By Michelle Crean

It was lights, camera and time to mingle at the official opening of the Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) yesterday evening (Thursday).

Pictured at the official opening of the Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) yesterday evening (Thursday) at the Randles Hotel were: Thomas and Peter Maguire.

Pictured at the official opening of the Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) yesterday evening (Thursday) at the Randles Hotel were: Barney Scholes and Tom O'Meara.

Pictured at the official opening of the Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) yesterday evening (Thursday) at the Randles Hotel were: Jessica Courtney Leen and Jennifer Courtney Leen.

Pictured at the official opening of the Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) yesterday evening (Thursday) at the Randles Hotel were: Lorcan Cranitch and Declan Reeks.

Pictured at the official opening of the Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) yesterday evening (Thursday) at the Randles Hotel were: Nicola O Gorman Marie Linehan and Peter Maguire.

Pictured at the official opening of the Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) yesterday evening (Thursday) at the Randles Hotel were: Darina Gallobaand Siobhan Flannigan.

Pictured at the official opening of the Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) yesterday evening (Thursday) at the Randles Hotel were: Damian O'Callaghan and Nathan Griffin.

Pictured at the official opening of the Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) yesterday evening (Thursday) at the Randles Hotel were: Damian O'Callaghan Declan O'Shea and Tim O'Connor (OC Productions).

Pictured at the official opening of the Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) yesterday evening (Thursday) at the Randles Hotel were: Jessica Courtney Leen and Jennifer Courtney Leen.

Pictured at the official opening of the Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) yesterday evening (Thursday) at the Randles Hotel were: Marie Linehan and Marie Ni Choistín.

Pictured at the official opening of the Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) yesterday evening (Thursday) at the Randles Hotel were: Ailbhe Keogan (KIFF) Irene Cronin-O'Reilly Aine Moriarty (founder and Chief Executive of the Irish Film & Television Academy) Aileen Garvey and Grace O'Donnell (Chair of KIFF).

Pictured at the official opening of the Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) yesterday evening (Thursday) at the Randles Hotel were: Marie Ruiséal Eibh Collins and Deirdre Ní Choistín.

Pictured at the official opening of the Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) yesterday evening (Thursday) at the Randles Hotel were: Ben Ryan and Denise Buckley.

Pictured at the official opening of the Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) yesterday evening (Thursday) at the Randles Hotel were: Kerry Nichols and David Nichols (Australia).

There was a fine crowd at the Randles Hotel for the first in-person event as COVID pushed the popular annual film festival online over the last few years.

Celebrating its 23rd edition KIFF promotes and showcases film and filmmaking talent across 30+ events via a truly exciting programme that is not to be missed. This year’s festival will take place over this weekend across a series of venues throughout Killarney as well as showcasing a bespoke KIFF screening in Dingle on Sunday.

"As we have such an exciting few days of films and events ahead, it only feels right to start with a bang and open the festival with a sold out screening of 'Tarrac'," speaking at the opening celebration for KIFF 2022, Eibh Collins, Programme Director, said.

"It is fantastic to see such strong support of not only a locally shot film, but also of an Irish language film! KIFF have worked hard to curate an exciting variety of films and events across this year’s festival, there is something for everyone and we hope that the public enjoys it."

SCREENING

The opening night of the festival was followed by a screening of KIFF’s opening film for 2022, 'Tarrac' in the IMC Cinema in Killarney. Sold out in both Killarney and Dingle, this Irish language drama shot on location in Kerry, is directed by Declan Recks and produced by Clíona Ní Bhuachalla. The cast attended the opening night gala screening at the IMC including Lorcan Cranitch, Kate NicChonaonaigh, screenwriter Eugene O’Brien and director Declan Recks, and KIFF were delighted to see the film being so warmly received.

KIFF recently announced Actress and Writer Amy Huberman as the KIFF 2022 Maureen O’Hara Award recipient.

Additional, Irish highlights across KIFF 2022 include, 'Million Dollar Pigeons', by Gavin Fitzgerald and the Galway Film Fleadh Award-Winner Lakelands. 'Lakelands' director's Robert Higgins and Patrick McGiveny and stars Eanna Hardwicke and Danielle Galligan will be attending the Q&A for Lakelands directly after the screening at IMC Cinema Killarney which takes place at 6pm tomorrow (Saturday).

Additionally, over the three full days of the festival KIFF’s International Selection hosts a themed selection of music documentaries which are sponsored by Tower Records Ireland and there is also a dedicated programme of Ukraine films titled ‘BE BRAVE LIKE UKRAINE’, curated by guest programmer Mira Oyetoro.

All of these films will be in competition for the prestigious KIFF 2022 Awards. The winners will be announced on Sunday at the official KIFF Awards ceremony which is very generously hosted by the Great Southern Killarney.

The ever-popular IFTA Business Networking Event will be hosted by the CEO of IFTA, Áine Moriarty, today (Friday) at The Plaza Hotel, Killarney.

Additionally, an ‘In Conversation with Amy Huberman’ event will take place tomorrow (Saturday) at Randles Hotel Killarney while Pat Shortt will be debuting his short film ‘Warts & All’ on Sunday (October 23) at The Great Southern Killarney’s cinema screening room.

Tickets, event registration and festival passes will be available to purchase from www.kerryfilmfestival.com.