Saoirse's time-travel plea to preserve films
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ACTRESS Saoirse Ronan has been transported back in time to appear in some of the best-loved Irish films from down the years.
The time travel -- with the help of some digital special effects -- was done to promote the Irish Film Institute Archive Preservation Fund yesterday.
The fund was set up to raise €300,000 to ensure the storage and preservation of historically important Irish films.
Powerful
As part of the launch, Saoirse starred in a promotional video that sees her digitally placed in some of the best-loved film moments, including scenes from 'Once' and 'My Left Foot'.
The Carlow actress also appears in documentary footage such as the arrival of JFK at Dublin Airport and the GAA All-Ireland finals.
"The written word can be powerful and beautiful -- but films transport us to another place in a way that even the most evocative words never can," she said.
"If we lose our films we lose that other place forever. The IFI Irish Film Archive urgently needs your support to save and preserve our film heritage."
The IFI stores 27,000 cans of film and 10,000 broadcast tapes in climate-controlled surroundings.
The collection represents every decade since the first Irish cinema opened in 1909, with the oldest feature film preserved being 'Lad from Old Ireland' dating from 1910.
However, the space in the IFI stores has reached capacity and the institute needs to raise €300,000 to build an Irish Film Archives Preservation and Research Centre to protect film collections at risk of deterioration if not stored properly.
Donations will be accepted through www.ifi.ie or in person at the IFI in Temple Bar, Dublin.
- Fiona Ellis
Irish Independent
