OFFline Film Festival is back with a feast of film in Birr this month
The 13th edition of OFFline Film Festival has something for all film lovers from October 12 to October 16 in Birr with Irish language features, Made in the Midlands, Fright Night at Kinnitty Castle, a special edition of Food & Film, and over 50 Irish and International short films plus lots more.
This year’s opening film is the Irish-language feature is TARRAC by the Offaly duo of Eugene O’Brien and Declan Recks. Screening at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre on Wednesday, October 12, (8.30pm), it’s an intimate character study and exciting sports drama set against the stunning landscapes and seas of the Kerry Gaeltacht.
An Cailín Ciúin, another Irish language feature, that has been wowing crowds all over the world since its release in May will also be screened in partnership with Film@BirrTheatre on Thursday, October 13 at 8pm.
Back in 2019, OFFline opened with a Made in the Midlands compilation and it has now become a firm fixture on the programme. The 2022 edition will be on Thursday, October 13, at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre. Included in the programme will be the world premiere of Whale, a FilmOffaly Bursary award winner. The impressive collection also features other live-action shorts made in Offaly and those made elsewhere by Offaly filmmakers.
2022 was also a record-breaking year for short film submissions to OFFline with over 400 sent in for consideration. During the festival, over 50 Irish and international live-action and animation shorts will be screened; the Animation Shorts on Friday, October 14, at The Chestnut and four screenings of live-action shorts throughout the day at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre on Saturday, October 15.
Fright Night is back for the first time since 2019. This time the venue is Kinnitty Castle on Friday, October 14. This event has sold out every year, so advance booking is strongly advised. Food & Film is also back on the schedule on Friday at The Chestnut. This year, it features a special screening of one of the most talked-about films of the year, Blackbird, by Michael Flatley.
In partnership with Access Cinema, OFFLine will also screen two fascinating eco-documentaries; The Territory and the Irish premiere of The Hermit of Treig on Saturday at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre.
Speaking ahead of the festival, Director of OFFline Gary Hoctor said: “For the past three years we’ve made plans for OFFline that couldn’t be fully realised so we are delighted to back with a full programme of events this year. We are also delighted to welcome filmmakers from Argentina, Bulgaria, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, the United Kingdom and right across Ireland to Birr for the Festival.
“Eoin O’Kane and Joe Loftus are our two OFFline Animation Residents this year and the public will get the chance to meet them at our annual Show & Tell where they’ll show their progress over the past six months in Birr.”