IFI programmer Pete Walsh passes away

Programmer Pete Walsh has died, the Irish Film Institute announced today.

Pete Walsh joined the Irish Film Institute not long after it first opened in 1992; he began his career as the cinema manager, and was the main programmer of the IFI for 18 years.

Ross Keane – director of the IFI – paid tribute to Pete Walsh on Friday; “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Pete for almost five years, but many people at the IFI and elsewhere have known and worked alongside him for a lot longer. His absolute dedication to film and the IFI was unquestionable. He ate and drank film and had an unwavering appetite for more. He was a familiar sight to visitors to the IFI, always around and checking in on things to ensure everything was living up to his very high expectations”.

Keane went on to say “It’s hard to put into words how central Pete has been to the IFI and how much he will be missed”.

All of us at Movies.ie thank Pete Walsh for his hard work and dedication to film, and extend our condolences to his friends and family.