Kerry Film Festival

Scriptwriting Clinic at Galway Film Centre

2010-03-09T04:49:00.000-08:00

There's a new scriptwriting clinic starting at Galway Film Centre.

The four day course will look at how to develop a story idea. It is aimed at both emerging and experienced screenwriters working on their feature film screenplays. It is also aimed at emerging script editors.

The class is limited to four writers and two script editors and offers a great experience for emerging writers and script editors to work intensively on their stories with a professional script editor. It will cover the basics such as wants and needs, objectives, obstacles, rising action and ideas on sequencing and structure.

All participants read each other's treatments prior to the course commencing. Mark McIlrath is a script editor who works on feature film projects in Ireland, Italy, France and the UK. Each editor works with 2 writers during the course.

What participants say about this course:
As one of the script editors on the course, I was lucky enough to witness Mark work first hand with a number of writers on their chosen projects. What struck me was the simple and relaxed approach he takes which inevitably leads to invaluable round table discussions where no opinion is ever overlooked. As a guiding light, Mark helps to define and solve problems in regard to structure, character, theme and plot without ever substituting his own voice for that of the writer. His years of experience shine through and I still use his teachings in my own writing today. Highly recommend for any writer who wants to bring their project to the next level, and then some.
Matthew Roche (Writer of TILL DEATH DO US PART, Winner of RTE/Filmbase Short Script Award, 2009)

Mark's course is hugely educational and beneficial, whether you are interested in pursuing story editing or simply gaining more insight into your own writing. And Mark stays in touch after the course is over, providing highly useful tips and guidance. He is a friend and mentor as much as he is a a teacher.
Shane Perez (Writer of BLOOD AND SAND, Winner of London Independent Film Festival Best Screenplay, 2009)

How to apply:
Writers interested in this course will need to submit a CV and treatment/story outline to education@galwayfilmcentre.ie by 23rd April.

Guide length for treatment is 3 to 10 pages. 10 pages is the maximum allowable.

Editors need to submit a CV to education@galwayfilmcentre.ie by 23rd April.

Stop-Motion Animation Workshop

2010-03-03T10:03:00.000-08:00

Galway film centre is offering a stop-motion animation workshop teaching participants how to make animation through drawings, claymation and photos using i-stop motion.

The workshop will teach participants how to use the software and how to shoot animation film on a movie camera, camcorder, pocket camera or even a mobile phone.

The course is very practical and by its end, participants will be able to make animations at home! Materials will be provided and the workshop is suitable for beginners and class sizes will be small to ensure all participants benefit.

Dates: 6 Tuesday evenings, 7pm - 9pm, 23rd March to 4th May (No class Easter Week, April 6th)
Fee: 225 euro unwaged / 255 euro waged (Includes membership. 10% discount for those having done a course with GFC in the last year.)
Tutor: Aideen Barry
Link to animations created on the last workshop in Winter 2009

John Huston's THE MISFITS to screen March 3rd

2010-02-25T11:59:00.000-08:00

THE MISFITS, with Clark Gable and Marylyn Monroe, giving what many believe to be her strongest performance of all time will screen on Wednesday, March 3rd, in Siamsa Tire as part of Kerry Film Festival's Active Retired Programme.

The film saw Huston nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement by the Directors' Guild of America. It's a little seen movie nowadays but has megawatt star power and a brilliant script by Arthur Miller and its critical reputation has only improved over time. It was the last film made by Hollywood icons Gable and Monroe.

All films cost just 2euro to anyone over the age of 65 and Kerry Film Festival will serve teas and coffees before the film to all attendees. The active retired screenings are a nice social occasion, as well as giving attendees the opportunity to see some fantastic films on the big screen!

For more on the film is available here: THE MISFITS. All are welcome!

Belfast Film Festival Call for Volunteers

2010-02-24T06:57:00.000-08:00

The Belfast Film Festival celebrates its 10th Birthday this year, and to mark this significant milestone the Festival will be extended to 16 days. The Festival kicks off on Thursday, April 15th and runs right through to Friday, April 30th.

The Festival will be packed with a bold mix of international and local film premieres, art-house and socio-political films, masterclasses and industry talks and events.

Highlights this year include a screening of Ken Wardrop's HIS & HERS, a beautifully told and magical documentary that features 90 different women of all ages, who collectively chronicle the magic of human life. It recently won the coveted World Cinema Documentary Award at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. If you haven't seen it yet then definitely check it out!

The Festival has also just launched a call for volunteers. To find out more please click on the link: Belfast Film Festival

Active Retired Screenings Spring 2010

2010-01-28T09:53:00.000-08:00

Kerry Film Festival's Active Retired Screenings return with a John Huston season that sees three of Huston's movies playing on the first Wednesday of the month in February, March and April.

Beginning with Huston's debut, THE MALTESE FALCON, on February 3rd, continuing with THE MISFITS, on March 3rd and finishing with ANNIE, on April 7th the films show the director's fantastic range which encompasses everything from Noir to Musicals.

All movies screen in Siamsa Tire at 2:00 pm.

THE MALTESE FALCON
Wednesday, 3rd February

"It has rhyme and rhythm and makes the mind ask questions," said Raymond Chandler about Dashiel Hammett's novel, The Maltese Falcon. The eponymous falcon is "the stuff that dreams are made of," a priceless statuette pursued by a venomous femme fatale (Mary Astor), a scented sybarite (Peter Lorre), and a gentleman villain (Sydney Greenstreet) who oozes avuncular avarice. Caught up in their quest is private-eye Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart), who has been hired by the woman on an ostensibly innocent assignment that has led to the death of his partner. With his literary sensibility and his fascination with eccentric characterisation, Huston is in his element: this is one of the cinema's great directing debuts, and the Hamlet of film noir!

THE MISFITS
Wednesday, 3rd March

Sophisticated, but emotionally crippled Roslyn (Marilyn Monroe, giving what many believe to be her strongest performance) has come to Nevada for a quick and easy divorce. When her landlady introduces her to aging, broken cowboy Gay Langland (Clark Gable), she finally finds herself with a worthy partner. Meanwhile, Gay and his fellow horsemen Guido and Perce (Eli Wallach and Montgomery Clift) scheme to capture a herd of wild horses. With megawatt star power and a brilliant script by Arthur Miller, The Misfits critical reputation has only improved over time. It was the last film made by Hollywood icons Gable and Monroe.

ANNIE
Wednesday, 7th April

In the depths of the 1930's, Annie is a fiery young orphan girl who must live in a miserable orphanage run by the tyrannical Miss Hannigan. Her seemingly hopeless situation changes dramatically when she is selected to spend a short time at the residence of the wealthy munitions industrialist, Oliver Warbucks. Quickly, she charms the hearts of the household staff and even the seemingly cold-hearted Warbucks cannot help but learn to love this wonderful girl. He decides to help Annie find her long lost parents by offering a reward if they would come to him and prove their identity. However, Miss Hannigan, her evil relative, Rooster, and a female accomplice, plan to impersonate those people to get the reward for themselves which put Annie in great danger.

Script Out Loud - New Writing Workshop

2010-01-28T04:48:00.000-08:00

There's a new writing workshop at Galway Film Centre.

The one-day workshop will help screenwriters advance their material by exploring it 'off the page'. Participants will act out each other's work and tutor, David Keating, writer and director of The Last Of The High Kings and Wake Wood, will guide writers to improve their dialogue, action and scene descriptions. All participants will do a small amount of preparation prior to the day, which must be emailed to the tutor. This will include writing 1 or 2 pages of script and analysing each scene according to conflict, exposition and needs/wants of characters. Participants may bring a camera and ask someone to record their work being acted out.

About the Tutor:
David wrote and directed The Last of the High Kings (Miramax), starring Jared Leto, Gabriel Byrne and Christina Ricci. His latest feature, Wake Wood (Hammer/Vertigo/IFB), will be released in 2010 and stars Aiden Gillen (The Wire), Eva Birthistle (Ae Fond Kiss) and Timothy Spall (The Damn United, Sweeney Todd).
As a screenwriter, he has worked for Columbia Pictures/Sony and on Mike Newell's Into The West (Miramax). He has directed TV drama, documentaries and music videos.
He has also mentored on screenwriting labs Equinoxe Germany, Equinoxe TBC France, Moonstone and tutored writers and directors at Mira Nair's MAISHA Initiative in Kampala for East African Filmmakers.

Date: Saturday, 27th February
Fee: 100 euro for students, unemployed / 130 for others
Contact: Galway Film Centre.
Email: education@galwayfilmcentre.ie or phone 091 770 748

Galway Film Centre & RTE 2010 Short Film Awards

2010-01-28T04:42:00.000-08:00

Galway Film Centre wants applications for the 2010 RTE/GFC Short Film Awards. The awards will be given to the two best original scripts for a short drama. Designed to promote filmmaking throughout the regions, the scheme, funded by RTE, is open to filmmakers from all over Ireland. The winners will receive a production fund of 9,500 euro each, as well as the use of facilities from the Galway Film Centre. The winning films will be screened twice by RTE.

Only one script per applicant is acceptable so please submit your strongest choice and all applicants must be members of the Galway Film Centre. If you think you have a good idea for a short film then now is the time to start writing!

The closing dates for applications is 5pm Friday 26th February 2010

For further information and an application form contact the Galway Film Centre on 091 770 748 or email info@galwayfilmcentre.ie

KFF deeply saddened by Michael Dwyer's Passing

2010-01-04T01:54:00.000-08:00

John Kennedy, KFF, Michael Dwyer at the 2008 Kerry Film Festival

All at the Kerry Film Festival were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Michael Dwyer. Michael was one of Kerry's favourite sons and the leading film critic in Ireland for the past two decades. His love of film permeated his writing and, indeed, his life. Generosity is not often a word associated with critics, yet Michael was truly a generous person and his loss will be felt on a local, national and, indeed, international level.

His love of film began on the streets of his native Tralee many moons ago. As a schoolboy he would stop by each of the three cinemas that the town had at that time on his way home to see what new treats were in store. He was instrumental in the expansion of Tralee's film society. Under his guidance the society began weekly screenings, which were held in the Ashe Memorial Hall, and they often sold out.

Moving to Dublin in the 1970's, he worked for the Federation of Irish Film Societies, and became a journalist, writing first for In Dublin magazine, then for The Sunday Tribune and The Sunday Press before finally joining The Irish Times.

He was instrumental in setting up the first Dublin Film Festival and led it successfully for many years before stepping away. It later ran into financial difficulty and Michael helped set up its successor, the Dublin International Film Festival, which is running strongly to this day.

Michael was awarded the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres in 2006 by the French Government for his support of French Cinema and was undoubtedly the most prominent Irish film critic of recent times.

Despite such success on a national and international level, however, Michael was also a friend to many of the smaller festivals around Ireland and he graciously opened the Kerry Film Festival in 2008, signing copies of his movie quiz book in Polymath's in Tralee that same year. Michael's mother, Mary, and his sisters, Anne and Maria, still live in Tralee and his passing is a terribly sad loss for them. It's also a sad loss for the legions of his fans and for his many friends.

May he have the best seat of all in the big cinema in the sky.

New Courses at Cork Film Centre

2009-12-17T07:31:00.000-08:00

Introduction to Short Film Making
10 week evening course, including two weekends, starting Thursday, 28th January, from 7pm to 10pm. A very practical hands on approach, lots of fun and actually making short films. Suitable for beginners but more experienced people also welcome. Cost 295euro, deposit of 150euro to secure your place payable to the Film Centre. More information available by calling 087 7911316.

Introduction to Documentary Film Making
10 week evening course (including two weekends) starting Tuesday, 26th January, from 7pm to 10pm. A very practical hands on approach, learn lots in a relaxed friendly environment. Suitable for beginners but more experienced people also welcome. Cost 295 euro, deposit 150 euro to secure your place payable to the Film Centre. More information available by calling 087 7911316.

For more information please log onto www.corkfilmcentre.com

Aesthetica Short Film Competition

2009-12-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

Aesthetica is looking for filmmakers who are driving the genre of short film forward through inspirational and innovative works. Whether you are fresh out of film school or have been making films for years, it wants to hear from you. It will accept films in all genres: drama, documentary, music video, satire, comedy and artists' film.

The award offers winners and runners-up a fantastic prize package, bringing films to a wider audience.

Prizes
- Screenings of your film at: The National Media Museum (Bradford), Rushes Soho Shorts Film Festival (London), Glasgow Film Festival and on the Aesthetica website, Kerry Film Festival
- £500 first prize, £250 runner-up.
- 12 months membership with Shooting People.
- Collection of film books from Wallflower Press.
- Winner and 10 runners-up to be included on a DVD that will go to all Aesthetica readers.

Entry
Films can be up to 20 minutes long. For more information please log onto www.aestheticamagazine.com

Belfast Film Festival searching for Marketing Manager

2009-12-07T04:19:00.000-08:00

BELFAST FILM FESTIVAL are seeking to recruit a Marketing & Sponsorship Manager

Full-Time - 4 Month Contract
January to May, 2010
Salary range £21,412 to £26,067 (pro rata)
Commensurate with skills and experience

For an application pack by email - please send request to mave@belfastfilmfestival.org or ring +44 (0)28 9032 5913

The Blockbuster - FAS Screen Training Ireland

2009-11-19T04:28:00.000-08:00

FAS Screen Training Ireland, supported by Bord Scannan na hEireann/Irish Film Board, is seeking participants for THE BLOCKBUSTER, Visual Story Development for Animation and Live Action

Dates: 11-15 Dec (Script Analysis); 16-18 Dec (Visual Structure)
Location: Dublin, TBC
Duration: 8 days (5 days Script Analysis; 3 days Visual Structure)
Fee: 500 euro (350 euro for Script Analysis only; 225 euro for Visual Structure only)

Participant Profile
For industry professionals in animation and live action seeking to enhance their understanding of creative story and visual structure.

Course Profile
The aim of this course is to provide a creative overview of animation and live action project development from a story and visual perspective. Through two separate sessions, Script Consultant Bobette Buster and Visual Consultant Bruce Block will present a comprehensive analysis of story structure and visual structure. Over five days of Script Analysis, Bobette Buster will explore the craft of emotional storytelling, followed by Bruce Block offering his unique and structured approach to Visual Storytelling. The course will culminate in a joint visual and story analysis of a film from the Block Buster tutors.

The course will cover the following:
* Recognising and using the basic visual components: space, structure, line, shape, colour, tone, movement and rhythm
* Applying these components to story structure
* Emotionally connecting to your audience
* Analysing story structure

Applicants can choose to attend just the Script Analysis or Visual Structure elements of this course, or, at a reduced cost, both.

Tutor Profile
Bobette Buster has been a USC professor for the past eight years and is on the visiting faculty of La Femis in Paris, DFFB in Berlin and also guest lectures at film schools throughout the world. Bobette has worked in feature film development with Columbia Pictures, Steel Magnolias Producer, Ray Stark and Director of Crimson Tide, Tony Scott, and in Script Analysis with Pixar Studios.

Bruce Block is Visual/Creative Consultant, Producer, Professor USC and Guest Lecturer UCLA. Besides teaching at USC and guest lecturing at UCLA, Bruce Block regularly delivers training to employees of Pixar, Dreamworks, Disney, Warner Bros and Sony Pictures. Bruce produced Something's Gotta Give and has also worked as a Visual Consultant on As Good As It Gets and with director and animation teams on A Bug's Life and Toy Story.

Application
Please apply online for The BlockBuster, Script Analysis only, or Visual Structure only at www.screentrainingireland.ie. For further details contact Sorcha Loughnane at FAS Screen Training Ireland.
Ph: (01) 6077468.
Email: sorcha.loughnane@fas.ie
Deadline for applications: Friday 4th December 2009.

KFF Announces Winning Films 2009

2009-11-10T09:05:00.001-08:00

The Kerry Film Festival, today announced the winning films from the 2009 edition of the festival. Dave Fanning was MC at the Awards Ceremony, which took place at 4:00 pm in Fels Point Hotel in Tralee on Saturday, November 7th.

The Award Ceremony was the culmination of a week of films at Kerry Film Festival, which began on Saturday, October 31st. The winning films were selected by KFF's adjudication panel which included Jeremy Irons, Michael Fassbender, Simon Brown and James Christopher and by the audience at the festival.

The adjudicators and audience had the unenviable task of selecting the best films from the festival. Close to five hundred films were submitted to the 2009 Kerry Film Festival, up significantly on the total number of films submitted in 2008 and more than double the number of films submitted in previous years. 72 short films screened in total at the 2009 Kerry Film Festival.

"This was the best edition of short films I've ever seen let alone had to judge," said James Christopher. "It was fiendishly tough to choose a single winner."

The Best Animated Short Film, as adjudicated by Simon Brown, was Sally Pearce's ELEPHANTS.

"Its creativity and joyfulness both surprised and captivated me," said Simon Brown. "ELEPHANTS had a unique and individual vision, which I appreciated. Its exploration of imagination felt very personal yet familiar. It was fun to explore and to be a part of this world. Close runners up for me were GRANNY O GRIMM'S SLEEPING BEAUTY and SPACE TRAVEL ACCORDING TO JOHN."

The Best International Short, as chosen by James Christopher, was MOTHER MINE, by Susan Everett.

"The film I'd like to nominate for the Best International Short is MOTHER MINE by Susan Everett," said James Christopher. "It's a macabre gem that manipulates your expectations quite brilliantly. What makes it remarkable is the raw and ghastly emotions it cleverly pricks.

The awkward tension between a grown-up daughter, desperately seeking some sort of elemental connection, and the woman who gave her away at birth is just exquisite. It's also, of course, appalling and, at some depraved level, even humorous. There's a cheeky touch when the deranged daughter, Alison, is lying submerged in her bath like Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction.

Indeed what's so appealing about Susan Everett's direction is how visually 'clean' her film is, despite the murky psychology. The simple act of putting a video tape in the post acquires an almost surreal momentum as we see the parcel tumbling through a metal sorting drum at the depot like a piece of laundry. It's the hallmark of a director who can put a truly original and unsettling spin on the familiar. And that's as rare as hen's teeth.

But even a film as ingeniously twisted as this couldn't work without some serious chemistry. Marvelous performances by Kelly Harrison as the daughter Alison, and Barbara Marten as the haunted mother, Margaret, do just that. The film was a joy and thrill to watch."

The best Documentary short from KFF 2009 as adjudicated by Michael Fassbender was A FILM FROM MY PARISH - 6 FARMS by Tony Donoghue.

Michael said, "A FILM FROM MY PARISH - 6 FARMS was brilliant. I liked the composition of the piece and the command of both computer and camera. I loved the exploration and seamless joining of colour and nature as well as the computer generated world. I was very impressed and found the film a very well structured and solid piece and left me wanting to see more."

The Best Irish Narrative Short was selected by Jeremy Irons, who is one of today's most respected actors and has been honored for his work on stage, screen and television. He won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his chilling portrayal of Claus von Bulow in Reversal of Fortune and won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in Elizabeth I.

From roles in THE MISSION and David Cronenberg's DEAD RINGERS to roles in David Lynch's INLAND EMPIRE, Ridley Scott's KINGDOM OF HEAVEN and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE with Al Pacino, Irons has displayed a talent and acting range that has seldom, if ever, been matched.

Chris Hurley, from Cork Film Centre, announced the winner of the Best Irish Narrative Short Film, as adjudicated by Jeremy Irons. Conor Ferguson's THE WEDNESDAYS took the prize of 500 euro which was sponsored by The Cork Film Centre. The film's producer, Annemarie Naughton, was on hand to pick up the cheque.

Jeremy Irons also adjudicated the festival's top prize, Best Short, which went to director Rory Bresnihan for THE MAN INSIDE.

The Kerry Film Festival Audience also had its part to play at the Awards ceremony, with THE VALLEY OF KNOCKANURE, by Gerard Barrett, picking up the Audience Award, which came with a prize of 1,000 euro, sponsored by the John Moore foundation. There was also a Children's Audience Award which went to OUR WONDERFUL NATURE, by Tomer Eshed.

The Maureen O' Hara Award, which acknowledges women that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their respective fields in film, was presented to Rebecca Miller at the ceremony. The Award was made by Newbridge Silverware.

Newbridge Silverware to Design Maureen O' Hara Award

2009-11-05T03:52:00.000-08:00

The Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating ten years of bringing film to Kerry, today announced that Newbridge Silverware, a brand that is synonymous with style and quality, will handcraft the Maureen O' Hara Award which will be presented to Rebecca Miller.

The award is named in honour of one of the most glamorous leading ladies of Hollywood's golden era, Maureen O' Hara.

"Newbridge Silverware is honoured to be associated with such a prestigious award," said William Doyle, CEO, Newbridge Silverware. "Maureen O' Hara is the absolute epitome of elegance and timeless style, both values which are core to our brand. Hence this is a very fitting association for Newbridge Silverware. We congratulate this year's recipient, Rebecca Miller, and wish her continued success and happiness."

"I'm thrilled that Newbridge Silverware is crafting the Award," said Jason O' Mahony, Director, Kerry Film Festival. "The unique history of Newbridge provides a wealth of tradition, craftsmanship and experience and items from Newbridge have been presented to personalities from Paul Newman to Bill Clinton, so it makes the event doubly special for us at Kerry Film Festival."

The Maureen O' Hara Award acknowledges women that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their respective fields in film and Rebecca Miller is a most worthy recipient. The award giving will take place at the Kerry Film Festival Awards Ceremony at Fels Point Hotel in Tralee on Saturday, November 7th at 4:00 pm.

The Award Ceremony is the culmination of a week of films at Kerry Film Festival. The Awards ceremony will also feature the screening of award winning short films as adjudicated by Kerry Film Festival's panel of judges Jeremy Irons, Michael Fassbender, Simon Brown and James Christopher.

For more information on Newbridge Silverware please log onto www.newbridgesilverware.com

Dave Fanning to MC Award's Night

2009-11-04T09:23:00.000-08:00

The Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating ten years of bringing film to Kerry, today announced that Dave Fanning will MC the Awards Ceremony, which takes place at 4:00 pm in Fels Point Hotel in Tralee on November 7th.

"I'm delighted to be MC for this year's Kerry Film Festival Award Ceremony and am looking forward to seeing the winning short films, particularly those from Ireland," said Dave Fanning. "Short films are almost like an up-and-coming film director's calling card, and watching short films is a great way to keep your finger on the pulse of what's happening in film. There are many young Irish directors who are dedicated to the craft of film making and their short films promise a vibrant future for Irish Filmmaking."

"We're delighted to have Dave Fanning on board to MC the Awards Ceremony," said Jason O' Mahony, Director of Kerry Film Festival. "His knowledge of music and film is so wide as to almost beggar belief!"

The Award Ceremony will see the screening of all the winning short films from this year's edition of the Festival and the wonderfully talented director, Rebecca Miller, will also be on hand to pick up the 2010 Kerry Film Festival Maureen O' Hara Award, which is named in honour of one of the most glamorous leading ladies of Hollywood's golden era. The award will specially handcrafted by Newbridge Silverware to commemorate the occasion.

"The Awards Ceremony is always the highlight of the festival and this year that's especially the case," added Jason. "To have someone of Dave Fanning's stature will raise the Awards Ceremony to new heights. It will also add to the thrill for all our winning filmmakers."

Dave Fanning's career in broadcasting began when he left University College Dublin in 1977 with a degree in English and Philosophy and a Higher Diploma in Education. He took over as editor of Ireland's only rock magazine 'Scene', in 1977, and began as a deejay on fledgling pirate music station Radio Dublin.

Ireland's first official national pop radio station (RTE 2FM) was launched in the Summer of '79. Dave Fanning took the midnight shift five days a week and by the early '80's he was seen by the industry and music fans everywhere as Ireland's answer to John Peel, the legendary BBC Radio One presenter.

Throughout the '90's he presented almost 400 editions of The Movie Show, crossing the globe for one-on-one interviews with nearly every major movie star on the planet including Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Mel Gibson and Pierce Brosnan.

The Kerry Film Festival Awards Ceremony takes place in Fels Point Hotel in Tralee on Saturday, November 7th at 4:00 pm.

Opening Night Huge Success

2009-10-31T09:56:00.000-07:00

The opening night of the 10th annual Kerry Film Festival was a huge success with bumper crowds coming out to enjoy THE RACE.

Niamh McGirr the young star of the film received a standing ovation from the crowd who were won over by her lovely personality.

The film went down a treat and the audience went home having thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

The Race Announced as Opening Night Film

2009-10-30T07:36:00.000-07:00

Film Festivals are special places where dreams come true on the big screen and this is often as true for the filmmakers as it is for the audience. The Opening Night film at the Kerry Film Festival is a movie where dreams come true and it's suitable for all! Starring Colm Meaney and new comer, Niamh McGirr, THE RACE is an Irish Film that's both inspirational and, ultimately, uplifting.

"The opening night film this year is a little bit special," said Jason O' Mahony, Director of the Kerry Film Festival. "It's a wonderful Irish film, which reminded me a little of Billy Elliott; except the star of THE RACE is a girl! Niamh McGirr puts in a wonderful performance as the brave and plucky Mary, who has a dream and is determined to see it through."

The actress, Niamh McGirr, will be on hand at the film which screens in Siamsa Tire on Saturday, October 31st. The film screening takes place at 8:00 pm but attendees are encouraged to arrive a little early for a wine reception which begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available from the Siamsa box office on 066 712 3055 and cost 10euro, including wine reception.

The film centers around eleven-year-old Mary, played by Niamh McGirr, who lives with her estranged parents on a struggling farm in rural Antrim. With her exasperated mother and proud, stubborn father, played by Colm Meaney, constantly at each other's throats over lack of funds and the future of the farm, life at home is far from ideal.

But Mary has plans; big plans. Ever since she can remember, she has dreamed of becoming a racing driver, so when a rich local farmer sets up a go-cart race down in the valley, she can't resist the chance to enter. But with opposition from home, general scorn from the community and the fact that she is a girl trying to make it in a boy's world, the road to success is never going to be easy.

But Mary doesn't give in. With perseverance, determination and a little help from her loyal friend, Tom, she sets about building a go-cart until, eventually, her spirit and dedication win over the most unlikely hearts. The Race is an inspirational drama in the best tradition of Billy Elliot - a film guaranteed to warm the heart.

The film maintains a wonderful balance between young Mary's dream to be a racing car driver and the realism of the difficult financial times in which it is set. Because the story is relatively straightforward the brilliance comes from the performances and the subtle touches throughout the film. The movie is charming and entertaining in equal measure and will be a treat for all, young and old alike. And with the star of the film attending and a wine reception, the night is sure to delight!

Guest Lecture with Tomm Moore

2009-10-19T05:54:00.000-07:00

Room S110, Monday, November 2nd, 2:00 pm
Guest Lecture by Tomm Moore, Director and Animator

Come join Tomm Moore and The Kerry Film Festival in a discussion about Animation and Film. Lecture to take place in the North Campus of the Institute of Technology, Tralee on Monday, November 2nd at 2:00 pm in Room S110, ground floor of the North Campus Technology & Business Building.

Rebecca Miller to pick up Maureen O' Hara Award

2009-10-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

Robin Wright Penn, Rebecca Miller and Keanu Reeves

The Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating ten years of bringing film to Kerry, today announced that Rebecca Miller is to receive an award at the Kerry Film Festival, which runs from October 31st to November 7th.

The award is named in honour of one of the most glamorous leading ladies of Hollywood's golden era, Maureen O' Hara.

"It's an honour to have Rebecca Miller pick up the Award." said Maureen O'Hara. "Rebecca is a wonderful director and it is magnificent to see such a strong character having success in film. One more example of the incredible talent present in today's Ireland. I am absolutely delighted that Rebecca will accept this award and I wish her the very best in her career, in film, and most importantly, in life with her husband and young family."

Rebecca Miller worked as a painter and an actress before becoming a writer and director. She is the author of the short story collection, Personal Velocity (2001), and the novel, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee. For the film version of PERSONAL VELOCITY (2002), she won several awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. She has also written and directed the award-winning films ANGELA (1995), THE BALLAD OF JACK AND ROSE (2005), which starred her husband Daniel Day Lewis, and again premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and this year's THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE (2009).

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee was her first novel and has been published in 30 countries. The film version was released earlier this year, playing at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival, and had a cast that includes Robin Wright Penn, Keanu Reeves, Julianne Moore, Alan Arkin and Winona Ryder.

Rebecca Miller lives in Ireland and New York with her family.

While Maureen O' Hara was undoubtedly one of Hollywood's best loved actresses, she was much more than just a pretty face. When Maureen became an American citizen on January 25, 1946 she retained her Irish citizenship, which was the first time in history that the United States government recognized an Irish citizen as Irish and it led to a change in process for all Irish immigrants. Maureen was also the first female CEO of an American airline company. Whether in the movies, in politics or in business Maureen demonstrated a quality for leadership and a bravery that was extraordinary and Rebecca Miller displays many of the same characteristics.

Maureen currently lives in County Cork and to honour her Kerry Film Festival is screening the John Ford classic THE QUIET MAN.

The Maureen O' Hara Award acknowledges women that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their respective fields and Rebecca Miller is a most worthy recipient. The award giving will take place at the Kerry Film Festival Awards Ceremony at Fels Point Hotel in Tralee on Saturday, November 7th at 4:00 pm.

The Award Ceremony is the culmination of a week of films at Kerry Film Festival. The Awards ceremony will also feature the screening of award winning short films as adjudicated by Kerry Film Festival's panel of judges Jeremy Irons, Michael Fassbender, Simon Brown and James Christopher.

Jeremy Irons to Adjudicate at Kerry Film Festival

2009-10-06T09:11:00.000-07:00

The Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating ten years of bringing film to the people of Kerry, today announced the adjudicators for the 2009 Kerry Film Festival, which runs from October 31st to November 7th.

The adjudicators that will judge this year's Kerry Film Festival short film competitions are:
Jeremy Irons, Michael Fassbender, Simon Brown and James Christopher.

"The Kerry Film Festival is delighted to announce its line up of adjudicators," said Jason O' Mahony, Director, Kerry Film Festival. "From Jeremy Irons, an Oscar winning actor and one of the finest actors of all time; to Michael Fassbender, who set the film world alight with his unflinching portrayal of Bobby Sands in Steve McQueen's HUNGER, a role which, for my money at least, should have seen him win an Oscar; to James Christopher, one of the most respected film critics in the world and Chief Critic on The Times in the UK for many years; to Simon Brown, a fantastic Irish animator, who was lead animator on the recent Ice Age films and also worked with James Cameron on the upcoming AVATAR, every member of the adjudication panel is at the very forefront of their chosen profession and we're absolutely thrilled that they have decided to help adjudicate the 2009 Kerry Film Festival."

"This will be the tenth year of the Kerry Film Festival and both the quantity and quality of the films has risen year on year," continued O' Mahony. "And we felt it was important to have an adjudication panel of the very highest standing to adjudicate the short films. We're hugely grateful to all the adjudicators for giving so selflessly of their time and for agreeing to adjudicate at this year's Kerry Film Festival."

The adjudicators have the unenviable task of selecting the best films from this year's selection. Close to five hundred films were submitted to the 2009 Kerry Film Festival, up significantly on the total number of films submitted last year and more than double the number of films submitted in previous years.

For a brief Bio on the Adjudicators please see below:

Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons is one of today's most respected actors and has been honored for his work on stage, screen and television. He won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his chilling portrayal of Claus von Bulow in REVERSAL OF FORTUNE and won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in ELIZABETH I.

From roles in THE MISSION and David Cronenberg's DEAD RINGERS to roles in David Lynch's INLAND EMPIRE, Ridley Scott's KINGDOM OF HEAVEN and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE with Al Pacino, Irons has displayed a talent and acting range that has seldom, if ever, been matched.

Michael Fassbender
Michael Fassbender exploded on the Film world with his unflinching portrayal of Bobby Sands in Steve McQueen's Cannes Film Festival Camera D'or winning HUNGER. He is one of the hottest young actors on the planet with acclaimed directors lining up to work with him. Last seen in Quentin Tarantino's INGLORIOUS BASTERDS, Michael, who grew up in Killarney, is a most welcome addition to the Kerry Film Festival Adjudication Panel.

Simon Brown
Simon Brown grew up in the countryside of Co. Clare, Ireland where he read books about the space-time continuum and practiced painting. It was an ideal background for his work as a visual effects artist which has led him around the world to London, California, New York and New Zealand. He's worked on many films including MATRIX REVOLUTIONS, STAR WARS - REVENGE OF THE SITH, ICE AGE - THE MELTDOWN and the upcoming AVATAR. Simon has just been accepted into the prestigious American Film Institute Conservatory for their directing program where he will further develop his craft.

James Christopher
James Christopher is a distinguished author and critic who has contributed to numerous newspapers. He was deputy theatre editor of Time Out Magazine, theatre critic for the Sunday Express, and for many years chief film critic of The Times. He has been the subject of several BBC documentaries. His book on Elizabeth Taylor: The Illustrated Biography is a much-loved staple. He lives in Essex but has spent many happy weeks in Kerry, notably Camp on the Dingle peninsula.

New Courses in Galway Film Centre

2009-10-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

New courses in Galway Film Centre include:

Advanced Camera Course - Hi-Def XDCAM and Digibeta
This course will introduce participants to these broadcast quality cameras, through a series of practical lighting exercises, based on documentary and magazine style shooting techniques. The transfer software of the XDCAM 700 (new required shooting format for RTE), which records onto card, will also be demonstrated. The course is suited to those who have experience of shooting on other formats.

About the tutor:
Ger has worked on features films such as King Arthur, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (camera assistant/operator). He also shot the award winning TV series In the Name of the Fada. Other work includes U2 Slane Concert DVD, Hands (RTE Documentary), The Rainbow Children, Calcutta (TG4 Documentary), Eddie (TG4 Documentary), St Isidores, Rome (TG4 documentary) and outside broadcast work.

Dates: 1 weekend, 10th & 11th October
Fee: 220 unwaged / 260 waged (includes membership to the Centre)
Tutor: Ger Conway
Class size: Strictly limited to 6
Contact: education@galwayfilmcentre.ie or 091-770748 for further information or to book.

Winter Screenings at Kerry Film Festival

2009-08-27T14:21:00.000-07:00

Though the summer has been a bit of a wash out, winter is looking decidedly brighter as Kerry Film Festival, in association with Siamsa Tire, have announced a tantalising line-up of films for their Winter season of active retired screenings. The screenings will take place in Siamsa Tire in Tralee, on the first Thursday of every month, and are for active-retired groups and all retired individuals.

"We've been delighted with the turn out for the spring and summer seasons of screenings for the active retired," said Jason O' Mahony, Kerry Film Festival Director, "and we thought it would be a wonderful idea to do some additional screenings through out the Winter. Thankfully Siamsa Tire agreed and we're delighted to be able to screen classic films in such a wonderful venue!"

First out of the gates is the multi Oscar winning FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953) starring Burt Lancaster and Montgomery Clift. It also stars Frank Sinatra in possibly the best role of his career. Sinatra went on to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. The film will screen in Siamsa Tire at 2:00 pm on Thursday, September 3rd, the first Thursday in September, and it's not to be missed!

Next up, on Thursday, October 1st, is Audrey Hepburn in BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S (1961). It tells the tale of struggling writer Paul Varjak who moves into a New York apartment building and becomes intrigued by his pretty, quirky neighbor Holly Golightly. Holly's lifestyle confuses and fascinates Paul; in public she flits through parties with a sexy, sophisticated air, but when they're alone she changes into a sweetly vulnerable bundle of neuroses. Audrey Hepburn plays that daring, darling Holly Golightly and is an absolute delight in the adaptation of Truman Capote's classic novel.

Then on Thursday, November 5th, Peter O' Toole will light up the screen in the title role in LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962). David Lean's film is a brilliant and truly epic rumination on a flamboyant and controversial British military figure and his conflicted loyalties during wartime service. It won 7 Oscars and immortality for its charismatic Irish star. Because of the length of the film, the screening will start at 12 noon as opposed to 2:00 pm.

The final screening of 2009 will take place on Thursday, December 3rd, and is an all time Christmas classic. WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954) stars Bing Crosby. It's a romantic mix-up and features one of the best known and most loved songs of all time and will definitely get people in the Christmas mood.

"Our 2009 active retired screenings have been a monumental success so far and the audience begged us to keep going for the rest of the year," said Jason. "And we're delighted to oblige. If truth be told I love the screenings because it gives me a chance to see some of my favourite films on the big screen! And with a cost of just 2 euro per head that includes teas or coffees and biscuits for everyone attending we really think it's a recession busting deal!"

The films will all start at 2:00 pm sharp, with the exception of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA which begins at 12 noon because of the length of the film, and groups are encouraged to arrive half an hour before screening time to enjoy the social atmosphere, have a chat and grab a cup of tea or coffee. Interested parties are asked to contact the Kerry Film Festival on 066 712 9934 and all active retired groups and individuals are welcome at the Kerry Film Festival Active Retired Winter Season where they will enjoy their Golden Years with classic films on the Silver Screen!

All films screen at 2:00 pm, except LAWRENCE which screens at 12 noon, in Siamsa Tire in Tralee and all take place on the first Thursday of the month. For more information please call Kerry Film Festival on 066 712 9934.

For more information on the Kerry Film Festival please log onto www.kerryfilmfestival.com

For more information on Samhlaiocht please log on to www.samhlaiocht.com

Samhlaiocht is supported through grant aid from The Arts Council, Kerry County Council, Failte Ireland and by the generous corporate sponsorship of Kerry Group.

Michael Fassbender to host Actors Masterclass at Galway Film Fleadh

2009-06-19T14:31:00.000-07:00

The 21st Galway Film Fleadh and the Galway Film Centre, in association with Fas Screen Training Ireland, are delighted to announce that award winning actor Michael Fassbender is the subject of this year's Actors Masterclass.

The Master Class will take place on Saturday, July 11th and will be facilitated by leading casting agents, Ros Hubbard and Mary Maguire. The Class is open to all aspiring and budding actors and those interested should submit a CV to Mary Deely in the Galway Film Centre, Cluain Mhuire, Monivea Road, Galway. For further information please call 091 770748 or email masterclasses@galwayfilmfleadh.com

The Galway Film Fleadh will pay tribute to Michael Fassbender who is fast becoming a very respected Irish actor. He recently had main roles in two of the twenty films in competition in this year's Cannes Film Festival. These were INGLORIOUS BASTERDS, directed by Quentin Tarantino and FISH TANK, directed by Andrea Arnold. This in itself is quite an achievement.

Michael played Lt. Archie Hicox in Quentin Tarantino's INGLORIOUS BASTERDS and there is an ironic twist to this as his first acting assignment, 15 years ago, was in a stage version of Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS.

Within that fifteen-year interim, Fassbender has established himself as a serious actor, learning his craft through Band Of Brothers, Colin Bateman's MURPHY'S LAW and playing the part of Esme in Francois Ozon's wonderful ANGEL.

Little prepared the uninitiated for Fassbender's breakout, multi-award winning performance in Steve McQueen's stunning HUNGER. Fassbender only appears in the final two acts of the movie yet his portrayal of hunger striker, Bobby Sands is so complete, alive and dynamic that his performance possesses the movie.

He lost 40 pounds for this role, as the latter half of the movie chronicles Sand's physical disintegration. This is in contrast to his role as Stelios in Zack Synder's 300, the previous year, where he played a Spartan warrior.

As part of the Fleadh's tribute to Michael Fassbender, HUNGER will screen on Friday July 10th.

Christopher Hampton to give Screenwriters Masterclass at the 21st Galway Film Fleadh

2009-06-17T14:35:00.000-07:00

The 21st Galway Film Fleadh and the Galway Film Centre, in association with Northern Ireland Screen, have just announced that Christopher Hampton will give a Screenwriters Master Class at this year's Fleadh , which is open to all budding and experienced writers.

Christopher's most recently released film, Atonement, won Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards for Best Picture. Cheri, directed by Stephen Frears, premiered at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival.

His other screenplays include The Quiet American, Mary Reilly, Total Eclipse, Dangerous Liaisons, Carrington, The Secret Agent and Imagining Argentina, the last three of which he also directed.

Prizes for his film and television work include an Academy Award, two BAFTAs, a Writer's Guild of America Award, the Prix Italia, a Special Jury Award at the Cannes Film Festival, Hollywood Screenwriter of the Year 2007 and The Collateral Award at the Venice Film Festival for Best Literary Adaptation.

Christopher Hampton's plays, musicals and translations have garnered three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, four Evening Standard awards and the New York Theatre Critics Circle Award.

He has written a wide range of award winning plays including The Talking Cure, White Chameleon, Tales From Hollywood, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Treats, Savages, The Philanthropist and Total Eclipse.

Christopher Hampton also wrote the book and lyrics (with Don Black) for the musicals, Sunset Boulevard and Dracula, and the libretto for the Philip Glass operas, Waiting For The Barbarians and Appomattox.

To honour the presence of Christopher Hampton at the festival, the 21st Galway Film Fleadh will screen Atonement, Imagining Argentina and The Quiet American.

The Master Class will take place on Thursday afternoon, July 9th in the Radisson Hotel, Galway. Atonement will be screened in the morning. For further information or to apply for a place, contact Mary Deely at 091-770748 or masterclasses@galwayfilmfleadh.com Those interested should submit a CV/Biography. The masterclass costs 50euro.

KFF Films Make Splash in North America

2009-06-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

Winners at the Kerry Film Festival 2008 Awards Ceremony

The Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating ten years of bringing film to the people of Kerry, has partnered with a number of films festivals across the globe in a move to promote Irish Shorts and to advocate for screenings of films that have played at KFF.

"We've very proud of the films we screen and absolutely believe that they should have an audience all around the world," said Jason O' Mahony, Director of the Kerry Film Festival. "To that end we've partnered with a number of festivals in Spain, Italy, Canada and America to promote the shorts which screen in our Festival."

The fruits of that labour were seen in April when Declan Cassidy's short film WHATEVER TURNS YOU ON, winner of the Best Irish Short Film at KFF 2008, was selected to play in the Chicago Irish Film Festival. It subsequently went on to win an honourable mention in Chicago.

"WHATEVER TURNS YOU ON is a wonderful little film and everyone here was blown away by it, we were thrilled to be able to recommend such a scorching hot short to Chicago and delighted that it won an honourable mention from the audience," added O' Mahony. "Declan's film has a heart of gold and manages in a few short minutes what many feature-length films fail to do in as many hours!"

Next up is the Nickel Film Festival, based in Newfoundland in Canada. Kerry Film Festival recommended a number of short films to the Festival and five shorts from KFF 2008 will play in the festival which takes place from Tuesday, June 23rd to Saturday, June 27th.

Declan Cassidy's film will again feature and will be joined by Irish Shorts: Michael Lavelle's OUT OF THE BLUE; Mark Noonan's QUESTIONS and the KFF 2008 Winning Short Brian Durnin's OF BEST INTENTIONS. Also screening in Canada is German Short OUR WONDERFUL NATURE, winner of Best Animated Short at KFF 2008.

"It's such a joy to watch the audience reaction to those shorts, I really wish I was able to take the trip to Canada," laughed O' Mahony.

Samhlaiocht is supported through grant aid from The Arts Council, Kerry County Council, Failte Ireland and by the generous corporate sponsorship of Kerry Group.

For more information on Samhlaiocht please log on to www.samhlaiocht.com

For more information on the Nickel Film Festival please log onto www.nickelfestival.com