Animated Fantasy From the Emerald Isle at Irish Film Fest

BANGKOK — A boy learns his sister can shape-shift into a seal in a hand-drawn animated fantasy inspired by Irish mythology at a film series reflecting some of the Ireland’s best cinema.

After its inaugural run last year, the Irish Film Festival is coming back to the capital city in September with four Irish films from different genres.

It starts with the romantic musical that popularized the Academy Award-winning song “Falling Slowly.” “Once” tells the story of a broken-hearted guitarist and struggling pianist in Dublin who fall in love with each other through their music.

The highlight of the fest is likely to be the visually impressive “Song of the Sea.” Rooted in ancient Irish folklore, the story follows two siblings – Ben and his little sister Saoirse,  who is a mythical creature – on a magical journey. The film won several awards and was nominated for best animated feature at the 2015 Academy Awards.

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See Jim Sheridan’s 1989 directorial debut “My Left Foot” shows Daniel Day-Lewis as Irish writer-painter Christy Brown, who was born with cerebral palsy and could only control his left foot. The movie won several Oscars and a BAFTA for best actor.

Consisting of interviews of former US presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton and British prime ministers Tony Blair and John Major, “In the Name of Peace: John Hume in America,” chronicles Nobel laureate John Hume’s mission to secure peace in Northern Ireland.

The festival runs Sept. 21 through Sept. 23 at the Bangkok Screening Room. All films will show in English with Thai subtitles. The schedule is available online. Tickets are 120 baht for adults and 90 baht for children and members.

The Bangkok Screening Room is located on Soi Saladaeng 1 and can be reached on foot from BTS Sala Daeng exit No. 4 or MRT Lumphini exit No. 2.

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