THE PIPE Continues its Festival Success with Screenings and Selections Across the Globe
The IFTA winning documentary THE PIPE has a busy few months ahead with scheduled screenings at various international festivals across the globe including the Stranger Than Fiction festival in New York and the San Francisco International Film Festival along with special screenings in New York City with Imagine Ireland.
Risteard Ó Domhnaill's documentary, which picked up the George Morrison Feature Documentary Award at last month's IFTA's, tells the compelling story of Rossport's struggle against the economic might of Shell and the tragic divisions that have split a once-peaceful and close knit community.
The passionate, brave and beautifully shot documentary, produced by Rachel Lysaght for Scannáin Inbhear with funding from the IFB and TG4, is no stranger to festival success having already received an Honourable Mention from the IDFA Green Screen Jury and official selections for the Berlin, London, Toronto and Palm Springs International film festivals.
In March THE PIPE will screen at the following festivals
- Zagrebdox, Croatia
- One World International Film Festival, Prague
- Boston Irish Film Festival (The Pipe will be the recipient of the Best Documentary award)
- Cleveland International Film Festival, USA
- Stranger Than Fiction, New York
- Human Rights Watch Film Festival, London
Screenings in April and May
- Dallas International Film Festival
- Celtic Media Festival, Scotland
- San Francisco International Film Festival
- Input, South Korea
- Special screenings in MOMA and New York Public Library with Imagine Ireland
ABOUT THE PIPE
The Pipe is a compelling documentary of Rossport's struggle against the economic might of Shell and the tragic divisions that have split a once-peaceful and close knit community.
Rossport is a tiny village of farmers and fishermen in north Mayo that has, for years, been resisting Shell's attempts to install a high-pressure pipeline to transport unprocessed gas from the massive new gas fields off the coast to an inland refinery. The government gave Shell compulsory acquisition powers over farmland in Rossport, and in June 2005, five local men were imprisoned for 94 days for defying a court order allowing Shell workers to enter their land. This set in train a cycle of protests, heavy-handed policing and a legal conflict that continues to this day. Years of protest have left bitter divisions in the community between moderate campaigners, those perceived to have 'sold out', and hardliners whose tactics have included direct action and a hunger strike.
For four years, Ó Domhnaill's intimate access allowed him follow three members of the community; Willie Corduff, one of the Rossport Five and his attempts to defend the farm his father reclaimed from the bog; Monica Müller who controversially refused to join protests but whose court action has delivered a major blow to Shell; and Pat 'The Chief' O'Donnell, a local fisherman who is repeatedly arrested for daringly sailing his small fishing boat into the path of the gigantic pipe-layer The Solitaire. The film captures the anxiety, anger and disillusionment of years of conflict as well as their passionate connection to the local environment, and the spirit, humour and heroism that sustains them.
Comments from the critics include:
"first rate" Variety
"O Domhnaill's engrossing and proactive documentary couldn't be more pertinent" - Screen International