DIFF 2025 Podcast: Robert Byrne, Film Preservationist and Restorer
In this Film Ireland podcast, Gemma Creagh talks to Robert Byrne, Film Preservationist and Restorer.
This year's Dublin International Film Festival is hosting Silent Cinema: Restoration & Celebration. From conservation to ongoing screenings to composing and playing live musical accompaniment, this discussion will dissect the world of silent cinema and its place on our screens today.
The panel features Serge Bromberg and Robert Byrne. Bromberg is a renowned French film restorer and accompanist, as well as a producer, writer and director. Byrne is the President of the Board of the San Francisco Film Preserve and has spent his life in dedication to the restoration and preservation of films.
Silent Cinema: Restoration & Celebration takes place at The Complex on 23rd February.
Tickets
https://www.diff.ie/programme/silent-cinema%3A-restoration-%26-celebration%EF%BF%BD
The 2025 Dublin International Film Festival runs 20th February - 2nd March.
https://www.diff.ie/
https://filmireland.net/
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48:16
Vera Drew, Director & Co-Writer of 'The People's Joker'
In this Film Ireland podcast, Gemma Creagh talks to Vera Drew, Director & Co-Writer of ‘The People’s Joker, which has a special Trans Image/Trans Experience (TITE) Film Festival preview screening at the Light House Cinema on 14th February 2025.
The People’s Joker is a DIY parody film and hilarious reimagining of the classic autobiographical coming-of-age story follows an unconfident, closeted trans girl as she moves to Gotham City to make it big as a comedian by joining the cast of UCB Live – a government-sanctioned late night sketch show in a world where comedy has been outlawed. As mainstream success eludes our heroine, leading her to unite with a ragtag team of rejects, misfits, and a certain love interest named Mister J, “Joker the Harlequin” is born again as a confident (and psychotic) joker on a collision course with the city’s fascist caped crusader. Vats of feminizing chemicals, sexy cartoon interludes, scarecrow psychiatrists, CGI Lorne Michaels, and psychedelic gender dysphoria all play supporting roles. Helmed by writer/director/editor/star Vera Drew and using her own life experiences as a basis for the film, The People’s Joker is a deeply personal journey that’s as much documentary as it is parody.
Trans Image/Trans Experience (TITE) Film Festival
https://tite.ie/
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37:32
Shorts Focus: DIFF 2025 Filmmakers’ Roundtable
In this DIFF 2025 podcast, Gemma Creagh talks to 4 filmmakers whose films are screening at this year's festival. Sophie Meehan (A Little Bird Told Me), Fatoumata Gandega (I Belong), Conor McCormick (Baby Bunker) and Táine King (The Wilde Sisters).
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1:17:30
Presents: Grainne Humphries, Executive Festival Director at Dublin International Film Festival
In this Film Ireland podcast, Mick Jordan talks to Grainne Humphries, Executive Festival Director at Dublin International Film Festival.
The 2025 Dublin International Film Festival runs 20th February - 2nd March.
Explre the full programme and book tickets at https://www.diff.ie/programme
https://filmireland.net/
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53:52
Presents: Sinéad O’Shea, Director of ‘Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story'
In this Film Ireland podcast, Mick Jordan talks to Sinéad O'Shea, Director of Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien
Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien is a candid portrait of one of the world’s greatest and most charismatic writers, Irish author Edna O’Brien. Her books were banned and burned in her native Ireland. In London and New York, she had illicit love affairs, hosted star-studded parties, and made and lost a fortune. In her final year, aged 93, she shares her diaries and gives one last interview to filmmaker Sinéad O'Shea about her extraordinary life. Her diaries are read aloud by Oscar nominated actress Jessie Buckley.
Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien is an SOS Production in co-production with Tara Films, with backing from Fís Eireann/Screen Ireland, Sky and the UK Global Screen Fund. It is directed by Sinéad O’Shea, produced by Claire McCabe, Eleanor Emptage and Sinéad O’Shea with Katie Holly and Barbara Broccoli serving as Exec Producers.
Ireland