We’re big fans of the Irish Film Institute (IFI) here at MummyPages. Our kids love a trip to the movies and whenever we can, we’ll take them to the IFI for something a little different than what you get at a typical cinema.
There are always interesting, out-of-the-ordinary films on show and even some wonderful workshops and projects for the kids. Recently we dropped in on the IFI Family Festival where they were showing independent children’s movies from around the world that our kids absolutely loved, like The Outlaw League and The Legend of Longwood. There were also a number of workshops on during the festival including a workshop where kids could learn how to storyboard, script, film, edit and produce a trailer for their imaginary film.
And it’s not just people who live in Dublin that can enjoy the IFI Family Festival. The festival is hitting the road from Friday 24th July in conjunction with Access Cinema. They will be bringing some of the highlights of the festival, including 3 movies and a filmmaking workshop, to Dunamaise Arts Centre in Portlaoise, The Model in Sligo and Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge. For all details, how to book and tour dates, visit the IFI website.
There is an IFI Family film every month (generally the last Sunday of the month at 11am), along with occasional special events for families. Oh and if your kids are a little bit older, the IFI Explorers film club for those aged 15-18, offers cinema tickets for just €3.
Next on our must-see list is Oscar-nominated Irish movie, Song of the Sea, about Ben who sets off on an adventure to reunite his unusual little sister with the sea that loves so much, facing mythical demons along the way. This movie has received so much critical praise and we can’t wait to show our little ones just how much talent there is in the Irish film industry.
A trip to the IFI is not just another cinema outing. The institute shows a number of Irish films that otherwise wouldn’t have received a theatrical release, as well many international films that we wouldn’t have been able to see in Ireland. Buying a ticket to a show here benefits small filmmakers around the world and it’s also a great way to educate your child, be it through exploring a culture they haven’t experienced before or even improving their literacy through reading subtitles.
The other thing we really like about the IFI is the lovely café bar situated in this beautiful Temple Bar building. As well as nice food for the grown-ups, it also has a special menu just for kids, which means you can treat the family to a healthy lunch or dinner they’ll love along with a trip to the cinema.
