| Film tribute to patriot Connolly
A FILM chronicling the life of Irish patriot James Connolly is in the
pipeline.
Trade unions from Britain, Ireland and the US have pledged substantial
donations to the project.
Connolly remains an icon for the world labour movement in addition to
his role in the struggle for Irish independence.
The largest union in Ireland, SIPTU, has already given its financial backing
to the film. And the combined British and Irish union Amicus is another
that has pledged funds.
Representatives of SIPTU and Amicus were present at a ceremony in New
York on St. Patrick’s Day to witness two of the largest labour unions
in America offer donations of $10,000 each for the project.
Dan Kane — of the International Brotherhood Of Teamsters —
was unequivocal about the film’s merits.
He said: “We want to do all we can to help bring this film to the
screen.
“The success of The Wind That Shakes The Barley shows that the film-going
public is hungry for passionate, truthful films about the Irish struggle.
“James Connolly belongs to the world labour movement. He organised
workers in the US, in Scotland and in Ireland — among both traditions.
He was a working-class hero, a larger-than-life figure. His life can inspire
young people. It’s time the wider world, not just union people and
not just Irish people, knew about him.”
The president of the Irish-American Labor Coalition Joe Jameson said:
“This sum is only a drop in the bucket compared to actual funding
needs. We hope to encourage union subscriptions, the Irish Film Board’s
support and private investors.”
Irish actors Adrian Dunbar and Patrick Bergin will direct and star respectively.
It is estimated that the budget for the film will be ?24million.
Meanwhile a critically-acclaimed Irish film continues to wow audiences
internationally.
Small Engine Repair scooped two awards including Best Film at the prestigious
Nashville Film Festival.
It has already taken the Director’s Choice Award (Niall Heery) at
the Boston Film Festival and Best Actor (Steven Mackintosh) at the British-Irish
Film Festival. It will premiere in Britain and Ireland in July.
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