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NORWALK The Board of Education has selected Diana Carpio to be its new chairperson.

During the annual meeting to nominate Board of Education officers, board member Erica DePalma nominated Carpio, who then received multiple other endorsements.

"Diana is in her fourth year with us on the Board of Education," DePalma said. "It follows decades of service throughout the city in various other capacities and for other nonprofit organizations. Diana currently serves as our vice chair as well as the chair on several committees, and she did a phenomenal job being the liaison of all of those groups."

Fellow council member Mary Ellen Flaherty-Ludwig echoed DePalma's statements by sharing how impressive she finds Carpio.

"The number of groups that she works for and with is pretty staggering to me, and I'm just very proud of her as a Norwalk citizen," Flaherty-Ludwig said.

"I think she'll do a great job as the chair," she continued.

Carpio replaced Colin Hosten, who had been the Board of Education chair since 2020. The position typically rotates from one member to another every few years. Hosten thanked Carpio for "stepping in to serve."

"I have so much confidence in passing the torch to Diana," Hosten said later in the meeting. He also touched upon another important aspect regarding the way Carpio can represent the changing district.

"I haven't done the entire history, but one of the things that we have seen in Norwalk as a city but particularly Norwalk Public Schools is that our population of Spanish-speaking families has grown by leaps and bounds," Hosten said. "I think it's notable and that we have a Latina board chair."

Calls for Hosten to be removed as chair and from the board erupted in September when the district announced the Middle School Choice plan. The frustration culminated in an online petition that claimed Hostens lack of experience, personal agenda and non transparency on crucial issues has led to increased problems."

However, school board members cannot be removed from office and Hosten will remain on the panel.

Carpio thanked Hosten for his time as the chair and acknowledged the difficulty of the position.

"Colin has served this chair for the past couple of years, and it's a very busy and difficult position to be in," she said. "And I'm very honored that I was voted in as chair this evening, and, again, I will work hard for the families and the children of Norwalk and the staff of Norwalk, too."

Carpio previously served as vice-chair and has been a member of the board since 2019 and serves on the executive, policy, facilities and finance committees as well as the MLL Curriculum Subcommittee. The board also chose its new vice-chair and secretary at the meeting. Godfrey Azima also a member since 2019 and the previous secretary will now serve as the vice-chair. The new secretary will be Sheri McCready Brown, who recently joined the board in 2021.

"I was honored to have been elected by my colleagues to serve as board chair these past two years and I also believe that one hallmark of good leadership is helping to create leadership opportunities for others," Hosten said in a statement on Wednesday.

"I was thrilled to support Diana and Godfrey as our new chair and vice chair, and to welcome Sheri to the executive committee as board secretary," he continued. "I look forward to continuing to serve with them, and with the rest of my board colleagues, through the duration of my term, which ends in 2025."

Read the original:
Norwalk Board of Education selects new leader - thehour.com

This story is one of hundreds Colin Flaherty planned to publish in a book before his death. American Renaissance will post one a week.

Black on white violence has been a reality of life in St. Louis for over fifty years. I am 60, and when I was 10, my sister and I went to visit some family in the Gateway to the West right after a new housing project had gone up. My uncle made a living repairing equipment at rec centers, and one time when he was driving my sister around, he had to make a stop at one of them. Just stay in the car, I will be right back, he said. Soon after, a dozen black thugs surrounded the car and were saying they were going to rape us little white girls. Suddenly, my uncle burst out of the rec center, baseball bat in hand, and my would-be rapists all fled.

Even though nothing really happened, my uncle felt horrible. He apologized and told us that even as recently as a week ago, the area had been considered safe. But thats what Section 8 Housing does to a place. The whole complex was in ruins within a year.

More recently, two black thugs moved into my building. I prayed and anointed my home in the name of Jesus, because I knew I was in danger. Last Saturday night, one of them was shot in the head in his apartment. The survivor was evicted. God has my back.

The rest is here:
God Has My Back - American Renaissance

HamptonsFilm announced today the full slate of programming for the 2022 edition of the Hamptons International Festival (HIFF), including the Closing Night presentation of the New York premiere SR., directed by Chris Smith, the Centerpiece screening of Sarah Polleys WOMEN TALKING, additional Spotlight selections, as well as Signature Programs including Views From Long Island; Conflict and Resolution; Air, Land & Sea; and Compassion, Justice & Animal Rights. The 30th edition of the festival will feature a lineup of films that are 54% female-directed and represent 34 countries from around the world.

The festivals Closing Night Film SR., directed by Chris Smith will screen on Saturday, October 15, at 7:15PM. The film is a tender yet fittingly irreverent portrait of the life and career of Robert Downey Sr., the fearless, visionary American director who set the standard for counterculture comedy in the sixties and seventies. It is an inspired collaboration between celebrated documentarian Chris Smith; the subjects son, Robert Downey Jr.; and the man himself, who passed away in July 2021. As previously announced, the festival will open with Oliver Hermanuss LIVING on October 7, 2022.

The festival will also host Sarah Polleys WOMEN TALKING as a Centerpiece Film, set to screen at 8:00PM on October 11, 2022. The film, distributed by MGM and based on the novel by Miriam Toews, follows a group of women part of an isolated religious community that grapple with reconciling their reality with their faith, starring Claire Foy, Rooney Mara, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Ben Whishaw, and Frances McDormand. The previously announced East Coast Premiere of Florian Zellers THE SON will also screen as a Centerpiece film.

We are thrilled to have the opportunity to close this years edition of the Hamptons International Film Festival with Chris Smiths moving tribute to the late Robert Downey Sr., said David Nugent, Artistic Director of HamptonsFilm. With this years inspiring and dynamic selection of films, we cannot wait to commemorate our milestone anniversary with our film-loving community out East.

HIFF will also be hosting director, screenwriter, and producer Chris Columbus to lead the Signature Program Rowdy Talks, where Columbus will discuss his groundbreaking career in the film industry. On Monday, October 10, at 10AM, Columbus will sit down with audiences as he explores the past, present, and future of filmmaking. Columbus Hollywood career began when his script for GREMLINS (1984) was shepherded by Steven Spielberg, who soon became a mentor to Columbus throughout his career. After writing the scripts for THE GOONIES (1985) and YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES (1985), he made his directorial debut with the comedy ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING (1987). Columbus achieved wider success with blockbuster films HOME ALONE (1990), HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK (1992), and MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1993). Columbus is also known for bringing HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERERS STONE (2001) to life on the big screen, as well as the sequel HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (2002).

Newly announced Spotlight titles, sponsored by Audi, include the First US Special Screening of of JD Dillards DEVOTION, distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment & Black Label Media, an aerial war epic based on the bestselling book of the same name which tells the harrowing true story of two elite US Navy fighter pilots during the Korean War and stars Jonathan Majors, Glen Powell, Christina Jackson, Joe Jonas, and Thomas Sadoski; Set in an English seaside town in the early 1980s, Academy Award-winning director and writer Sam Mendes EMPIRE OF LIGHT, distributed by Searchlight Pictures, is a powerful and poignant story about human connection and the magic of cinema, starring Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, with Toby Jones and Colin Firth; Michael Grandages MY POLICEMAN, distributed by Prime Video, a heart-wrenching, adaptation of the award-winning novel of the same name, which illuminates the quiet joys and painful consequences of queer life obscured by history by following a police officer, school teacher, and museum curator who fall into a dangerous love triangle at a time when homosexuality was illegal, starring Harry Styles, Emma Corrin, Gina McKee, Linus Roache, David Dawson and Rupert Everett; the East Coast Premiere of Karen Maines ROSALINE, distributed by Hulu, a fresh and comedic twist on Shakespeares classic love story Romeo & Juliet, told from the perspective of Juliets cousin and Romeos recent love interest Rosaline, who is heartbroken when Romeo meets Juliet and begins to pursue her, starring Kaitlyn Dever, Kyle Allen, Bradley Whitford, Minnie Driver and Isabela Merced; Juno Films THE SAME STORM, directed by Peter Hedges, which tells a story during the spring and summer of 2020 where twenty-four people navigate life, love, and isolation during the early days of the pandemic, starring Sandra Oh, Mary-Louise Parker, Elaine May, Moses Ingram, Raul Castillo, and Noma Dumezweni; Universal Pictures SHE SAID, directed by Maria Schrader, which recounts the story of New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, who together broke one of the most important stories in a generationa story that helped propel the #Metoo movement and shattered decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault in Hollywood, starring Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle and Samantha Morton; MGMs TILL, directed by Chinonye Chukwu, a profoundly emotional and cinematic film about the true story of Mamie Till Mobleys relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, who in 1955 was lynched while visiting his cousins in Mississippi, starrng Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett, and Whoopi Goldberg; and the East Coast Premiere of Darren Aronofskys THE WHALE, distributed by A24, which follows the story of a reclusive English teacher living with severe obesity who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption, starring Brendan Fraser and based on the acclaimed play by Samuel D. Hunter. Previously announced Spotlight titles include THE BANSHEES OF INSHERIN, CALL JANE and WHO INVITED CHARLIE?

We are delighted to be able to host a diverse class of talented filmmakers and actors from around the world at this years festival, said Anne Chaisson, Executive Director of HamptonsFilm. It is with great excitement that we can finally share the well-rounded selection of Centerpiece films, Spotlight screenings, and beyond that we are proud to program as part of the 30th anniversary of HIFF.

The Narrative Competition section of this years festival will include Lukas Dhonts CLOSE, distributed by A24, following two 13-year-old best friends, whose seemingly unbreakable bond is suddenly, tragically torn apart, starring Eden Dambrine, Gustav De Waele, milie Dequenne, and La Drucker; the US Premiere of Daniel Goldhabe, Ariela Barer, Jordan Sjol, and Daniel Garbers HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE, recently acquired by NEON and based on Andreas Malms controversial book, about a crew of young environmental activists who execute a daring mission to sabotage an oil pipeline, starring Ariela Barer, Kristine Froseth, Lukas Gage, Forrest Goodluck, Sasha Lane, Jayme Lawson, Marcus Scribner, and Jake Weary; Davy Chous RETURN TO SEOUL, distributed by Sony Picture Classics, following a girl who finds herself embarking on an unexpected journey in a country she knows so little about after returning to South Korea for the first time since she was adopted and raised in France, starring Park Ji-Min, Oh Kwang-Rok, Guka Han, and Kim Sun-Young; Lola Quivorons RODEO, distributed by Music Box Films, following the hot tempered and fiercely independent Julia who finds escape in a passion for motorcycles and the high-octane world of urban Rodeos illicit gatherings where riders show off their bikes and their latest daring stunts, starring Julie Ledru, Yannis Lafki, Antonia Buresi, Cody Schroeder, and Louis Sotton; and Sadaf Foroughis SUMMER WITH HOPE, about a prestigious competition that sets the stage for a conspiracy of collusion between two young swimmers, family members and their communities, starring Leili Rashidi, Mehdi Ghorbani, Alireza Kamali, and Benyamin Peyrovani.

The Documentary Competition section of this years festival will include Shaunak Sens ALL THAT BREATHES, distributed by Sideshow and Submarine Deluxe in association with HBO Documentary Films, where, as legions of birds fall from darkening skies in New Delhi and the city smolders with social unrest, two brothers race to save the black kite, a majestic bird of prey essential to their citys ecosystem; the East Coast Premiere of Christopher Sharp and Moses Bwayos BOBI WINE: THE PEOPLES PRESIDENT, distributed by National Geographic Documentary Films, following Ugandas 2021 presidential elections, when music star, activist and opposition leader Bobi Wine, together with his wife Barbie, deicde to run against President Musevenis regime in a dangerous fight for his people; the New York Premiere of Tamana Ayazi and Marcel Mettelsiefens IN HER HANDS, distributed by Netflix, telling the story of Zarifa Ghafari, who at 26 became one of Afghanistans first female mayors and the youngest to ever hold the position, and documenting her fight for survival against the backdrop of her countrys accelerated unraveling; the East Coast Premiere of PRAY FOR OUR SINNERS, where director Sinad OShea returns to her hometown exploring the control exerted by the Catholic Church over Irish people (including herself) and discovers a group of townspeople that found a way to resist; and the New York premiere of Casey Neistats UNDER THE INFLUENCE, distributed by Endeavor Content, following the rise and fall of the biggest YouTuber in the world, whose-feel good videos masked the dark and reckless new ethos of online celebrity.

As part of the Signature Programs, the Conflict and Resolution section will include the US Premiere of FREEDOM ON FIRE: UKRAINES FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, directed by Academy Award nominee Evgeny Afineevsky, which depicts the horrible realities of this unprovoked war instigated by Vladimir Putin; OUR FATHER, THE DEVIL, written and directed by Ellie Foumbi, which follows caretaker Marie, who finds her peaceful life in France upended by the arrival of a new priest who reminds her of her traumatic past; the East Coast Premiere of RETROGRADE, directed by Academy Award-nominee and Emmy Award-winner Matthew Heineman, capturing the final nine months of Americas twenty-year war in Afghanistan from multiple perspectives, including one of the last US Special Forces units deployed there, a young Afghan general and his corps fighting to defend their homeland against all odds, and the civilians desperately attempting to flee as the country collapses; the US Premiere of Netflixs THE SWIMMERS, directed by Sally El Hosaini, which tells the true story of two young sisters harrowing journey as refugees from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics as they put both their hearts and champion swimming skills to heroic use; as well as the previously announced World Premiere of discovery+s A RADICAL LIFE.

As part of the Signature Programs, the Views from Long Island section will include Markie Hancocks THE POWER OF COMMUNITY: HOW ONE TOWN STOOD AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, documenting how domestic abuse insidiously took hold in the lives of three women, how the Retreat intervened to empower them and how a small grassroots group of women and the town of East Hampton made it all possible; Lindsay Keys and Winslow Crane-Murdoch s THE QUIET EPIDEMIC, following the search for answers when a young girl from Brooklyn and a Duke University scientist are diagnosed with a disease said to not exist: Chronic Lyme disease, which lands them in the middle of a vicious medical debate; and the previously mentioned WHO INVITED CHARLIE?.

In the World Cinema Documentary section, the slate includes the addition of NEONs ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED, directed by Academy Award-winner Laura Poitras and the winner of the Golden Lion Award at this years Venice Film Festival, which tells the epic and emotional story of internationally renowned artist and activist Nan Goldin through her slideshows, intimate dialogue, ground-breaking photography and rare footage of her fight to hold the Sackler family accountable for the overdose crisisx; ; THE CAVE OF ADULLAM, directed by Academy Award-nominated director Laura Checkoway, chronicling the story of a transformational Training Academy in the heart of Detroit where Black boys who are emotionally, mentally and spiritually in debt gather to be trained and transformed into comprehensive men; Grasshopper Filmss DE HUMANI CORPORIS FABRICA, directed by Vrna Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor, which opens the human body to the cinema, revealing that human flesh is an extraordinary landscape that exists only through the gaze and attention of others; Netflixs DESCENDANT, directed by Margaret Brown, documenting the search for and historic discovery of The Clotilda, the last known ship to arrive in the United States illegally carrying enslaved Africans; the New York Premiere of THE EXILES, distributed by Endeavor Content and directed by Ben Klein and Violet Columbus, who track down three exiled dissidents from the Tiananmen Square massacre in order to find closure on an abandoned project she began shooting in 1989; MTV Doumentary Filmss THE FIRE THAT TOOK HER, directed by Patricia E. Gillespie, following the story of Judy Malinowski, then 31 and mother of two, who was doused in petrol and set on fire by her crazed ex-boyfriend and was one of the first ever to testify from beyond the grave at the trial for her own murder; the World Premiere of GROUCHO & CAVETT, directed by Robert S. Bader, which explores the enduring friendship between Emmy Award-winning television personality Dick Cavett and iconic comedian Groucho Marx; LIFT, directed by Academy Award-nominated David Petersen, which shines a spotlight on the invisible story of homelessness in America through the eyes of a group of young home-insecure ballet dancers in New York City; the Apple Original Film LOUIS ARMSTRONGS BLACK & BLUES, filmmaker Sacha Jenkins honors Louis Armstrongs legacy as a founding father of jazz, one of the first internationally known and beloved stars, and a cultural ambassador, also screening as the 30th Anniversary Celebration Film in Southampton; NAKED GARDENS, directed by Ivete Lucas and Patrick Bresnan, immersing audiences in the complex, unseen world of a family nudist resort in the Florida Everglades; as well as the previously announced DESPERATE SOULS, DARK CITY AND THE LEGEND OF MIDNIGHT COWBOY, GOOD NIGHT OPPY, JANUARY 6TH and THE VOLCANO: RESCUE FROM WHAKAARI.

In the World Cinema Narrative section, the slate includes the addition of A24s AFTERSUN, directed by Charlotte Wells, which crafts a poignant portrait of a father and daughter on a fateful holiday in the 1990s; Carla Simns ALCARRS, distributed by MUBI, which captures a poetic study of the passing of a way of life and the clash between tradition and industry through a luscious ensemble drama soaked in sun and nostalgia; Hirokazu Kore-edas BROKER, distributed by NEON and following two brokers who sell orphaned infants, circumventing the bureaucracy of legal adoption, to affluent couples who cant have children of their own; Marie Kreutzers CORSAGE, distributed by IFC Films, which tells the story of Empress Elizabeth Sissi of Austria, long idolized by her subjects for her beauty and fashionable tastes, who faces losing the publics interest now that she has turned the dreaded age of 40; CHRISSY JUDY, written and directed by Todd Flaherty in his feature debut, which explores queer friendship and what happens when your chosen family no longer chooses you; KARAOKE, distributed by Greenwich Entertainment and directed by Moshe Rosenthal, following a couple who live a middle class life in a sleepy suburb, plagued by an unspoken sense of disappointment and regret, until a former Miami-based model agent moves into their building and their lust for life is reignited; the North American Premiere of MORE THAN EVER, directed by Emily Atef, which tells the story of the relationship between Hlne and Mathieu who, after being together for many years, are faced with an existential decision and, an act that will test the strength of their love; Amazons NANNY, written and directed by Nikyatu Jusu, about an undocumented nanny working for a privileged couple in New York City, who prepares for the arrival of the son she left behind in Senegal when a violent presence invades her reality and threatens the American dream she is painstakingly piecing together; Mia Hansen-Lves ONE FINE MORNING, distributed by Sony Pictures Classics and paints a beautifully intricate portrait of a young, widowed mother as she struggles to balance the exhausting obligations of her everyday life in Paris; IFC Filmss R.M.N, written and directed by Cristian Mungiu, which captures a superbly crafted and complex portrait of a community at the cross section of poverty, ecology, and politics; Ruben stlunds TRIANGLE OF SADNESS, distributed by NEON and winner of the Cannes Film Festival Palme dOr, which reveals the tawdry relationship between power and beauty when social hierarchy is turned upside down; as well as the previously announced DECISION TO LEAVE and PINBALL THE MAN WHO SAVED THE GAME.

HIFF also announced ten programs of short films this year, including Narrative Competition, Documentary Competition, New York Women in Film & Television: Women Calling the Shots, the University Short Films Showcase, Splash! Shorts for All Ages, On the Road to Nowhere, Stop Making Sense, Looking Backward, Looking Forward, Conflict & Resolution Shorts Program, and Views From Long Island Shorts Program.

In addition, the festival has announced the jury members for the 2022 festival, which includes Emmy Award-winning Co-Producer and Shorts Producer at POV, Opal H. Bennett, known for her work on POV Shorts which won the 2020 IDA Award for Best Short Form Series; entertainment writer Jordan Hoffman, whose work can currently be read at Vanity Fair, The A.V. Club, The Guardian, and The Times of Israel; founder and CEO of Artemis Rising Foundation Regina Scully, who has produced over 200+ documentary films as a social entrepreneur, media activist, and filmmaker; producer and director of award-winning feature films, television, and theater Fred Berner, best known for producing the Oscar-winning POLLOCK, VANYA ON 42nd STREET, THE GREAT WHITE HYPE, and THE BALLAD OF LITTLE; President of Production at Amblin Partners Jeb Brody, who oversees a slate of films produced under the companys Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks Pictures banners, including 1917, FINCH, and the upcoming THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER; and the Celeste Bartos Chief Curator of Film at The Museum of Modern Art Rajendra Roy, who previously joined HIFF as the Director of Programming (2002-2006) before becoming the Artistic Director (2006-2007).

The 30th Annual Hamptons Film Festival will run as an extended 10-day event from October 7-16, 2022. HIFF thanks the supporters for this years festival, including returning Premiere Sponsor Audi; Signature Sponsors Netflix, Silvercup Studios, Variety, and Gibson Dunn; and Supporting Sponsor Regal Cinemas; as well as new Lead Sponsor The Macallan; Supporting Sponsors Crystal Head Vodka and Dragon Hemp; official Media Sponsors WNBC, The East Hampton Star, The Purist, WNET, Long Island Broadcast Radio EHM, 101.7 The Beach, and 102.5 BAZ; and long term support from New York State Council on the Arts, and Suffolk County Film Commission. For more information, please visit http://www.hamptonsfilmfest.org.

OPENING NIGHT FILM

Sponsored by Silvercup Studios

LIVING

East Coast Premiere

dir. Oliver Hermanus (UK), 2022

In this elegant reimagining of Akira Kurosawas beloved classic IKIRU, BAFTA Award winner Bill Nighy delivers a remarkable performance as Mr. Williams, a dedicated civil servant living in post-WWII London who receives an earth-shattering diagnosis, forcing him to take stock of his lonely existence. In the hopes of answering lifes most important questions, he sets out on a series of adventures, determined to find some fulfillment before time runs out. Magnificently scripted by Kazuo Ishiguro (Nobel Prize-winning author of The Remains of The Day and Never Let Me Go), and exquisitely helmed by Oliver Hermanus, LIVING is the story of an ordinary man who, at the eleventh hour, makes a supreme effort to turn his life into something wonderful. A Sony Pictures Classics release.

CLOSING NIGHT FILM

SR.

dir. Chris Smith (USA), 2022

With a canon of fearlessly satirical underground classics including PUTNEY SWOPE and GREASERS PALACE, visionary American director Robert Downey Sr. set the standard for comedic counterculture cinema in the sixties and seventies. In collaboration with both Downey and his soncelebrated actor Robert Downey Jr.award-winning documentarian Chris Smith (AMERICAN MOVIE, FYRE: THE GREATEST PARTY THAT NEVER HAPPENED, and executive producer of Tiger King) crafts a loving portrait of the pioneering indie filmmaker in the final years of his life. Shot in textured black-and-white, and featuring intimate interviews from loved ones, SR. is a tenderand fittingly irreverenttribute to the beloved artist, friend, and father.

30TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL SOUTHAMPTON SCREENING

LOUIS ARMSTRONGS BLACK & BLUES

dir. Sacha Jenkins (USA), 2022

In his illuminating portrait of the iconic artist, filmmaker Sacha Jenkins honors Louis Armstrongs legacy as a founding father of jazz, one of the first internationally known and beloved stars, and a cultural ambassador. Showing sides of Armstrong few have been privileged to see, Jenkins comprehensively covers his extraordinary lifespanning from the Civil War to the Civil Rights movementillustrating how he became a lightning rod figure throughout that turbulent era. Presented through a lens of archival footage, never-before-heard home recordings and personal conversations, LOUIS ARMSTRONGS BLACK & BLUES offers an intimate and revealing look at a musician who changed the world. An Apple Original release.

*This film will also screen as part of the World Cinema Documentary lineup.

CENTERPIECE FILMS

THE SON

East Coast Premiere

dir. Florian Zeller (UK), 2022

THE SON is a searing portrait of todays mental health crisis, as viewed through the lens of a fractured American family. Seventeen-year-old Nicholas (Zen McGrath) is struggling to cope after his parents divorce, leaving his mother Kate (Laura Dern) and father Peter (Hugh Jackman) at a loss. Although Peter tries to provide for his son in ways his own father (Anthony Hopkins) never did, he fails to see whats right in front of him. With career-defining performances and razor-sharp storytelling, acclaimed novelist and playwright Florian Zeller (THE FATHER) crafts the second installment of his planned trilogy with authenticity and compassion. A Sony Pictures Classics release.

WOMEN TALKING

dir. Sarah Polley (USA), 2022

Adapted from Miriam Toews acclaimed novel of the same name, Academy Award-nominated writer-director Sarah Polleys (AWAY FROM HER, STORIES WE TELL) latest considers the cloistered lives of a group of women residing in an isolated, religious colony. When their spirituality is shaken by the discovery of widespread sexual abuse within their Mennonite community, they clandestinely gather to try and reconcile their devout faith with their growing desire for justice. Featuring sensational performances from Frances McDormand, Claire Foy, Rooney Mara, Jessie Buckley, and Judith Ivey, WOMEN TALKING is a triumphant tale of faith, sovereignty, and the responsibility we have to ourselves and others. A United Artists release.

SPOTLIGHT FILMS

Sponsored by Audi

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN

dir. Martin McDonagh (UK/Ireland/USA), 2022

In a 1920s fictitious town off the coast of west Ireland, Colm (Brendan Gleeson) abruptly ends his lifelong friendship with Padraic (Colin Farrell) without an explanation. Unable to accept it, Padraic goes to great lengths to get their relationship back on track. When his attempts are met with hostility, the situation escalates, with shocking consequences for everyone involved. Farrell, Gleeson and Academy Award-winning director Martin McDonagh (THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE OF EBBING, MISSOURI, IN BRUGES) reunite for THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN, a wild, riotous tale full of McDonaghs signature blend of poignant interpersonal drama and explosive dark comedy. A Searchlight Pictures release.

CALL JANE

East Coast Premiere

dir. Phyllis Nagy (USA), 2022

Chicago, 1968. The ordinary life of suburban housewife Joy (Elizabeth Banks, delivering a career-best performance), is turned upside-down when her unexpected pregnancy leads to a life-threatening condition. With the all-male medical establishment unwilling to intervene, Joy turns to the clandestine network of women known as the Janes, for urgent, life-saving healthcare. Skillfully helmed by Phyllis Nagy (Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of CAROL), and inspired by the true, covert activism of the Jane Collectivewhose underground abortions saved the lives of thousands of women in the late-SixtiesCALL JANE is a powerful and timely tale of resistance and resilience in the fight for bodily autonomy. A Roadside Attractions release.

DEVOTION

First US Special Screening

dir. JD Dillard (USA), 2022

Devotion, an aerial war epic based on the bestselling book of the same name, tells the inspirational true

story of two elite US Navy fighter pilots who helped turn the tide in the most brutal battle in the Korean

War: Jesse Brown, the first Black aviator in Navy history and his fellow fighter pilot and friend, Tom

Hudner. Their heroic sacrifices and enduring friendship would ultimately make them the Navys most

celebrated wingmen. With outstanding performances and jaw-dropping cinematography, DEVOTION is an unforgettable tale of friendship and courage. A Sony Pictures Entertainment release and a Black Label

Media production, the film was written by Jake Crane & Jonathan A.H. Stewart.

EMPIRE OF LIGHT

dir. Sam Mendes (UK/USA), 2022

From Academy Award-winning director and writer Sam Mendes, EMPIRE OF LIGHT is an intimate and moving story about love, friendship, and connection, set in a coastal town in Southern England against the social turmoil of the early 1980s. Hilary (Olivia Colman), a woman with a difficult past and an uneasy present, is part of a makeshift family at the old Empire Cinema on the seafront. When Stephen (Micheal Ward) is hired to work in the cinema, the two find an unlikely attraction and discover the healing power of movies, music and community. A Searchlight Pictures release.

MY POLICEMAN

dir. Michael Grandage (UK/USA), 2022

A story of forbidden love and changing social conventions, My Policeman follows three young people policeman Tom (Harry Styles), teacher Marion (Emma Corrin), and museum curator Patrick (David Dawson) as they embark on an emotional journey in 1950s Britain. Flashing forward to the 1990s, Tom (Linus Roache), Marion (Gina McKee), and Patrick (Rupert Everett) are still reeling with longing and regret, but now they have one last chance to repair the damage of the past. Based on the book by Bethan Roberts, director Michael Grandage carves a visually transporting, heart-stopping portrait of three people caught up in the shifting tides of history, liberty, and forgiveness.

A Prime Video release.

ROSALINE

East Coast Premiere

dir. Karen Maine (USA), 2022

ROSALINE is a fresh and comedic twist on Shakespeares classic love story Romeo & Juliet, told from the perspective of Juliets cousin Rosaline (Kaitlyn Dever, Dopesick, HIFF 10 Actors to Watch 2014), who also happens to be Romeos recent love interest. Heartbroken when Romeo (Kyle Allen) meets Juliet (Isabela Merced) and begins to pursue her, Rosaline schemes to foil the famous romance and win back her guy. Directed by Karen Maine (screenwriter, OBVIOUS CHILD) and based on the novel When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle, this romantic comedy features sharply funny performances by Bradley Whitford and Minne Driver, delivering a clever update to a timeless story. A Hulu release.

THE SAME STORM

dir. Peter Hedges (USA), 2021

HIFF alum Peter Hedges (WHATS EATING GILBERT GRAPE?, BEN IS BACK) returns with an imaginative and moving snapshot of the tumult of the COVID-19 pandemics early days. Resourcefully shot on iPhones and laptops, Hedges crafts an intimate look into the lives of 24 characters navigating a new, uncertain world. Against the backdrops of lockdowns, Black Lives Matter, and the looming 2020 election, the film explores the necessity of human connection, love, and the ability to find empathy in a fraught, untenable time. Featuring an all-star castincluding Elaine May in her first film role in 21 yearsTHE SAME STORM is a unique and hopeful story that celebrates arts ability to connect us all. A Juno Films release.

SHE SAID

dir. Maria Schrader (USA), 2022

In 2017, New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan, THE BIG SICK) and Megan Twohey (Carey

Mulligan, PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN) published a story that exposed decades of alleged sexual assault

and harassment committed by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Kantor and Twohey faced

obstacles at every turn, their investigation provided a platform for courageous survivors and witnesses to speak the truth, a truth that both stopped a powerful predator and ultimately helped dismantle the system that had enabled him. Directed by Emmy winner Maria Schrader (UNORTHODOX), SHE SAID honors the heroic reporting of one of the most important stories in a generationone that helped propel the #MeToo movement, shattered decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault in Hollywood, and altered American culture forever. A Universal Pictures release.

TILL

dir. Chinonye Chukwu (USA), 2022

Mississippi, 1955. While in town visiting some cousins, 14-year-old Emmett Till (Jalyn Hall) is kidnapped and lynched after he is wrongfully accused of harassing a white woman (Haley Bennett). Facing an establishment unwilling to hold her sons murderers accountable for their unimaginable brutality, Emmetts devastated mother Mamie Till Mobley (Danielle Deadwyler) channels her indescribable grief into a relentless pursuit of justiceher fearless activism an instrumental contribution to the Civil Rights movement. Featuring astonishing performances from its flawless cast and powerful direction from HIFF alum Chinonye Chukwu (CLEMENCY), TILL showcases the universal power of one mothers ability to change the world. A United Artists release.

THE WHALE

East Coast Premiere

dir. Darren Aronofsky (USA), 2022

Academy Award nominee Darren Aronofsky (BLACK SWAN, THE WRESTLER) returns to the festival with the story of Charlie (Brendan Fraser, in a career-defining comeback performance), an online English teacher confined to his home due to his severe obesity. When his health issues escalate, he reconnects with his long-estranged teenage daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink, Stranger Things) in an attempt to rejoin the world that rejected him. Based on the award-winning play by Samuel D. Hunter, who also adapted the screenplay, THE WHALE is a gritty yet compassionate story that draws self-acceptance and redemption out of darkness and shame. An A24 release.

WHO INVITED CHARLIE?

World Premiere

dir. Xavier Manrique (USA), 2022

March 2020. With COVID-19 on the rise in NYC, self-centered hedge fund manager Phil Schreiber (Reid Scott, Veep) escapes to the Hamptons with his wife Rosie (Jordana Brewster, THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS) and son Max (Peter Dager) to ride out the lockdown. Their fraught situation is worsened by the unexpected arrival of Phils pot-smoking, Bloody Mary-swilling former college roommate, Charlie (Adam Pally, Happy Endings). Armed with untold secrets from Phils murky past, Charlie inserts himself into their bubble and quickly makes himself at home. A darkly funny tale of family and friendship, Xavier Manriques WHO INVITED CHARLIE? hilariously chronicles the quarantine experience with humor and humanity.

*This film will also screen as part of the Views From Long Island Signature Program.

AIR, LAND & SEA

Sponsored by Dragon Hemp

THE COW WHO SANG A SONG INTO THE FUTURE

dir. Francisca Alegra (France/Germany/Chile/USA), 2022

Francisca Alegras striking feature debut is a lyrical eco-fable of family, renewal, and resurrection. Polluted with the industrial waste of a nearby factory, the toxic waters of the Cruces River in southern Chile have become inhospitable to the surrounding local wildlife. Yet amongst the floating bodies of lifeless fish, the long-dead Magdalena (Ma Maestro, FRIDA, THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES) inexplicably rises to the surface and returns to her familys dairy farm. Mysterious and meditative, THE COW WHO SANG A SONG INTO THE FUTURE skilfully connects long ignored alarms of impending environmental devastation to one familys need to address intergenerational traumas. A Kino Lorber release.

THE FOREST MAKER

US Premiere

dir. Volker Schlndorff (Germany), 2022

Esteemed New German Cinema luminary and Academy Award winner Volker Schlndorffs (THE TIN DRUM) first documentary follows renowned Australian agronomist Tony Rinaudo as he works with farmers across the Sahel region of Africa to implement his innovative reforestation technique. Together, Rinaudo and local leaders heal the areas damaged by destructive agricultural practices implemented under European colonialism, restoring not only the soil, but also the dignity and hope of the people that rely on the land. Delivering refreshing optimism in the face of an ecological crisis, THE FOREST MAKER is a testament to the ability of empathy and collaboration to uplift communities and revitalize our natural world.

INTO THE WEEDS: DEWAYNE LEE JOHNSON VS MONSANTO COMPANY

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30th Anniversary Edition of the Hamptons International Film Festival Announces Full 2022 Slate - Awards Daily

OFFALY certainly took a jaunt down the road less travelled when they appointed a Limerick man as their minor hurling manager but it has yielded rich dividends and is now leading them back towards salvation.

Appointing an outside manager for a minor team was a big step for Offaly. Prior to him taking charge in 2020, it was something that simply didn't happen and while there was no rule about it, the policy in Offaly was to appoint local managers Declan McGovern, a Kildare resident, had served as Offaly minor football manager in the late 2000s but he was a native of Kilcormac.

The appointment of Leo O'Connor as Offaly minor hurling manager in 2020 was new territory for Offaly but it is reaping very big dividends. He was familiar with Offaly hurling as he had come on as a sub during the famous 1994 All-Ireland senior hurling final ironically O'Connor had scored Limerick's finl point in that never to be forgotten decider. That put Limerick five points up and they looked home and dry but a few minutes later when the final whistle blew, Offaly were ahead by six.

It was one of the great hurling finals and it was a defining moment in the life of all that Limerick team, including O'Connor. It is now very ironic that he is now at the fulcrum of Offaly's bid to become a force again. After 2000, Offaly hurling fell off the radar as they went back to the third tier, the Christy Ring Cup while Limerick have been the dominant force of the modern era, a powerful juggernaut who just take the breath away with their hurling and physicality.

O'Connor played a key role in the development of Limerick hurling. He has managed Limerick county teams at every level up to U-21, guiding them to the Munster U-21 title in 2011 and his work with the Limerick development squad system has helped put the foundations in place for their recent success story

Now as Offaly minor hurling manager, he is playing a key role in the development of young players once again. Under his watch, Offaly have had a sensational 2022, winning the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship title for the first time since 2000 and reaching the All-Ireland final for the first time since 1989, when they won their third championship.

He had initially come into Offaly as a coach under Shinrone's Declan Loughnane in 2019. O'Connor had spoken to Offaly GAA chairman Tommy Byrne and Coaching Officer, Martin Cashen about getting involved as well as Declan Loughnane. He had initially worked with Declan in Sligo, introduced through a mutual friend, Christy Phillips and the opportunity to get involved in Offaly intrigued him.

Wexford beat Offaly in 2019 on a day when they hurled well but lost out to a late goal. A team that could have gone on and achieved a lot more that particular year. We had a few injuries going into that game as well, he recalled last week.

In 2020, Offaly got to the Leinster final but it was not played until 2021 because of Covid and a couple of weeks after that defeat by Kilkenny, they were put out by the same side in the 2021 championship in Nowlan Park. It has been a roller coaster year for O'Connor and Offaly the 2020 Leinster final was played on July 4 2021 and now the All-Ireland minor final is on almost exactly a year later, July 3.

Suddenly you are going into an All-Ireland final all in the space of 12 months. It has been a very busy year. A lot of these lads on this minor team, we brought them all in last year and we did an awful lot of work with them, strength and conditioning. Seven of them started last year below in Kilkenny and we finished up with nine or ten of them on the field. Certainly Colm Doyle would have been part of it but he broke his collar bone against Clare in a challenge match, so from that point of view it has been a busy 12 months, but that's how we ended up here - three years in one year!

O'Connor is now living in Tipperary and this adds another edge to Sunday's final. He was a member of the Claughaun club in Limerick, winning a Senior Hurling Championship medal with them as a young lad in 1986, alongside one of their iconic figures, Eamon Cregan, the Offaly manager in 1994.

When you came in were you aware that this year's bunch were particularly talented?

The day they were in the Tony Forrestal I was in Wexford with Martin Cashen with the under 16 team and we stopped by on the way home and saw the Forrestal and you could see there was huge potential in it. They were probably the first Offaly team after a number of years to get into a final. Covid, I think, has levelled the playing field in a lot of ways, - it was a matter in being clever in how you used your players, getting your strength and conditioning into them, that was a major levelling off of the playing field. It proves that when you put in the work like we have done in Offaly over the last two to three years, you can compete at a very high level and hence we are in an All-Ireland minor hurling final.

Offaly changed their backroom team this year with Hughie Hannon, Johnny Pilkington and Martin Cashen replacing Leonard Deane, Ray Cordial and Alan Corboy. Tell us about that?

It wasn't anything major to be quite honest. It happens the whole time in Limerick, my own county, you need to get fellows' experience. I will be very straight, I think ex-inter county hurlers I'm not saying they are the end-all and be-all but I think you certainly need to get that one on one situation. Like Johnny is doing this year. The amount of experience a guy like Johnny Pilkington has, the amount of experience that is in Offaly from the 80s and 90s up to the early noughties is huge and that needs to be transferred to the younger generation and how they do it is the most important thing. Johnny as we all know is a character. He comes in does his one on one, reads situations, reads tactics differently, comes in and comes over to me on the sideline, has a word in my ear. My early morning alarm clock between 7.30-7.40am is Johnny Pilkington ringing me, saying would we try this, would we try that. It is a learning process for us all. Every day is a school day and that is the most important thing.

Coming from Limerick, the poster boy of underage level, with greater resources than Offaly, is it sustainable for Offaly?

I would be very disappointed if it doesn't sustain. Look at what we are in. Four fields, absolutely perfect. This is just a training ground. You have O'Connor Park, you have Birr. If this is not sustainable the way it works in Limerick is from 8am on Saturday morning until 1pm, each development squad comes in for an hour and a half and there is a half hour overlap and coming towards tournament time in July and August they come on Wednesday night for eight weeks before it. That's not major resources. Offaly have this ready made already. It is self contained, you have your gym, you have your ball wall, you have your training fields, you have your astro turf there, everything is self contained here so it is a matter of organising this and putting the right structures in place and making sure the right people are involved in the underage teams coming up, under 14, 15 16 and when they get to minor level. Michael has come in and has done an absolutely fabulous job in where we are.

There are other success stories around Offaly in the last few years. Birr got to an All-Ireland B colleges final that wasn't played because of Covid, that is only a year and a half ago, there are a lot of other success stories around. The under 20 footballers last year, that is huge and certainly this on top of it, getting to an All-Ireland minor final is another major plus within the county.

What is your opinion on the Nowlan Park venue?

Some people consider it the home of hurling. Personally from what I am hearing, the ticket situation has gone really, really well. I think they were worried that Portlaoise would hold the crowd and it has been a major plus for the Leinster Council letting in the Under 16s free and that builds up the crowd. Capacity of 27,000 in Kilkenny and the crowd is so close, I mean who doesn't want to be in a Portlaoise situation again. I mean that night was spectacular for Offaly and the GAA as well. I saw an aerial shot of the ground taken from a drone and you could see the ground full for a Leinster Minor Hurling Championship.

How do you feel about the decoupling of senior and minor?

I was lucky enough to be in a situation where I won an All-Ireland minor medal in Centenary Year below in Thurles and it didn't do me any harm. It is just one of those things where I suppose with the modern era, where things are looked at slightly differently to back then, but in my history, I was born and reared in a GAA family with a Dad who refereed three All-Irelands and I was always there, All-Ireland final day, the minor final was as Gaeilge and the senior final in English.

It became synonymous with the whole scenario. Child protection has a lot to do with it coming along the line, people feel it is putting too much pressure on kids and the minor age coming down a year damned if you do and damned if you don't. It's a difficult one for me personally, I would love to see it played with the All-Ireland senior final. But then, if you have what you had this year with the Leinster Minor Hurling final where are the Offaly people going to get tickets for it?

What puts more pressure on young lads, playing in a packed Nowlan Park or in Croke Park with 70-80% of it empty?

It's not one that we are going to answer. The GAA have obvious reasons for doing what they are doing, all I care about is that we are there that Offaly are in an All-Ireland minor hurling final. It's a fabulous occasion for everyone in the county and I hope everyone gets behind them. Some of them are still 15 years of age. Seven of them finished their Junior Cert last Friday. If it was under 18 some of them might be doing their Leaving Cert, so it is six of one half a dozen of the other.

What did you think of the Tipp v Galway semi-final?

It was a very open game of hurling. Tipp moved the ball well. I thought they were two very good hurling teams. Galway will be disappointed with some of things that happened in the game but minor has really become a development age. From that point of view Galway will be disappointed. We played them recently, we played Tipp very early in the year and we just got over the line. That was last February in Shinrone, so you can't read anything into it.

When you got the team together last December what would you have been saying that a Leinster title was a possibility.

We just met in early December and gave them their programmes. They had these facilities to come and use them when they wanted to. In early January we got them out on the field and if you look back on our history over the last three or four years, there is massive potential within the county and this team having got to a Forrestal final, it was a major step forward. They are a very dedicated, level headed bunch and nothing seems to faze them.

The likes of Portlaoise was unique for the Leinster minor final, none of them would have had the chance to play in anything like that, how did they handle it and how are they handling all that has gone on since?

It happens everywhere and it is up to us to protect them. We are in constant contact with their parents and we manage the situation. Every day is a new day. Parents are in constant contact with me. Keeping them grounded, doing what they normally do at home. We were a little disappointed after the Leinster final with the amount of cramping we had, so we have had nutritionists in and that worked really, really well. Last Friday night no player cramped, which is a credit to Colin Kenny. They are small things but it all comes in to a bigger package.

There was a big difference Portlaoise and the quarter-final against Antrim only three or four weeks previously?

I think that was one of the turning point for the lads this year. That was an Antrim team that was fancied and we put them away fairly comprehensively. That was the day that I asked them could we go to the next level and step up and certainly it happened. I think there is another gear in us. This team, we do play with sweepers at times when necessary, depending on what game plan we have, but it is certainly taking the shackles off them and let them go out and express themselves, go short, play long and we have players all over the field to accommodate that.

What impact did 1994 have on you?

That experience alone, when you are driving down from here at night time and you think of all the things that happened in your career, there are poignant moments in people's lives, and one of the things I probably learned more out of is being beaten in it than if we had won it because with five minutes up we were five points up and I remember it. Gary Kirby was taking a free and Joe Errity was right beside me up at the post and I just looked around and said to the umpire what's left and he said five minutes and probably four and a half minutes from the puck out and eight minutes later Offaly had scored 2-5. The big black hole opened up, Limerick fell into it, Offaly avoided it and everything they seemed to touch . . . . I remember talking to Billy Dooley the following day and he was coming out with Eamon Cregan, a club mate I won a county championship with Eamon Cregan in 1986, ironically as an 18 year old - I remember talking to Eamon and Derry O'Donovan, another Claughaun man who trained Offaly that year, these things happen for a reason. When I look back at the 1981 Offaly team when they turned over Galway, when Pat Delaney went up and caught that ball and popped it, Johnny Flaherty sticks the ball in the back of the net, these things happen in sport, that's why we're all involved in sport.

There is rivalry between Offaly and Tipperary. Johnny Pilkington would have played in the 1987 All-Ireland minor final, is there anything there that you can tap into?

There is always something you can tap into. If you go around this country, the big three traditionally have been Kilkenny, Cork and Tipperary. I live in Tipperary, so I see the traditions they have and how proud they are. They are things we use in the dressing room to drive these lads on to get them over the line. That is part and parcel of it. We are up against one of the big three, I don't know how many All-Ireland minor hurling titles Tipp have, nor do I care, because on Sunday it is going to be us against them and it is going to boil down to 60 minutes of hurling.

Are you as ready as you have ever been?

We have always said, we go game by game by game. Every day is a school day. We have learned as we have gone on. You mentioned about the Antrim thing, that was a major turning curve for us that day in terms of how we handled the situation. It wasn't the greatest field in the world, the grass certainly wasn't cut as we wanted, particularly compared to what we played on in Portlaoise and Thurles, it was a different kettle of fish completely, but these are things that we deal with. These guys don't let it faze them, we take on responsibility and we work for each other.

You were nervous before the Antrim game?

That was the one that I knew if we get over that, we are turning the corner, we are heading for home. That really was the big one.

How much did the Clare game bring you on?

Certainly going four points to nil down was due to the four and a half week break. It doesn't help. Realistically two to three week break is the best scenario, let the players recuperate their bodies. Last Saturday we were all back in the recovery room here and just getting the bodies back right, back training on Monday night and Thursday night and we will look after it from here on in.

Most of Limerick players came through the development squad system, do you envisage some of these Offaly players being involved in a big senior game in Croke Park against them at some point in the future?

Absolutely. In four or five years time, there are a lot of these guys going to be competing against a Limerick team and I have no doubts about that, 100% certain. The potential is there. It is how it is transferred from this level to the next level. Steps of the stairs. I think it is of major importance for the County Board how it is handled over the next three to four years because the potential is there. The strength and conditioning has gone into them. Certainly under my watch in the last three to four years, strength and conditioning has gone into them. You look at Cormac Egan, other than the unfortunate injury, I have no doubt, whether he would be starting on a senior Offaly football, but certainly being introduced and getting an education. The Limerick thing didn't happen overnight and I will categorically say it took 10 years for Limerick to get to where they are. Don't be under any illusions. In 2011 I was manager of the Limerick team that won the under 21, in 2013 they won a Munster senior hurling title. From there on in it gradually started to build. It is how it is managed and how it is phased through.

Is there enough talent to sustain this for Offaly?

There is enough talent around. There is enough hurlers to get them through the system, work them through the phases and get the strength and conditioning in. The strength and conditioning is vitallly important. Everyone talks about the physique of Limerick and I saw the Kilkenny under 20 team beat Limerick in the All-Ireland final this year and the physique of that Kilkenny team. Ironically 11 of them played in the 2020 Leinster minor final only 12 months ago. You see the way Kilkenny are able to do it, so why can't Offaly do it. I think the right process is in place now. I think it is a matter now of exploiting every opportunity that we get.

Offaly need to take credit for what has been achieved as a county. The only way this county can go from where it is now, just take those three teams - say you get three off the 2020 team, three off last year's team, you probably got 4-5 of this year's team, there's the bones of an under 20 team for the next few years, one that would be very well able to compete, one with putting the right process in place, getting the right games, competing at the highest level. That's the one thing we did this year, we have taken this minor team on a tour of Ireland. We have played, the Corks, Tipps, Limericks, we have played them all and we have gained experience.

Are you confident about Offaly?

Within ourselves, if we do the things right the way we wanted to do them and we get our own situation and our own house in order, I think this Offaly team has a lot to bring forward.

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The Limerick maestro at the furnace of Offaly's road towards hurling salvation - Limerick Live

Folks, lots of cool local stuff to talk about this week, so lets get right into it! This year the Catskills Irish Arts Week is back and running at full strength. The dates are July 10-16 and with a program as incredible as the one theyve put together theres a lot to look forward to.

It all starts with the folks on board and CIAWs organizers have taken pains to build a great staff there are over 40 instructors but whats even more noteworthy is the large number of notables theyre bringing over from Ireland. The folks traveling here include Clare Friel, fiddle; Danny OMahony, button accordion; Brenda Castles & Liam OBrien, concertina; Tara Howley, uilleann pipes; Michael Rooney & Seamus OFlaherty, harp; Mchel Mille, Irish language; Deirdre Cronin, creative writing; Caoimhe Flaherty, Irish singing; and Pdraig McEneany, set dancing. The US-based staff (which space prevents me from including here) is similarly top tier and includes a number of luminaries, among them Comhaltas Hall of Fame members, several All-Ireland champions, and even a couple of National Heritage Fellows.

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And remember: heading up to East Durham just for the hang is great craic, but the real experience is to be found in participating in the Festival itself by taking part in the workshops, and going to the lectures, concerts, and sessions. Its this sort of participation that will ensure CIAW remains an ongoing concern!

Enrollment is open, its definitely a good idea to check it out this year! For more information about the staff, schedule, signing up, and places to stay, visit http://www.catskillsirishartsweek.com.

In other news, on June 19 thats this Sunday the Rambling House in Woodlawn will host a fundraiser in its Party Room from 12:00-3:30 p.m. for the young local musicians who will be traveling to compete in the Fleadh Cheoil na hireann in Mullingar, July 31-August 7. The Sarah Lynch Cil Band, the Martin OGrady Cil Band & Grupai Cheoil will be there, as will Mickey Coleman, the Flynn Irish Dancers, and more. Should be a great time!

On June 29, the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) in Dublin will launch what theyre calling a major digital exhibition of Irish traditional music relating to New York. The online exhibit will feature rare recordings, stories, photos, and videos that document New York Citys rich Irish traditional music heritage.

I have not been made privy to the complete contents of the exhibition, but Ive seen a couple things that have made me say wow! and the people Ive talked to who have worked on the project have expressed a sense of great excitement. I think this exhibition is really, really something to look forward to and be very excited about. Visit itma.ie for more information (and perhaps sign up to their mailing list, theyre launching very cool new things all the time and youll be in the loop when the NYC exhibition launches).

Finally: a little while back now I ran into Gregory Grene and he handed me a copy of Belturbet Town, the new album by his group the Prodigals. Ive always known the Prodigals as a Celtic rock band, something thats put their music a bit out of this columns purview. However, Ive always dug them they have incredible energy live so I took some time to have a close listen to this new one and found it really rather interesting. On it, they make a bit of a departure from their jig punk reputation and have embraced the sound of a wizened pub band taking a more introspective traditional angle.

The Prodigals are a New York institution and have been around for nigh 25 years. Although the lineups changed some over that time, the current incarnation is strong and includes Grene (vocals, button accordion), Colin Forhan (guitar, mandolin, banjo, vocals), and Eamon Elams (drums & percussion). On the album, theyre joined by some very fine guests, including Mari Black (fiddle; http://www.mariblack.com), Mark Dann (bass), Alex Grene (fiddle), Katie Grennan (fiddle; http://www.katiegrennan.com), Jimmy Greenwood (bass) and the great Joanie Madden (whistle & flute; joaniemadden.com).

When he gave me the album, Grene said it included some traditional sounds Id be interested in, and in that vein hes right. Songs like Two Sisters, and Black Velvet Band, and instrumental tracks like Carolans Concerto / have a bit of old time depth and are lovely. However, I found that the best and most compelling stuff on the album were Grenes own compositions. There are a couple of interesting tune sets in Kathleen Alex / and Frances Clement / that I think are quite nice but to my ears his songs Belturbet Town, Recantation (Say Hello), and Ballad of Mattie Farrell stand out. Theyre well written, finely arranged, and well produced tracks that attract the ear.

Belturbet Town is an album I didnt expect. Its introspective without being precious and the music unfolds in a measured, almost relaxed way. Fans of The Prodigals will dig it, of course, but theres more to this album than the bands reputation will have you think its one Id say curious listeners should check out. (And, Id wager its one youll certainly hear Sundays on WFUV if youre in the Tristate Area!) Learn more at The Prodigals website, http://www.prodigals.com....

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Participation is key for CIAW - Irish Echo