GREENWICH VILLAGE — Fans of Irish films are in luck.
A new festival of movies from the Emerald Isle is scheduled to begin with a bang on Friday, with the New York premiere of a documentary about the secretive world of bare-knuckle boxing.
The Sundance Film Festival hit "Knuckle," which is being developed into an HBO series, is one of six films to be shown in a contemporary Irish film series at NYU's Cantor Film Center Friday through Sunday.
Irish Film New York seeks to give viewers a taste of the best in contemporary Irish cinema, spokesman John Lee said.
"I think people know Irish music, dance and literature but they may not be familiar with the country's lively and healthy film scene," he said.
"This is great way for people to get a quick sample of the best of Irish cinema in one weekend."
The festival's six films — three of which will be making their New York debuts — are a combination of comedies, dramas and documentaries.
The film "32A," starring Aidan Quinn, is a coming-of-age story about a 13-year-old girl who no one expects to win over the local heartthrob.
In "The Runaway," a young boy rallies residents in Cork to help a South American pilot who crashes his plane get back home.
"Parked" is about a man living in his car in a parking lot whose luck suddenly changes.
The festival, which was created by several Irish cultural organizations, kicks off Friday at 8 p.m. at NYU's Cantor Film Center at 36 E. 8th St. Several actors and directors will answer questions about their films.
Tickets cost from $10 to $12. A full schedule is available on the festival's website.
