St Mary's Academic to Speak at Film Masterclass

Head of the School of Arts and Humanities at St Mary’s University, Twickenham Prof Lance Pettitt has been invited by Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the National Film Institute in Norway to speak at a film masterclass in Oslo as part of a two day event celebrating the work of award-winning director Thaddeus O’Sullivan. The masterclass for Norwegian film students will feature O’Sullivan discussing his work in person and Prof Pettitt giving a presentation on the Irish director’s early experimental work, much of it shot in London. The public programme at the Cinemateket offers screenings to accompany more recent films by O’Sullivan. Prof Pettit has published a coedited book The Woman Who Married Clark Gable (2013) and curated a DVD collaboration with the Irish Film Institute (2014). Prof Pettitt said, “I’m delighted that the Irish Embassy has supported this event to have O’Sullivan’s film work recognised in Norway. As well as coproducing here, films like December Bride have a Scandinavian influence in their cinematography”. The main screenings are: The Woman Who Married Clark Gable (1986), and Stella Days (2008) the latter of which was co-produced in Norway and will be introduced by O’Sullivan and members of its Norwegian production team. For further information about the event please see the Irish Embassy in Norway’s website.