Irish short films continue to be selected for film festivals, receive award nominations and secure special screenings nationally and internationally…
Preview screening of ‘Two Gallants’ at Limetree Theatre Limerick
Tomorrow evening will see the first preview screening of Joycean short film ‘Two Gallants’. The screening will take place at the Limetree Theatre Limerick at 8pm and is held in support of the Limerick Writer’s Centre. Written by Carl Finnegan and Darren McGrath, the contemporary adaptation is intended to reflect the stress of the recession and the loss of the Celtic Tiger.
“I got a lot of support from my hometown of Limerick and it’s great to be able to give support back to the local arts community,” said director/writer Carl Finnegan. Actor Zeb Moore will read the original short story that the film is based on from James Joyce’s ‘Dubliners’ and Finnegan will introduce the film after.
Among the cast are Carl Finnegan, John Carey, Alicja Ayres, George Bracebridge, Mary T. McCormack, Niamh Hogan, Aaron Jenner and Amanda Coakley. Crew members include associate producer Donal Thurlow, DoP Stuart Duff, sound recordist Simon Murphy, make-up artist Niamh O’Malley, head of lighting Mark Birney, production assistant Ciaran Doran, and assistant director Patrick Rooks. Brian Fast Leiser of the Fun Lovin' Criminals provided exclusive music for the film.
‘Open Mic’ to Premiere in Rouen, France
Simon O’Neill’s short film ‘Open Mic’, set in London’s comedy circuit, will premiere at the ‘This is England’ Short Film Festival in Rouen, France, this November. The film, which is about a comedian getting her lucky break, will screen a few days later in the BAFTA qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF) in York, UK.
‘Open Mic’ is directed and written by O’Neill, who also produced the film with Samia Rida. Rida stars alongside Edward Dogliani. Cinematography was by the award-winning Robbie Ryan (‘Philomena’, ‘Jimmy’s Hall’), editing by Eamonn Clery and sound by Brando Mosca, Emer Sands and Gabriel Sotiry.
Watch the trailer here:
‘The Swing’ Wins another Award
After winning the Best First Short Drama Award following its premiere at this year's Galway Film Fleadh, the short ‘The Swing’ from director Damien Dunne has won the Best Short Film by a first time director at the Sky Road Film Festival. The short was made as part of last year's RTE/Filmbase Award Scheme.
‘The Swing’ was written by Damien Dunne and Nora Windeck, and Wincdeck also produced. Music was by Irene Buckley, cinematography was by Eamon Nolan, production design was by Eoin Heaney and editing was by Fernando de Juan. Jon Kelly and Dominic Lawrence worked on sound.
‘Boogaloo and Graham’ Selected as part of TIFF
Short film ‘Booglaloo and Graham’, produced by Belfast-based Out of Orbit Ltd and starring Martin McCann, recently had its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The short is directed by Michael Lennox and follows two young boys who are given two baby chicks to look after. It screened as part of the TIFF Short Cuts International Programme 4.
Irish features ‘Miss Julie’ and ‘Song of the Sea’ were also screened at the festival, and received positive reviews following their screenings. Toronto is on a par with other premiere world film festivals such as Cannes, Venice and Berlin. The festival has a highly competitive selection process and is considered a great launch pad for the North American market.