Creating a New Vision: An Interview with New York Irish Center Executive Director George C. Heslin
George C. Heslin is the Executive Director of the New York Irish Center. Prior to his appointment in 2020, Heslin was founding Artistic Director of Origin Theatre Company for nineteen years, founding Origin’s 1st Irish Festival in 2008. He also worked with twenty-eight European Union member consulates across New York City to establish New York’s European Month of Culture. Most recently, Heslin partnered with TG4 to bring America’s first Irish language film festival, Fís Nua | New Vision, to life.
Fís Nua | New Vision is produced in partnership with premier Irish language broadcaster TG4, and aims to deepen existing creative exchange between Irish and American filmmaking communities and bring content as Gaeilge to a global audience. The festival runs from February 19th-21st at the New York Irish Center. Festival passes are $40 and individual screenings are $15.
Some questions and responses have been edited for length and clarity.
An Saoránach: How long has Fís Nua been in development?
Heslin: Fís Nua | New Vision, America’s first Irish language film festival has been in development for 2 years. During that time we had many discussions with TG4 in terms of the structure, ambition and the need for such a festival in America. We have been working closes with Proinsias Ní Ghrainne, Commissioning Editor at TG4, who has been exceptional to work alongside.
AS: When did New York Irish Center (NYIC) first start planning this event?
Heslin: The programmatic planning for this year’s festival began about a year ago under the guidance of our Director of Arts & Culture, Stephen Long.
AS: Is there a lot of interest in the Irish language from the NYIC community?
Heslin: At this time we are seeing a major resurgence of the Irish language across NY with demand for classes increasing, led by our teacher Caoimhe Nic Giollarnáith. We also recently launched a program in Sean Nos singing with teacher Madeline Monaghan which sold out within days. Our quarterly pop-up-gaelteacht in partnership with Gaeltacht NYC and John Howley is a resounding success.
AS: How does NYIC serve/support Irish language speakers throughout the year?
Heslin: We have many classes in Irish language, both entry level and advanced all year long, as well as our beloved pop-up-gaelteacht.
AS: How did you program the festival and select which films would be shown?
Heslin: It was important for the team at New York Irish Center that the festival be inclusive to all ages and film genre. This year we are screening features, documentaries, shorts and an animation children’s program from the Oscar nominated Cartoon Saloon, and TG4.
One film, An Chathair Mhór, is set in Woodlawn & filmed with mostly local Irish actors.
AS: Are you expecting a large turnout for this screening?
Heslin: Yes, we are expecting a great turn out for all the festival, as so many of the screenings are American premiers. It is important that the festival celebrates local and international film makers.
AS: Does NYIC have a lot of engagement from Bronx-based Irish neighborhoods and communities?
Heslin: Our programs take place at our LIC location at New York Irish Center, 7 Minutes on the 7, One stop from Grand Central Station. We welcome audiences from near and far. We have hosted many Bronx musicians and writers during our 21 year history.
AS: What was it like to work with TG4 on the festival?
Heslin: It was truly inspiring to work with the team there. They have offered us access to so much of their work form the last 30 years. Proinsias Ní Ghrainne, Commissioning Editor, has a profound knowledge of the work produced by TG4 in their thirty-year history and she has been exceptional to get to know and work with.
AS: What do you hope the future of the festival looks like?
Heslin: Having set up Origin 1st Irish Festival, New York’s annual festival of Irish theatre, in 2008 (which has to date launched the work of 300 playwrights in America), I have a deep knowledge of festival growth, marketing needs and building audiences that such an event requires. The future of the festival will bring the newest work from Ireland and provide a platform for new voices while also exploring the illustrious archives from TG4.
AS: Do you have a dream director or actor that you’d like to work with or screen their film?
Heslin: The beauty of film making in the Irish language, as we saw with Kneecap, is that the process includes a hybrid of English and Irish in most cases.
We look forward to welcoming all actors and creators as we offer them exposure to US audiences that will hopefully help all their careers stateside.
We hope festival attendees find a New Vision (Fís Nua) of Ireland through this stunning language and magnificent cinema experiences.