Don Shanahan
As we pass the halfway point to Saint Patrick’s Day, folks need to know there’s more to Irish-American culture than beer, shamrocks, and corned beef. They have their own culture and know their artistic talent, including in the world of cinema. That doesn’t mean they’re entirely stiff and pretentious. When a party gets rowdy, the Irish call it a “hooley.” When you put movies and a party together, you have just that with the 10th annual Irish American Movie Hooley coming to the Wilmette Theatre from September 27-29.
Let it be known that the Irish American Movie Hooley is the only Irish-American film festival in the world. This year they are proud and enthusiastic to screen three extraordinary features. Lead sponsors Tullamore Dew Whiskey and Hibernian Media have proudly announced the film selections for this anniversary gathering. Film Obsessive’s own editor-in-chief Don Shanahan and staff writer Jay Rohr will be there to cover the films and festivities.
Opening the 2024 Irish American Movie Hooley on Friday, September 27th at 8 PM will be Sins of Ireland, written and directed by Alex Fegan. His feature documentary is told through the prism of the confession box, which has its origins in Ireland. Sins of Ireland is a portrait of an overlooked aspect of Ireland’s past and how it impacted many parts of the world. Fifteen Irish priests, known for hearing the confessions, outline what confession was supposed to be and, while confessing the sins of the church, what it became. Filmmaker Alex Fegan will be in attendance for this event.
On the second night of September 28th, the Hooley will feature an 8 PM special screening of Kneecap. Written and directed by Rich Peppiatt, this bravura film is often in the Irish language with English subtitles and it celebrates the funny, sexy, side of Irish rebellion with this coda: “Every word of Irish spoken is a bullet for Irish freedom.” Jessica Reynolds, the young actress who plays the sultry, Georgia, the femme fatale in Kneecap will be in the house to make a personal appearance at the Hooley screening.
Closing the 10th Irish American Movie Hooley at 5 PM on Sunday the 29th will be the Chicago premiere of Rita Daverns’s evocative documentary film Stories I Didn’t Know. The nonfiction film dives into what could go wrong at a family reunion when the ugly reality of an old family legend comes bubbling to the surface. We encourage our attendees to come and meet Rita as she tells an emotional tale of her family, their roots in Ireland, and the shocking truths she’s discovered along the way. See the trailer for Stories I Didn’t Know HERE on Vimeo.
ABOUT THE MOVIE HOOLEY
Sponsors of this year’s Irish American Movie Hooley include The Hilton Chicago, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, and Madden Funds. Tickets for each film are $12.
Now in its tenth year, the Movie Hooley has introduced audiences to the very best in Irish and Irish American filmmaking, with opportunities to meet individual writers, directors, producers, and actors who have brought their films to Chicago. The films have grown in stature each year and the 10th Annual Movie Hooley promises to be their best yet. The Annual Movie Hooley is presented by Hibernian Media NFP, our local public charity dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Irish culture. Hibernian also produces a pair of weekly Irish American radio programs, their community web blog FreeCraic.com, an annual pilgrimage to Ireland, and a variety of other film, TV, live concerts and literary endeavors.
For more information about the Movie Hooley, visit their website.
ABOUT THE WILMETTE THEATRE
For the last several years, the Wilmette Theatre has been the gracious host of the Irish American Movie Hooley. The historic and restored Wilmette Theatre is located at 1122 Central Avenue, in downtown Wilmette, Illinois, 19 miles north of Chicago. Since 1913, this fine theatre has served its community and the northern suburbs of Chicagoland with superb films and even better hospitality. During the Movie Hooley, snacks and drinks will be available for purchase in the lobby.
For more information about the Wilmette, please head to its website.
