Editor

The CRAIC Film Fleadh, now in its seventh year, is one of New York’s leading film events and is set to take the city by storm from March 2 - 5, 2005 with several New York premieres of Irish and Irish American films.

The Gala Opening night on Wednesday March 2 will feature the NY Premiere of the comedy The BOYS and GIRL from COUNTY CLARE. It stars Andrea Corr (lead singer of The Corrs) and Colm Meaney, both of whom are scheduled to attend and will be screened at LOEWS 34th St. (312 West 34th St.) with the after party at STITCH (247 West 37th St.). Look for a few other celebrity sightings of Liam Neeson, Ed Burns and Aidan Quinn (board members of Film Fleadh).

The Film Fleadh continues at NYU Cantor Centre (36 East 8th St.) over the following 3 days with the edgy film noir style thriller DEAD BODIES screening on Thursday March 3 and after party at Mannahatta (316 Bowery).

Friday Night March 4 will feature a Stephen Rea double bill. Director Daniel O’Hara follows up his highly successful short Yu Ming Is Ainm Dom with his new Irish language short FLUENT DYSPHASIA. This will be followed by the New York Premiere of the comedy HALO EFFECT, which highlights the eccentricities and humor of Dublin City. The after party will be at Slainte (304 Bowery) with live performance by Lancaster County Prison.

Closing day of the Film Fleadh on March 5 features the award-winning documentary, BATTLE OF THE BOGSIDE. This takes us behind the barricades on both sides of the 3-day riot in Derry City in 1969, which shaped Northern Ireland for the following 30 years. The Best of Shorts will be also screened on Saturday afternoon featuring award-winning shorts (animated and live action) from both sides of the Atlantic such as Andrew McCarthy’s NEWS FOR THE CHURCH.

March 5 continues with the premiere of New Yorker Ram Jodha film AMERICA FACES, a film about an Irish American and Indian American family pre-9/11 and post-9/11.

OMAGH will be the closing night film of the Festival. Starring Gerard McSorley, this award-winning film highlights the struggle of a father who fights for the truth surrounding the August 1998 bombing in Omagh, Co. Tyrone.

Festival Director Terence Mulligan noted, “We are positioning the festival as a pre-St. Patrick’s Day event. It is wonderful to be able to showcase emerging and existing talent with a Celtic connection, and there’s no better international stage to launch new talent like New York City.”

The CRAIC Film Fleadh is taking place March 2 – 5, followed by the Music Series, which is from March 10 - 12. To book your tickets now or for more information on the program, visit www.thecraicfest.com. The CRAIC is sponsored by, the American TV Network, NBC, Con Edison and Aer Lingus.