With every batch of new film students released each year there is feverish potential for Irish films brand new day to dawn. The Darklight Digital Film Festival has become an exciting place to test these rapid waters. Gary Quinn caught up with some of this years graduates-in-waiting, and looks at some of the other highlights coming our way at Darklight 2000.
When screen one of the IFC lights up on Thursday May 25th it will be, at least marginally, to expose a theatre full of blinking eyes to this years newest talent. More by determination than design, the majority are Irish and with digital taking hold of the classrooms of most of our educational institutions it's no surprise that almost all of the countries multi-media boiler rooms have made the grade. Balancing narrative led short-drama against animation and art was no easy task but the Digital Darklight are more than happy with the result. The Exposure screening was designed to harness the energy of student work and to aim it at a popular market. Whether it is the future of Irish cinema will be decided by the audience and the filmmakers themselves but one thing is sure says Darklight's Rachael O'Conner, "it's about what's happening right now."
The House on Dame Street is one piece that this writer can honestly, hand on heart, say he loved. All 4 ½ minutes of it. A gothic animation set under an imposing clock towered building on Dame street its main character is primed to investigate the strange disappearance of all those who have gone before him. A man who clearly loves his credits, Ruairi Robinson wrote, produced and directed the piece which is loosely based on the character of Charles Dexter Ward by HP Lovecraft. Costing a total of £50 to make it was rendered on 3d Studio Max as his degree project for NCAD. Four days late for last years Darklight festival he is glad to see it make the cut this year even though it was shown at last years Galway Film Fleadh. "Darklight is something that should be happening here, its great that someone had the foresight to get it off the ground and its really important for students," he said. Now working in the animation studio Imagenow he is on his way to his dream job but not quite there yet. A sure favourite, The House on Dame Street is thoughtfully being kept to the end of the collection by the Darklight programmers. Check out Ruari Robinsons site at www.3dluvr.com/ruairi
Brendan Muldowney is a student at Dun Laoghaire College of Art, Design and Film. Currently directing his final year graduation piece, his Darklight entry - an eleven-minute live action short entitled The Message - is sure to be a clear favourite at Darklight. One of the few projects with true 'star-attraction' it features Don Baker in the lead role of a foul mouthed futuristic Pope obliged to face up to the responsibilities of his lofty position. Shot on DV and finished on Beta it was edited on the Avid system. It had started life as a practical studio piece in class. "Its terrific to have the chance to show your work at Darklight. Normally your work ends up under the bed or being shown to your granny," he explains laughing. "We really enjoyed working on this and are looking forward to the screening."
In a world of experimental camera lenses and twisted camera angles John Kelly Tells All is the most traditionally narrative led piece I viewed - and it works. Shot on DV and transferred to 16 mm Superscan by Colour film services in London it was written, produced and directed by Michael Carolan. It tells a sorry tale of unrequited love on a Dublin beach and features original music by Finbar Clancy and Sean McLeod. Edited on Lightworks at Filmbase it stars John O'Lohan and Geraldine Maguire.
Other highlights worth queuing for include Irish artist and filmmaker Paul Rowley's collaboration with American Mimi Brody. Curating a section entitled The Watchful Eye it includes work from Ireland, the US, Lebanon and Australia and brings together a collection of short tapes focussing on themes of surveillance and voyeurism. With Rowley's work currently on show in the Museum of Modern Art, Kilmainham and featuring in the finalists of this years Glen Dimplex Awards the Watchful Eye is sure to offer more than a few surprises. (Saturday 27 May).
DV documentaries is a 6- piece collection of short documentaries which charts the DV view of subjects as diverse as Paul Duane's (Loopline) 10-minute portrait of author Pat McCabe to Adam Green's 7-minute, Datsincredible….the Datsun Story. It also features New York Subway story Negative Force, Witchcraft and Idolatory by James Sommerville and the 4-minute White Lightning - The Jesco White Murders, which has possibly invited unfortunate comparisons to the Blair Witch. Finishing with the 26-minute Jolie Guy production Jane from the US and the 30-minute Autonomy by Jim Davis, the afternoon of Sunday 28th is already full. Put it in your diary now.
With other sections of Darklight 2000 showing music videos, the hugely popular gaming sequences, pure artwork and installation there is an excited buzz gathering around the IFC. The full programme will be available soon. Check it out at www.darklight-filmfestival.com
The Darklight Film Festival opens on Thursday 25th and runs through Sunday 28th. Based full-time in the IFC it contains an eclectic mix of screenings, seminars and workshops. The student exposure section, showing on the evening of Friday 26th May, contains a total of 18 live shorts and animations from Ireland, the US, UK and Germany.
For details of film and animation courses available in Ireland check out the IFTN directory and Handbook.
