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.

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.

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EDIT: Screencaps have been added to the gallery.

We sit down with star Saoirse Ronan as she talks about her new thriller “Hanna”.

[...] And it will sound pretty good too – note that the UK dubbed version will feature a different (and indeed, preferable) voice cast to the US iteration. We in blighty will get Saoirse Ronan, Olivia Colman, Mark Strong and Phyllida Law.

Anyway, a good cast. The US get Bridgit Mendler, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett – none of whom exactly seem to match the setting or tone so well. Score one to Optimum, the UK distributors.

Having said all of that, I’ll still opt for a subtitled version, personally.

The film will go on release on July 29th, though Picture House Cinemas will be screening it as their Kid’s Club in the 23rd. Adults will need to have a kid with them, but there’s a lot of Little Bleeders with families, I know.

Let’s score Optimum another point for getting the film out this year. US audiences will be waiting until February 2012. If I were in the States I’d start shopping for a multi-region Blu-ray player now.
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