ICELAND’S ECONOMY imploded in 2008 devastating the nation, but through courage, unorthodox ingenuity, and zero tolerance for politicians’ excuses, the nation is getting back on its feet.
The contrast with Ireland is stark. Iceland’s parliament indicted the prime minister for his failings over the economy; the nation did not end up having to receive a bailout from the ECB-IMF; and, importantly, the Iceland handled its banking sector more level headedly.
Ireland has much to learn from how Iceland - like ourselves, an island nation with a small population on the edge of Europe - handled its crisis, and a way to absorb and enjoy those lessons is through Northern Lights at the Galway Film Fleadh.
Northern Lights will see the screening of Icelandic films, including Gnarr and Dreamland, and a public discussion.
Gnarr looks at how an unorthodox political party, The Best Party, was formed in relation to the Icelandic economic crisis and how it changed the face of the nation’s politics.
Started as a joke by Icelandic comedian Jon Gnarr. The party promised a drug free and incorruptible parliament by the year 2010 and would not talk to any of the parties unless they had seen the entire five seasons of The Wire. By election day, something incredible was about to happen as the people of Iceland suddenly liked what The Best Party was saying and stood for. See it today at 2pm in the Town Hall Theatre.
The film will be followed by a panel discussion entitled A creative response to crisis/kreppa – how to be a catalyst in exceptional times?
Speakers include Heida Helgadottir, CEO The Best Party; Noeline Kavanagh, Macnas; Sigvaldi J Kárason, roducer of Gnarr; Gaukur Úlfarsson, director of Gnarr; Davie Philips, Cultivate Ireland and Global Green-Electric Picnic; and Mari Kennedy and Kathy Scott of the ireland:iceland project. The talk will be chaired by Lelia Doolan.
Dreamland, to be screened tomorrow at 2.15pm in the Omniplex, asks the question: How much unspoiled nature should we preserve and what do we sacrifice for clean, renewable energy?
For tickets contact 091 - 569777 or www.tht.ie See also www.galwayfilmfleadh.com
