Celebrating its 11th year gracing the Chicagoland area with delightful film selections with Irish flair, the annual Irish American Movie Hooley, presented by Hibernian Media, proudly returns to the historic Wilmette Theatre in Wilmette, Illinois. The event spans three films across three nights from September 26th to September 28th. It’s the only Irish American film festival in the world, and this year, the festival organizers are so excited to present three extraordinary films.
King Frankie, starring Peter Coonan, opens the 11th Irish American Movie Hooley on Friday, September 26th. In the film, Frankie Burke (Coonan) is a kindly taxi driver living a serene life in a Dublin suburb following the death of his father. His quiet time is jarred when he is forced to confront the ghosts of his past when an unexpected stranger arrives at his door. King Frankie is a mad roller coaster ride through his past as he tries to reconcile the demons of his earlier life to make peace with the man he has become. The film screens at 8pm and lead actor Peter Coonan will be in attendance for the opening night showing and a post-film discussion.
The Saturday night centerpiece of the Irish American Movie Hooley is a special screening of Dead Man’s Money. The Paul Kennedy-directed film kicks off when young Henry’s wealthy uncle starts courting “the Widow” Maureen Tweed. In doing so, he starts to fear that he’ll be written out of his uncle’s will. Conspiring with his wife, Pauline, and a chauffeur with a chequered past, Young Henry hatches a plan to make sure that the Widow Tweed never sees a penny of the inheritance. Dead Man’s Money promises to be a funny, yet scary romp staging the makings of a Shakespearian tale of greed inside a friendly Irish pub with a rising body count that keeps coming. Actress Judith Roddy, who stars as Pauline, will be at the Wilmette Theatre house to present and talk about the film.
As it often does each year, the 11th Irish American Movie Hooley concludes on Sunday, September 28th, with a documentary. This year, Hibernian Media presents writer-director Colin Hughes’s local documentary Fire Department, Inc. Shot in the Chicago suburb of North Riverside, the feature chronicles a firefighter labor union’s years-long struggle with an obstinate mayor who would rather pass over the union for privatized fire protection services. Fire Department, Inc. brought the house down at the inaugural Oak Park Illinois Film Festival last year, making this a second chance for Chicagoans to be impressed by Colin Hughes’s fine film. The director will be present to discuss the history of his important documentary.
Now in its eleventh year, the Movie Hooley has introduced audiences to the best in Irish and Irish American filmmaking, complete with opportunities to meet the talented writers, directors, performers, and producers who have brought their films to Chicago’s arthouse scene. This year, once again, the mini-festival unveils these very personal creations to the intimate Wilmette Theatre. Each year, the Hooley grows in reach, stature, and, best of all, dedication to the preservation and promotion of Irish culture. Get some luck of your own and join this fine event.
Tickets for each film are $15 and available now for online purchase. Snacks and drinks are offered in the theatre lobby. The Wilmette Theatre is located at 1122 Central Avenue in Wilmette, Illinois. For more information about the Movie Hooley, visit Hibernian Media’s website.
