July 8

Four of Gabriel Byrne’s films will be screened at the festival: Miller’s Crossing, Jindabyne, and Louder Than Bombs, with The Usual Suspects being showcased on the night of the award ceremony for Gabriel’s Mid-Life Achievement Award, on July 15.

And there is news of a party!

On Friday, July 15, at 9:00 pm, after the presentation of the award:

Join us as in celebrating MIFF 2016 Mid-Life Achievement Award honoree Gabriel Byrne. Light appetizers, cash bar. Amici’s Cucina, 147 Main Street

Now we all wish we lived in Maine, yes?

The Bangor Daily News has an informative article on the festival, by Joel Crabtree:

Why the unknown is my favorite part of this Maine film fest

Every year, the Maine International Film Festival brings together film connoisseurs, screening movies from far and wide (and local, of course) while presenting opportunities to engage with filmmakers, screenwriters and actors in a way that isn’t necessarily possible for the other 355 days of the year.

This year, for example, the festival will bring renowned Irish actor Gabriel Byrne (“The Usual Suspects,” “Miller’s Crossing,” “Stigmata”) to Waterville, as well as Academy Award-winning writer-director Robert Benton. The breadth of talent honored at MIFF year after year speaks to the quality of the festival, character of those who put it together and, ultimately, the dedication of the festival-goers who keep it alive.

I would be lying if I didn’t say I will be a little bit starstruck to see and hear Byrne speak after a screening of 1995’s “The Usual Suspects,” or Benton field questions about “Kramer vs. Kramer” or “Bonnie and Clyde.” It’s no exaggeration when I say, for many Mainers (myself included), those moments may very well be once-in-a-lifetime connections with professionals who have performed at a ridiculously high level in the medium in which we’ve all fallen in love. Those moments undoubtedly will stay with festival-goers for the rest of their lives, though there’s another allure to MIFF, or any film festival for that matter, that I simply refer to as “Navigating the Unknown.”

Be sure to read the rest of the article! I like his Top 5 Picks and anyone who is starstruck around Mr. Byrne is automatically a friend of mine. wink

June 18

The Maine International Film Festival (MIFF) has announced the 2016 honoree for its Mid Life Achievement Award: Gabriel Byrne.

The Maine International Film Festival (MIFF) will present its annual Mid-Life Achievement Award to actor Gabriel Byrne at a special ceremony held at the Waterville Opera House on the evening of July 15. Most recently, Byrne was nominated for a 2016 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in the Broadway production of Long Day’s Journey Into Night.

“We are thrilled to honor Gabriel Byrne with the 2016 Mid-Life Achievement Award,” said MIFF programming director Ken Eisen. “Gabriel is a truly brilliant actor with a career that spans over four decades and includes over 100 film, stage, and TV credits. We can’t wait to welcome him to MIFF…”

The award presentation will be held after a screening of The Usual Suspects, a neo-noir mystery crime thriller directed by Byran Singer and written by Christopher McQuarrie, on Friday, July 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Waterville Opera House. Tickets are $14 and are now available online. The film centers on five criminals (played by Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Spacey, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollak, and Stephen Baldwin) who meet in a police lineup and decide to pull off a heist together. Byrne will be in Waterville July 14 and 15 with screenings of Miller’s Crossing, Jindabyne, and Louder Than Bombs. 

The festival’s website is being updated with 2016 Festival information, so be sure to visit the site later this month for more information. Gabriel Byrne is confirmed to attend, as is director Robert Benson, also an honoree at this year’s festival.

Congratulations to Mr. Byrne on this well-deserved award!

maine-international-film-festival-2016-logo-01

Part of the MIFF 2016 logo–I love it! smile

3 Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing this great news.
    It is very well deserved.
    Gabriel Byrne has done incredible much great work in his life.

    Congratulations to our favorite actor and Irishman!

    Nora from Norway

  2. Congratulations to Gabriel Byrne! I’ve seen all the films being screened and they are some of his finest.

    Angelle

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