The newly founded Kerry International Film Festival - not to be confused with the established Samhlaiocht Kerry Film Festival - has changed its name before even a spool has been uncoiled. The event, which runs from September 6th to 9th and welcomes such distinguished guests as Alan Parker, will henceforth be known as The Dingle Film Festival.
The Samhlaiocht Kerry Film Festival will take place between October 27th and November 3rd. Puzzled? Just hope that debate about whether we should refer to Dingle as An Daingean doesn't get going again.
Bridge under troubled water
We don't have many cinematic landmarks in Ireland, so it was all the more upsetting to hear that the three arched-bridge in Leenane, Co Galway - featured prominently in Jim Sheridan's The Field- had been washed away in the recent floods. The structure, built at the edge of Ireland's only true fjord in 1825, will be rebuilt as soon as possible.
Jordan transformed
The report in the Irish Sunon the domestic premiere of Transformersfeatured an astonishing inadvertent scoop. The paper began by listing the usual gang of red-carpet junkies before going on drop its bombshell. "They were joined at the Savoy cinema by Neil Jordan, director of the movie - which earned €110 million in the first week it opened in America," the paper revealed.
Now, we know that Neil has taken on the odd commercial project to support his more esoteric efforts, but giant killer robots do not sound like his cup of tea at all. The picture is, of course, directed by the dread Michael Bay.
Xtra days attempt to get Xtra customers
Xtra-vision, the ubiquitous video rental firm, appears to be offering a response to the apparently unstoppable advance of the online rental sector. Earlier this month the company announced a new scheme to allow customers to keep hold of films for up to a week. The press release left little doubt as to the spur for this innovation.
"Only at Xtra-vision can you watch the latest movies when you want," the document thundered. "It's now even easier and better than satelite and online rental." Only time will tell if the innovation can turn the online tide.
24-carat reception for Goldenballs
Reel News is just back from Los Angeles where every conversation with every movie star eventually touched on the subject of David Beckham's arrival at LA Galaxy. The middle-aged dead-ball specialist, a contemporary of Sir Stanley Matthews, eventually hobbled before the crowd on Saturday night, got kicked in the shin and pottered off minutes later without delivering even a flicker of the genius that delighted Manchester United fans in the post-war years. Never mind.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Katie Holmes, Eva Longoria and Jennifer Love Hewitt were all there to watch Beckham make his debut against Chelsea. Somehow one suspects that - Arnie aside - that lineup will do nothing whatsoever to sell football to the average middle-American male sports fan.
Sparks fly at Dreamworks
The word on the street has it that the long, bitter afterlife of Dreamworks SKG, the studio set up by Steven Spielberg, Jeffery Katzenberg and David Geffen, is about to enter another unhappy chapter. Katzenberg, who retains control of Dreamworks Animation, is said to be concerned that Paramount, the studio's partner, may swallow up his precious baby. Spielberg and Geffen are also rumoured to be unhappy with the attitude of Viacom, another corporate partner.
Keep your eyes on this spot. Sparks will fly.
Firefighters quench Phoenix's flames
And they say there's no good news about these days. Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenixwas bumped into second place at the US box office last week by a film in which two firemen - one of them played by Adam Sandler - pretend to be gay to secure domestic partner benefits. Warner Brothers, Harry'searthly handlers, have blamed the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallowsfor the apparent anomaly. Sure. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larrytook in an estimated $34.8 million at the weekend.
