Rivalry City the hockey documentary based on the on ice feud between the FDNY v NYPD hockey teams in New York City will open the 20th Craic Fest – a two-week festival that runs from March 3 to March 10.
Rivalry City, shot over the past few years on and off the ice, tells the powerful story of the on ice feud between the FDNY and NYPD hockey teams and tells of 9/11 related illnesses and how these tough hockey players battle that off the ice as well.
Festival Director Terence Mulligan noted: “My brother is retired firemen and I grew up going to this game at MSG back in the 80’s it really is an intense Rivalry.
“The energy is off the charts when you enter the rink that night. Both teams lay it all on the line. I have friends on both sides as I played hockey with guys on both teams!”
The director Matt Benoliel will attend the film and Q&A after the screening.
CraicFest 20 officially kicks off on March 3 with the Craic Music Festival at Mercury Lounge with Irish headliner Colin Devlin (who has a new album coming out in March).
Count Vaseline is also performing as well as singer songwriter Natalie Clarke.
The rest of the Craic Film Fest is an impressive lineup of award winning films.
The Friday night Gala on March 9 is the New York premier of George Best Himself (a documentary on the legendary Irish soccer star).
The popular Kids Fleadh will be held on Saturday March 10 from 11:30 am to 1 pm.
The Craic rolls on later that day with a music documentary on the Folk band Kila.
Closing the day they are presenting a stellar lineup of Indie films including Stalker (starring rising Irish actor Barry Koeghan from Dunkirk) and the New York premier of Cardboard Gangsters (starring Love/Hate actor John Connors).
The closing gala features the New York premier of Apollo House (a documentary on the homeless in Dublin with Irish music stars Hozier and Glen Hansard) ,produced and starring Oscar nominated director Jim Sheridan (In America). Jim will be attending the Q&A.
The Craic Fest is the premier festival in the U.S. to introduce new Irish Cinema as well as the new generation of Irish bands and filmmakers to the US public.
A filmmaker lounge is set up all three days of the film fest at Cinepolis theater.
For more information, visit their web site at thecraicfest.com.