Archives

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.

Facebooktwitterlinkedinmail

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).

Facebooktwitterlinkedinmail

‘Banshees Of Inisherin’ Star Kerry Condon Wins Best Supporting Actress.

The Banshees of Inisherin Star, Thurles native and natural beauty, Ms Kerry Condon this evening, as expected, won a Bafta award for ‘Best Supporting Actress’. (After an unaired gaffe, which saw the wrong winner of the award being announced).

Thurles born and natural beauty, Ms Kerry Condon.

In accepting the award, Ms Condon thanked Director Martin McDonagh for giving her the part, and for all the parts he gave her throughout her career. “You make me so proud to be an Irish woman”, she added.

Barry Keoghan, won best supporting actor, and dedicated his award to the kids from the area that he came from, “who are dreaming to be something”.

Mr Martin McDonagh won original screenplay for “The Banshees Of Inisherin”, making it three wins in total for this dark comedy film.
Receiving his award, Mr McDonagh, thanked Bafta; his fellow nominees; his production company and all those who performed in the film.

“Ms Condon, you make Thurles; County Tipperary and Ireland so proud”.

Facebooktwitterlinkedinmail

2023 Tipperary Drama Festival Returns To St. Michael’s Community Centre, Holycross, Thurles.

St. Michael’s Community Centre, Holycross, Thurles

The Co. Tipperary 2023 Open Drama Festival; same an inclusive nine night annual event, will be held from March 17th to March 25th next in its now long established venue of St. Michael’s Community Centre, Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The programme, each night, will run from 8:30pm nightly, except on the final night, when the programme will begin sharp at 8:00pm.

This year the festival committee are pleased to welcome, as Adjudicator, a member of ADA (Association of Drama Adjudicators), namely Mr Peter O’Driscoll.

No stranger to the County Tipperary Drama Festival; Mr O’Driscoll has been an Actor, Designer and Director with many companies including the ‘Strand Players’.
For twenty years he has been ‘Head of Drama’ in St. Patrick’s College of Education, Drumcondra, Dublin; holding responsibility for equipping and maintaining the very fine theatre facilities available there, while also directing many of their performances.
He has contributed to the post-graduate ‘Theatre Studies Programme’, operating workshops on Authentic Voice Training; on Directing, and on Acting.
His main work was in preparing student teachers to use Drama as a method of education.

Engaged by the Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) as an adjudicator; Mr O’Driscoll’s professional work as a lighting designer, has included work undertaken in the ‘Gate Theatre’, ‘Olympia Theatre’ and ‘Gaiety Theatre’.

He also has considerable experience as a musician, a choral director and as an organist; having directed a wide range of musicals in Dublin and throughout the country in the past. In the Dublin Arts Club, he played the lead in a new play about the Czech composer, musical theorist, folklorist, publicist and teacher, Leoš Janáček (1854 – 1928).

County Tipperary Drama Festival Programme 2023.

Friday 17th: (Confined); Harvest Moon Players; “God of Carnage“ by Yasmina Reza.
Saturday 18th: (Open); Prosperous; “Oleanna” by David Mamet.
Sunday 19th: (Open); Holycross/Ballycahill; “A skull in Connemara” by Martin McDonagh.
Monday 20th: (Open); Brideview; “The Father” by Florian Zeller.
Tuesday 21st: (Confined); Cill Dara; “I Do Not Like Thee Dr Fell” by Bernard Farrell.
Wednesday 22nd: (Open); Hinterland; “The Playboy of The Western World” by J.M. Synge.
Thursday 23rd: (Open); Thurles; “The Seafarer” by Conor McPhearson.
Friday 24th: (Open); Kilmeen; “Blithe Spirit” by Noel Coward.
Saturday 25th: (Open); Lifford; “When Elephants Collide” by Edward Flanagan.

For further information: Phone: 086-257 5159 or Email: donal@dugganvet.ie or Fax: 0504-43147

Facebooktwitterlinkedinmail

“The Banshees Of Inisherin” Nominated For An Incredible Nine Academy Awards.

A massive congratulations must go to the three Thurles performers, namely Thurles actress Ms Kerry Condon and Thurles actors Mr Brendan Gleeson and Mr Pat Shortt, latter whom today contributed to the awarding of no less than 9 Academy Award nominations, for the film “The Banshees Of Inisherin”.

Ms Kerry Condon.

The nine nominations are as follows:-

Best Director: Martin McDonagh.
Best Movie: “The Banshees of Inisherin”.
Actor in a Leading Role: Colin Farrell.
Film Editing: Mikkel E. G. Nielsen.
Best Supporting Actors: Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan.
Best Supporting Actress: Kerry Condon.
Original Screenplay: Martin McDonagh.
Original Score: Carter Burwell.

In all Ireland had a record day in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, picking up in total 14 nominations in advance of this year’s Oscars.

An Cailín Ciúin ( Irish – ‘The Quiet Girl’ ) has made history by becoming the first Irish-language film ever to be nominated as ‘Best International Film’.
Maynooth born, Irish actor Mr Paul Mescal has been nominated as best actor for his role in “Aftersun”.
Irish animator, Mr Richard Baneham has been nominated in the best-visual-effects race for Avatar: ‘The Way of Water’.
Dublin’s Mr Jonathan Redmond alongside Australian film editor Mr Matt Villa, has been nominated in the best-editing category for Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’.
Hailing from England and Ireland respectively, co-writer/directors Mr Tom Berkeley and Mr Ross White’s Northern Irish film ‘An Irish Goodbye’; shot in rural Northern Ireland, has been nominated for ‘Best Live-Action Short’.

Ádh mór ar gach a bheidh san iomaíocht.

Facebooktwitterlinkedinmail