The 11th IRISH FILM FESTA hosted a tribute to Gabriel Byrne, screening Into the West (1992, Mike Newell), as this year’s Irish Classic, and the new documentary My Astonishing Self: Gabriel Byrne on George Bernard Shaw directed by Gerry Hoban.
Gabriel Byrne couldn’t attend IRISH FILM FESTA, but he sent us this lovely message:
To Rome and the Irish Film Festa:
Into The West was a passion project for me. I think it is a profound film about grief, loss and redemption.
It is not afraid to ask questions about the complexity of life and death, and it is a totally honest story which never talks down or is patronising to the children. It is a film I am enormously proud of and thank you for screening it.
I had the most wonderful time filming our Shaw documentary with Gerry. I’m also very proud of our collaboration.
It made audiences aware of where a great mind can lead us, and gives us perspective on the many issues – political and social – that he examined and commented on and that we still experience today.
Thank you for the honour of hosting our film.
In gratitude
G