peter flynn
festival director

dawn morrissey
festival producer

harvey o'brien
associate director

As part of the Irish Film Institute , the Irish Film Archive acquires, preserves and makes accessible Ireland's moving image heritage. Established in 1986 the Archive collection has grown to over 20,000 cans and reflects the many facets of indigenous film production from 1897 to the present day. This national collection is a unique cultural and historical resource chronicling the development of modern Ireland in a uniquely accessible manner. Commercials, newsreels, sporting and social events are preserved along side feature films and documentaries.   The work of such luminaries as John Boorman, Neil Jordan and Jim Sheridan is held beside films made within local communities and by amateur film -makers. Important Irish figures such a Behan, Beckett, Geldof, Collins and de Valera are all represented, as are the most important social, political and historical events of the last century.

A complementary collection of documents, posters, images is held in the paper archive and the Tiernan MacBride Library (also part of the IFA) holds a wealth of published material on Irish and international cinema.    These collections are held in custom- built climate controlled vaults at the IFI premises in Temple Bar, designed specially for viewers' access and long-term preservation.

The Archive endeavours to promote and create an audience for Irish film nationally and internationally. Films of Irish interest are made available to a wide audience through an extensive programme of exhibition. Screenings at the Irish Film Institute and at venues throughout Ireland (including the country's two mobile cinemas) showcase material from the collections. The Archive also frequently collaborates with academic, arts and other like-minded organisations on events relating to Irish culture, politics and history. Irish film is brought to worldwide audiences through festival work and the Reel Ireland Programme. The Irish Film Archive facilitates non- commercial film festivals world-wide film providing prints, publicity materials, programme notes and advice. The Archive's comprehensive role in this area has contributed significantly to the appreciation and understanding of Irish film abroad for over a decade.  

Film is an important part of Irish culture and cultural expression and the Irish Film Archive collections are a valuable national resource, a visual document of Ireland's past and present, of benefit to everyone not just students of film. The Irish Film Archive is committed to preserving Ireland's moving image heritage and ensuring it is available for current and future generations to learn from and enjoy.

Reel Ireland 2007 curated by the Irish Film Archive (IFA) gives international audiences the opportunity to access the best of new and archive Irish film. This touring package comprises older and contemporary titles and is a response by the IFA to increased international awareness of and demand for Irish cinema.

Reel Ireland is funded by Culture Ireland and supported by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and the Irish Film Board.

Full details can be found online at www.reelireland.ie.

The Irish Film Archive is the only Irish member of FIAF the International Federation of Film Archives.

Contact the Archive at admin@irishfilm.ie | www.irishfilm.ie  | Phone 00353 1 795744

Visit Magners online at: www.magnerscider.com