WHAT'S AN 'IRISH MOVIE'?

The debate continues about this. What exactly is an Irish movie? There are various kinds of feature films that are considered 'Irish'.

Made in Ireland
Most Irish movies are made in Ireland! Yet many non-Irish movies are made here too. Even a Bollywood movie was made in this country yet no-one considers it Irish. Educating Rita is not considered an Irish movie even though it was filmed in Dublin.
The Commitments is considered an Irish movie even though its video case has a 'Best of British cinema' sticker! Botched is a horror movie set in Russia but was made in Ireland so is considered Irish.

Directed by an Irish person
Most Irish movies are made by Irish directors yet some of the best Irish films were not e.g. The Wind that Shakes the Barley. This is an Irish film because its director said so! Also, many films directed by Irish people in other countries are not considered Irish e.g. East is East. Short Order is a continental arthouse movie directed by an Irish person so is considered Irish.

Funded by the Irish Film Board
Probably all films funded by the IFB are considered Irish yet they also fund British films such as Cracks, and Becoming Jane.

Are Irish themed!
Most Irish-themed films are considered Irish yet a lot of Hollywood stuff is not considered Irish e.g. Irish Jam and P.S. I love you.

Are in the Irish language!
All Irish-language films e.g. Kings are considered Irish.

Shoot the Cabbage reviews and discusses all films that are considered Irish even if their true Irishness is open to question! The main problem is that a lot of movies considered Irish just are not. A good example is In Bruges. Just because the two leads were from Dublin and the director has Irish parents does not make it an Irish film. However that movie got promoted as Irish and it did well at the box office. It's 'Irishness' was used to get bums here on the seats. One film that is considered Irish even though it was directed by an Asian director is Quackser Fortune has a cousin in the Bronx. There was no Film Board back in 1970 yet this movie is considered Irish. Pity it's little known here.