This year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations won’t hit like they usually do, but thanks to the Chicago Irish Film Festival taking their annual event to the virtual world, we can still revel in Irish Culture this month.
CIFF is a non-profit that has been dedicated to presenting the works of Irish filmmakers since 1999, granting Chicagoans a window into the color and complexity of Irish life. Contemporary Irish films bring the lyrical and self-reflective richness of a long artistic tradition to bear on unique stories and pressing social issues with a gaze both critical and loving. (This is an understatement – one year I cried so hard at a short film I had to compose myself in the bathroom. And it was a children’s story.) CIFF strives to include a broad representation of current Irish cinema in both English and Irish language, and encourages submissions that highlight the extraordinary diversity and creativity that is the mark of Irish filmmaking wherever in the world it may occur.
This year they’re offering a variety of different passes: All Access Festival Pass, an All Access Shorts Pass, Partner Festival Pass, or 3- or 5-Film Passes, that give online access to the films from Thursday, March 4th – Monday, March 8th, 2021. I highly recommend the shorts, but you can watch the trailer for the fest above. You can purchase passes here.
Not a techy? Find a millennial or check out the “How To Fest” guide for tips. Enjoy!