Celtic Utopia Útóipe Cheilteach
Synopsis
“The winners write the history; the losers write the songs,” so says Branwen, one of a new wave of Irish musicians featured in this loose and likeable tapestry of Ireland’s contemporary folk music scene. Funny, talented, and politically outspoken, these rebel artists are redefining Ireland’s traditional folk music, acknowledging the country’s colonial past and its painful legacy, while looking toward a better future—if not a utopia, at least an improvement on what came before.
Unfolding like a musical jam session, we meet and listen to a wide array of musicians—young, old, white, Black, guitarists, and rappers—offering up alternative folk songs that evoke the past, yet, as one cheeky bandmate says, are played “to scare priests and politicians.” The film also contrasts their present with evocative archival footage of Ireland’s recent history depicting its deeply conservative roots. With a form as irreverent as its subjects, Celtic Utopia is a wry and raw celebration of Irish culture, language, and yes, its fighting spirit.
Screenings & Events
Screening
Tue, Oct 21 @ 8:15pm
at AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 01
Venue information...
Directors Dennis Harvey & Lars Lovén and produer Elin Lilleman Eriksson
Screening
Wed, Oct 22 @ 3:00pm
at AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 01
Venue information...
Directors Dennis Harvey & Lars Lovén and produer Elin Lilleman Eriksson
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Media
Film Credits
- Elin Lilleman Eriksson
- Dennis Harvey, Lars Lovén
- Dominika Daubenbüchel
- Tuva Björk, Jamie Goldrick
- The Mary Wallopers, Negro Impacto, The Deadlians, Jinx Lennon, Poor Creature, Branwen, Lankum, Naoise Mac Cathmhaoil, Rising Damp, Young Spencer, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Róis, Post Punk Podge, Susan Hughes, Tadhg Mulligan, Alfie Mulligan, Múlú, Niamh Moriarty, Cathail O'Mhaoil, Summer Newman, Eimear Níc Ionnrachtaigh, Eoghan Ó Garmaile
- MDEMC, Sveriges Television (SVT)
Sponsors
Program Partner
Program Patron
Cynthia Stone Raskin
With support from
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Synopsis
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Screenings & Events
Screening
Tue, Oct 21 @ 7:45pm
at AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 13
Venue information...
Director Shahram Mokri & writer Nasim Ahmadpour
Screening
Thu, Oct 23 @ 8:15pm
at AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06
Venue information...
Director Shahram Mokri & writer Nasim Ahmadpour
Standby Only? Learn when new tickets get released by signing up for our ticket availability email list!
Media
Film Credits
- Negar Eskandarfar
- Nasim Ahmadpour, Shahram Mokri
- Shahram Mokri
- Morteza Gheidi
- Babak Karimi, Hasti Mohammaï, Kibriyo Dilyobova, Bezhan Davlyatov
- Peyman Yazdanian
- Masoud Daliri
- Karnameh Dubai Co.
- https://www.dreamlabfilms.com/
Sponsors
Program Patron
John and Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Foundation
212 W Van Buren St., Suite 400
