Irish Film Club

For many years, members of the Benevolent Irish Society (BIS), particularly Kathy Roney, Chair of Social and Ceilidh, have wanted a film club focused on Irish filmmaking. The idea was discussed in meetings until the BIS 200-Year Anniversary Celebration Committee decided to make the film club a reality for the Society’s 200th anniversary in 2025.

The criteria for selecting films for the Irish Film Club include one or more of the following: the film is based on a book by an Irish author; has a screenplay written by an Irish screenwriter; was filmed in Ireland; or features a significant number of Irish actors.

The Irish Film Club is currently being piloted with one film per month, but the plan is to expand to at least two films monthly at City Cinema by April 2025. On April 18, 2025, the Society will celebrate its 200th anniversary. Since 41,000 Islanders (out of 174,000, according to the 2021 census) claim Irish descent, a strong turnout for these films is expected.

The following Irish films have been shown at City Cinema so far this year: Barry Lyndon (1975) directed by Stanley Kubrick; Butcher Boy (1997) directed by Neil Jordan; A Date for Mad Mary (2016) directed by Darren Thornton; Sing Street (2016) directed by John Carney; and The Quiet Man (1952) directed by John Ford. 

Watch for upcoming films online at citycinema.ca.