Chair of the Irish Film Board Bill O’ Herlihy was in Dublin’s Temple Bar last night to launch the official programme for Offaly’s fourth annual OFFline Film Festival.
The festival, which runs from the 9th-13th of October, sees locals and visitors alike turn out to attend screenings in various venues across the town of Birr, custom-fitted for that exact purpose. Festival director Gary Hoctor tips the “unique experience” of Drive-In cinema as this year’s highlight, and is confident that screenings of audience favourites such as ‘Grease’ and ‘The Princess Bride’ will draw the crowds.
The festival also features screenings of various original films followed by Q&A sessions with filmmakers, from Keith Walsh’s ‘Apples of Golan’ (co-directed by Jill Beardsworth) to Marieke Schellart’s ‘Eggs For Later’ and director Johnny Gogan’s adrenaline rush ‘Black Ice’, presented at this year’s festival by producer Nicky Gogan. Gogan will also act as one of the judges for OFFline’s Short Filmmaking Competition, which challenges entrants to shoot and cut a complete short in just 72 hours, with guaranteed prizes worth up to €5,000 as well as coveted screening slots at the Galway Film Fleadh and Washington’s Capital Irish Film Festival in 2014.
Among other notable events running at this year’s festival is the newly-established Shorts Audience Award which has seen over 200 international entries, as well as an industry masterclass in Make-Up and Prosthetics for Film under Julie-Ann Ryan, fresh from the set of HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’.
Festival Chairperson and TD Marcella Corcoran Kennedy has highlighted OFFline’s crucial role in the local economy the generous support received from The Arts Council, Offaly County Council and numerous other sponsors.
For a full programme and booking details see www.OfflineFilmFestival.com or call the festival information line on 0852389416
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