Screenwriter and playwright Eugene O’Brien officially unveiled the programme for the 2015 OFFline Film Festival in Birr this week.
This year’s Festival runs from Wednesday October 7th- Sunday October 11th in Birr and the surrounding region.
The ‘Pure Mule’ 10th Anniversary Night is one of the many highlights of five days of film. The acclaimed RTÉ drama, written by Edenderry native O’Brien, was filmed in Offaly a decade ago. Clara native Declan Recks, who directed the series, will join Eugene for the anniversary celebrations at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre on Friday 9th October. Recks has recently worked on ‘The Truth Commissioner’ which shot in Belfast and Dublin earlier this year and is currently in post-production.
Speaking at the OFFline launch O’Brien said: “It’s hard to believe it’s already been 10 years and it’s good to know people are still interested in the show. At the time, Irish audiences hadn’t seen a show like that, a story set primarily in the Midlands, but the characters just clicked with people. We’re delighted that OFFline has decided to celebrate the series in this way, the Festival has really gained momentum in recent years.”
The 57 Hour Filmmaking Challenge also returns to this year’s OFFline Festival. This year, Irish and International filmmaking teams will descend on Birr to make their short films in a little over two days, with the winner guaranteed a spot at the 2016 Galway Film Fleadh which is an Oscar qualifying festival.
Festival Director Gary Hoctor said: “We are delighted that OFFline continues to go from strength to strength. We’ve received over 600 short film submissions from 55 different countries, that’s even more than last year. With every Festival we face new challenges, but each year, OFFline brings fresh interest to filmmaking in the region. We are thrilled to be hosting the Pure Mule 10th Anniversary Night. The success of the show not only put the Faithful County on the filmmaking map, but also inspired the foundation of our regional Film Commission.”
OFFline 2015 will also play host to many film screenings and workshops; the programme can be accessed at www.offlinefilmfestival.com.
