IFTN shines the spotlight on three short film-related stories, from Kerry Film Festival honouring the story of an Afghan family in Dublin to a call for Irish-language shorts and Irish-made shorts by Dingle and Belfast respectively.
‘Alia’ Wins Best Irish Narrative at Kerry Film Festival
Short film ‘Alia’, director Claire Nix’s tale of an Afghan family living in inner city Dublin, was awarded Best Irish Narrative at the closing ceremony of the Kerry Film Festival.
Funded by the Irish Film Board under its Signatures scheme, the film was produced by Nodlag Houlihan for Zucca Films and features actors Barya Shafaq, Nayef Rashed and Jumaan Short.
Director Lenny Abrahamson (What Richard Did) was the adjudicator for the prize, with other winners on the night including Anna Rodgers’ Novena (Best Documentary); Maurice O’Carroll’s ‘Windows of Wonder’ (Audience Award); ‘Mr Hublot’ (Best Animation); and Irish French co-production ‘Un Peu Plus’ (Best International Narrative).
The Maureen O’ Hara award, for women who have excelled in film, was given to Irish costume designer Consolata Boyle.
Dingle International Film Festival Offers €5,000 Prize for Irish Language Shorts
The Dingle International Film Festival has announced the return of its ‘Físín’ scheme, under which filmmakers can submit a short film proposal in the Irish language with the chance of winning €5,000 in funding.
This year’s winner was Denis Buckley’s ‘Táimse im Chodladh’, which will premiere at next year’s festival in March.
In addition to a cash prize of €5,000, winners will receive €2,000 worth of film equipment hire from Vast Valley Ltd - suppliers of cameras, lenses, accessories and grip equipment.
The competition is open to everyone from Transition year students to professional filmmakers, with the closing date for entries Friday 10th January 2014.
Application details are available here
or by emailing fisin@dinglefilmfestival.com or contacting Brenda Shúilleabháin on (066) 9152665.
Belfast Film Festival Accepting Short Film Entries
Short Film Co-ordinator Andrew Clark, Belfast Film Festival, is calling for submissions of shorts under 20 mins in length, which were completed between 1st March 2013 and 1st March 2014, and filmed in Ireland.
The closing date for submissions is 16th December and DVD screeners of submissions must be posted to: Belfast Film Festival, Short Film Competition, 3rd Floor 23 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2FF.
Successful applicants will be notified by 7th February 2014 and must deliver their screen-ready films to the festival office no later than Friday 8th March.
A submission fee payable of £10/€15 must be paid by 16th December, either by cash, cheque (including the film’s name on the back) or by requesting online BACS details from andrew@belfastfilmfestival.org
The link for the submission form is available here
and further information on the Belfast Film Festival can be found here.
