Running from 13th -16th November in Galway city and county, Generation Fleadh, formerly Junior Film Fleadh, will promote film culture through film screenings with German, Spanish, French and Irish language films alongside short films made by young people for young people.
Generation Fleadh will host the Irish premieres of feature films that have recently premiered at Cannes, Tribeca, Berlin and Venice. Screening the best in new international films for young people aged 12-24 years with afternoon and evening screenings, the festival provides a platform for them to meet like-minded people, celebrating film culture in Galway.
The Irish premiere of Tribeca favourite, Dead Girls Dancing presents a German coming of age story of a road trip that turns into a nightmare as they navigate life after school, cast member Luna Jordan will attend. Sonne Und Beton, following the harsh realities of life in a Berlin suburb, will have its Irish premiere at the festival.
Fresh from international success at Cannes is the Irish premiere of Zihan Geng's first feature film, A Song Sung Blue/Xiao Bai Chuan. The film follows 15-year-old Liu Xian having a summer of new experiences when her mother leaves her with her father for the summer holidays.
Closing Generation Fleadh is the Irish premiere of Gasoline Rainbow from the Ross Brothers, following five young people on a road trip, looking for a party at the end of the world, described by ScreenDaily as “… a vivid travelogue whose freewheeling spirit emulates the film’s improvisational making”.
Other Irish premieres include, First Snow Of Summer, a bittersweet romance that premiered at Göteborg, Spanish language film A School in Cerro Heuso tells the story of Ema's parents who are searching for a safe school space for their autistic daughter, and environmental interest film Hollow Tree which follows the interconnected stories of three young women coming of age during a time of rapid climate change. Also having its Irish premiere is Heroes, which features a group of young migrant men fighting for a better future.
Closer to home there will be three Irish language feature film screenings of Ó Bhéal, Tarrac, and Críothe Radachacha, as well as director Tadhg O’Sullivan’s documentary To The Moon.
There will be various workshops teaching the craft of filmmaking to young people. These include Sound To Screen with Screen Audio Ireland, Ceardlann Scríobhneoireachta, and a Short Documentary Film Screening/Workshop.
GEN Beyond is the festival outreach programme and this year will host film screenings and workshops in Tuam. VR animation, As an nGnách, a fully immersive, 360-degree digital experience will be presented on the island of Inis Oírr alongside an evening of Irish language films. GEN Beyond will take young people on a tour of television studios at Fibín Media and TG4 where they will see behind the scenes at working TV studios.
Generation Fleadh will also take part in the Young Audience Film Day on November 5th with the European Film Academy (EFA) with film criticism discussion, a film screening, and a director Q&A all facilitated in real time with young audiences across Europe.
Tar Isteach is the new audience engagement plan from Generation Fleadh as part of the Fleadh’s Re-Imaging JFF strategy, and will provide opportunities for young people to participate in their national film culture.
For more information about Generation Fleadh, click here.
