LA Irish Festival

According to The Hollywood Reporter the inaugural Los Angeles Irish Film Festival will take place from October 2 - 5, 2008 in the Clarity Theatre, Beverly Hills. The festival hopes "...to act as a launch-pad for Irish films and filmmakers by bringing them visibility within the Hollywood community."

Lisa McLaughlin-Strassman and Niall McKay will serve as the fest's directors. Its advisory board includes film directors Jim Sheridan, Neil Jordan and Mary McGuckian, screenwriter and critic F.X. Feeney and THR international editor Steve Brennan.

In advance of the fest, programmer John Lyons will offer monthly screenings of Irish films at the Clarity Theatre, with the next program set for June 29.