known for his portrayal of the character ‘Tevye’, in the musical ‘Fiddler on the Roof’.

He was a founder of ‘Variety Israel’, latter an organization serving children with special needs, and ‘Jordan River Village’, a year-round camp for Arab and Jewish children with life-threatening illnesses.

In 1956 he married Ms Galia Finkelstein, with the couple having three children; one son and two daughters.

Topol’s first film appearance was in the 1961 film ‘I Like Mike’, followed by the 1963 Israeli film ‘El Dorado’. His breakthrough role came as the lead character in the 1964 film ‘Sallah Shabati’.
In 1966, Topol made his English-language film debut as ‘Abou Ibn Kaqden’ in ‘Cast a Giant Shadow’.

His numerous TV appearances included ‘War and Remembrance’; ‘Queenie’; ‘The Winds of War’; ‘The House on Garibaldi Street’, and ‘The Going Up of David Lev’.

His Awards included; Kinor David Prize, (latter an Israeli cultural award), in 1964; Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer—Male, in 1964; Golden Globe for Best Actor, in 1971 and Israel Prize, in 2015, latter an award bestowed by the State of Israel, and regarded as the state’s highest cultural honour.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Dr. Ciarán Kissane Appointed Director Of Film Classification At Irish Film Classification Office.

The Minister for Justice, Mr Simon Harris TD, has today announced the appointment of Dr. Ciarán Kissane as the new Director of Film Classification in the Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO).
Dr. Kissane’s appointment follows an open competition run by the Public Appointments Service.

**Cinema Submissions For Classification**.

Announcing the appointment Minister Harris said: “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Ciarán Kissane, who will bring a wealth of professional experience to this important role.
The important work undertaken by the IFCO ensures that the public, and parents in particular, have a modern and dependable system of classification to enable them to make informed viewing choices for themselves and importantly for those minors for whom they are responsible.”

Speaking about his new role, Dr. Kissane said: “I am delighted to be appointed as Director of Film Classification in the Irish Film Classification Office in its centenary year. I look forward to continuing the long standing and important work of the IFCO over the next 5 years”.

The Irish Film Classification Office was established in 1923 by the Censorship of Films Act 1923. The IFCO’s role was further expanded under the Video Recordings Act 1989. The IFCO is one of the oldest agencies in the State; however it has embraced change, transparency and modernisation in recent years and will continue to evolve with Irish society.

In 2022, the IFCO received 979 cinema submissions for classification (consisting of 438 films, 8 short films and 533 trailers) and 1532 video/DVD submissions, including 20 video games rated as 18, by the Pan-European Game Information system (PEGI).

‘Banshees Of Inisherin’ Win Three Awards At Golden Globes.

As predicted the most nominated film of the year, namely ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ cleaned up at this year’s Golden Globes.

The rather tragic comedy staged on a remote island off the West coast of Ireland, not surprisingly won ‘Best Actor’ for Colin Farrell’ ‘Best Picture’ and ‘Best Screenplay’ for writer and director Martin McDonagh.

The film had been nominated for a total for eight awards; in fact the most Golden Globe nominations any movie had received in one year; since 2004.

Thanking the director who had made it all possible and while accepting the award for ‘Best Actor’, Mr Farrell said he had been surprised by the film’s success. Director Martin McDonagh and actor Colin Farrell, had previously worked together on, and won Golden Globes for the hit ‘In Bruges’.

The brilliant character performance portrayed by Thurles born actress Ms Kerry Condon, (as Siobhán Súilleabháin), who had been nominated for best supporting actress, sadly lost out to actress Jamie Lee Curtis in ‘Everything, Everywhere, All at Once’.

Many who saw the film were particularly struck by the superb performance given by Dublin born, Mr Barry Keoghan, (as Dominic Kearney), latter who came to prominence in the 2017 film, ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’ and earlier in 2010 in season 4 of ‘Love/Hate; the latter which depicted fictional characters in Dublin’s criminal underworld. This is Barry’s third appearance on film in the company of Colin Farrell.

Sadly, superb performances from both Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan in the film ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’, must wait to be rewarded on another day and at another time.

To date “The Banshees of Inisherin” has grossed some $24.7 million worldwide, and has received nine Oscar nominations.

“Banshees of Inisherin” – Eight Nominations Ahead of Annual Golden Globes.

Kerry Condon, Colin Farrell, Barry Keoghan and Brendan Gleeson have all been nominated for top awards ahead of this year’s annual Golden Globes ceremony.

The awards are expected to be televised and hosted by comedian Jerrod Carmichael, on Tuesday January 10th, 2023.

Note: Brendan Gleeson and Kerry Condon are no strangers to Thurles, Co. Tipperary, with the latter named, born and educated here in our Cathedral Town.

Colin Farrell will compete for ‘Best actor’, while Barry Keoghan and Brendan Gleeson will compete against each other for ‘Best Supporting Actor’.
Our very own Kerry Condon, not suprisingly, will compete against Angela Bassett; Jamie Lee Curtis; Dolly De Leon and Carey Mulligan, for the title of ‘Best Supporting Actress’.

Director Martin McDonagh [Remember “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”] was nominated in the ‘Best Director’ category.

The Banshees of Inisherin, the most nominated title this year, is also up for best score, best screenplay and best picture.

Nominees for Best Picture are:-
Babylon, (Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie).
The Banshees of Inisherin, (See above).
Everything Everywhere All at Once, (Absurdist comedy-drama film written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert).
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, (sequel to the 2019 film “Knives Out”, with Daniel Craig reprising his role as master detective Benoit Blanc).
Triangle of Sadness, (A satirical black comedy film written and directed by Ruben Östlund, featuring the late Charlbi Dean, who passed away in August last, 2022).

“The Banshees of Inisherin“, story tells of a pair of lifelong friends, on a remote Irish island, (set on the Irish Arran Islands), who find themselves at an awkward period in their relationship, when one of them no longer wants to be friends with the other.
Pádraic (played by Colin Farrell), latter an affable and kind man living on a fictional remote island known as Inisherin, suddenly has his world seriously shaken when his former close friend Colm (latter played by Brendan Gleeson), chooses to cut off their previously enjoyed, lifelong friendship.
What begins as a minor squabble between both of these former old friends, soon sends shockwaves throughout their small close-knit community, thus causing everyone, from Pádraic’s sister Siobhán (Played by Thurles born Kerry Condon) to the local parish priest, to inquire as to the cause of Colm’s sudden active hatred.