Via Zoom: Mike Houlihan for Irish Movie Hooley, Sep. 24-26, 2021

Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 23, 2021 - 11:25pm

CHICAGO – It twill be a touch of the Irish in Chicago’s Loop this weekend, as the Gene Siskel Film Center on State Street screens the Irish American Movie Hooley, produced by Hibernian Media Chairman Mike Houlihan. The three day fest … September 24th-26th, 2021 … welcomes three Irish based and influenced films.

The Hooley will open on September 24th with the World Premiere of Mike Houlihan’s charming personal documentary “In Search of Weeping Jim” (8pm), about the late Chicago Alderman James Ambrose Kearns, who was the “father of the Chicago flag.” On September 25th, the Hooley will present the Chicago premiere of “A Bend in the River” (8pm) by filmmaker Colin Broderick. It’s the story of a writer who returns to Ireland, after spending twenty-five years in New York, to confront the ghosts of his past.

Producer Mike Houlihan (inset) of the Irish American Movie Hooley
Photo credit: MikeHoulihan.com

On September 26th, the Hooley screens the American premiere of “Endless Sunshine on a Cloudy Day” (5pm). John Connors directs this sensitive and empathetic documentary that follows the journey of Jade McCann – popular on Instagram – and her father Anthony. For details and ticket info click the link below.

The Founder and the Producer of festival is Mike Houlihan, who is a fixture in the Chicago entertainment scene as an actor, stand-up comedian, radio personality and filmmaker. In the 1990s, he did a one man show called “Goin’ East on Ashland” that ran for six years, and had a world premiere in 2000 with his play “Mickey Finn” at Chicago’s Royal George Theatre. In 2009, he wrote and was featured in the film “Tapioca.” and released a documentary in 2013 entitled “Our Irish Cousins.” His documentary “In Search of Weeping Jim” opens the Movie Hooley.

In an interview Via Zoom with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Mike Houlihan talks about the Irish American Movie Hooley …

The Gene Siskel Film Center and Hibernian Transmedia presents the Irish American Movie Hooley 2021, taking place from Friday, September 24th, through Sunday, September 26th at the Film Center, 164 North State in Chicago. For more on the Hooley and the Gene Siskel Film Center, click SiskelFilmCenter.org