Neasa Ní Chianáin’s new documentary ‘The Stranger’ – concerning an English artist who lived for years as a hermit in a cave on the island of Inisbofin - has been chosen to screen at the prestigious Rough Cut Lab of the Visions Du Réel event in Nyon, Switzerland.
Perhaps best known for her controversial 2008 documentary ‘Fairytale of Kathmandu’, Ms Ní Chianáin uses reconstructions, animation and archive material for her latest feature - including diaries and notebooks found on the island after the artist died.
The Swiss selection grants Ms Ní Chianáin and editor Mirjam Strugalla the opportunity to screen their rough cut in front of a panel of filmmakers, producers, distributors and sales agents – for a discussion on how best to finalise it and target the international market.
‘I hope the Visions Du Réel Rough Cut Lab will give me the opportunity to focus closely on the narrative structure and make sure that the storytelling is really working, and also that the training will help me to develop new skills in how to shape my films for the widest possible international audiences,’ said Ms Ní Chianáin.
Winner of Best Feature Documentary at the Celtic Film Festival 2004 for 'Frank Ned & Busy Lizzie', Ms Ní Chianáin is also the co-founder and co-director of the Guth Gafa International Documentary Festival, which is set to take place from 16-19 May in Malin village, Donegal.
‘The Stranger’ is due to be completed in June and is funded by the Irish Film Board and RTE - with development funding by the EU Media programme and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
A Soilsiú Films production, it will be submitted to film festivals in the coming months and broadcast on RTE later this year.
