Outdoor film screenings set to take place in Offaly
by Emily Sheehan
A new series of outdoor film screenings has been announced for Offaly this summer.
The 'OFFline Film Festival' is to present Moonlit Movies this August.
The event will showcase the best of cult Irish cinema with a fusion of film, food, and fun.
The festival will offer viewers the chance to watch a mini season of classic Irish films on the big screen at a variety of outdoor venues across the county - weather permitting.
The first screening, Intermission, will be held on Monday August 5 during Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival at the Courthouse Yard on Townsend Street.
The second outdoor screening will take place at Kinnitty Castle on Saturday August 24, with a special screening of Handsome Devil, in association with Offaly Local Development Company and in support of Offaly Pride.
The set-up of the evening shall be similar to that of the Fright Night and Food & Film events at OFFline every October.
Following this, there will be a double header at Birr Castle at the end of August with The Commitments on Friday August 30, and Sing Street on Saturday August 31.
The finale of Moonlit Movies will take place in September with a surprise screening in Birr, with details of the screening to be announced in August.
Speaking ahead of Moonlit Movies, Gary Hoctor from OFFline Film Festival, said: “We are so excited to bring this innovative series of screenings to the film lovers of Offaly and the Midlands.”
“The aim of Moonlit Movies is to reignite the love for classic Irish films and also to give people the chance to see these films on the big screen, perhaps for the first time. In particular, we are encouraging those aged 18-25 to come along and savour this unique experience and discover these Irish films in a new way.”
“Outdoor film screenings on this scale are rare in the county, so it’s definitely not to be missed.’
“We have chosen some of the county’s most unique outdoor venues to host the screenings, so it will also give our audiences the chance to experience these Offaly landmarks under the night sky with great films, music and food. Our thanks to Screen Ireland for supporting this initiative.”
In the event of poor weather, it will be possible to move some of the screenings indoors.
Moonlit Movies is possible thanks to funding from the Screen Ireland Audience Development Fund.
Further information regarding the festival is available here.