Hibernian Media have announced their Call for Entries for their 8th Annual “Irish American Movie Hooley” which is scheduled this year for Classic Cinema’s Lake Theatre in Oak Park, Sept. 16-18, and The Wilmette Theatre in Wilmette, Sept. 23-25, 2022
“We are out to discover the next John Ford, Ed Burns, Preston Sturges, John Huston, or John Patrick Shanley, i.e., Irish American filmmakers who epitomize Irish-American pride, bravado, and legendary storytelling,” Hibernian Media said in a statement. “All work submitted should represent the best of the Irish and Irish-American experience on screen.
“The Movie Hooley has introduced audiences to the very best in Irish and Irish American filmmaking, with opportunities to meet each individual writer, director, or producer who have brought their films to Chicago for the weekend, this year re-locating directly to our audience at the Lake Theatre in Oak Park and The Wilmette Théâtre in Wilmette.
Chicago Tribune columnist Rick Kogan said, “If your image of the Irish is trapped in some sort of playful Shamrock- ‘Danny Boy’ realm, prepare yourselves for the dark but altogether satisfying world represented by the latest offerings of this year’s Irish American Movie Hooley.”
“Filmmakers from all over the world are encouraged to visit the website, https://moviehooley.org for guidelines as to eligibility and to send in their films. The films have grown in stature each year and the 8th Annual Movie Hooley promises to be one helluva hooley. The Annual Movie Hooley is presented by Hibernian Media, a 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, and live concerts.”
Mike Houlihan, founder of the festival, said, “Once again, we’re having problems finding Irish-American films. We’ve got plenty of great Irish films to choose from but for some odd reason Irish-Americans don’t get it. This is the only Irish-American film festival in the world and yet, these particular filmmakers shy away from the Movie Hooley. Irish America is huge, and we know there are films being made by Irish Americans, but we need to see them before July 10th or we will have to screen only the best Irish films, and of course there are great Irish American films, so wake up Diaspora! Send me your films at moviehooley.org.
“We will waive all submission fees on any Irish American films submitted. So, get with it!”
