BSE/IFB, TG4 & IFI LAUNCH FREE DVD OF IRISH LANGUAGE SHORT FILMS FOR EVERY SCHOOL IN IRELAND
A new DVD for schools entitled GEARRSCANNÃIN containing a wealth of Irish language short films was launched today (Thursday 11th November) at a special screening for 100 schoolchildren at the Irish Film Institute.The GEARRSCANNÃIN DVD contains 9 short Irish films and an accompanying Education Guide which can be used by Irish language teachers to further promote the study of Irish by students. The 9 titles include the curriculum title CLARE SA SPÉIR which for the first time is part of the Leaving Certificate course this year.
In this revolutionary initiative, every secondary school in Ireland will receive one free copy of the GEARRSCANNÃIN DVD pack. The DVD is a collaboration between TG4, the national Irish language broadcaster, the Irish Film Institute whose remit is to promote film culture and Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (BSÉ/IFB), Ireland’s national screen agency.
“I am absolutely delighted to see a variety of institutions come together to make this project happen”, said Mr John O Donoghue, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. “Film illustrates how the areas of Education and Culture can collaborate on an imaginative project such as Gearrscannáin. This DVD of Irish films should really strike a chord with young students around Ireland”.
Mary Hanafin, Minister of Education commented “I welcome this new initiative as it presents an exciting and novel way of bringing the Irish language to life for Irish students. The use of contemporary Irish made films as an educational tool presents a new and invigorating way of teaching”.
At today’s launch in the Irish Film Institute, schoolchildren and filmmakers came together to watch a sample of some of the great Irish short films on offer. The GEARRSCANNÃIN DVD features such acclaimed actors as Brendan Gleeson, Cillian Murphy and Alan Leech who is currently starring in the Irish box office hit MAN ABOUT DOG.
Mark Woods, BSÉ/IFB CEO said “ We see this as a wonderful opportunity for the Irish Film Board to work with the Department of Education to collaborate on bringing Irish film into the classroom and promote Irish filmmakers’ work to a wider audience.”
8 of the titles on the GEARRSCANNÃIN DVD were commissioned as part of the OSCAILT initiative which is a short film scheme funded by TG4 and the Irish Film Board.
Proinsias Ni Ghrainne, Commissioning Editor at TG4 said “Oscailt films are written and made by a new generation of young and vibrant film -makers who have put a fresh face on storytelling in the Irish language. We hope that these stories will not only provide classroom content that students will connect with but also encourage students to write on their own experiences in Irish.”
The GEARRSCANNÃIN DVD also contains Yu Ming is Ainm Dom which just won an IFTA award adding to the accolades it has received worldwide.
“This is a great project which helps to bring the Irish language in from the fringes in arts education and also points the way forward for greater cooperation between the various cultural and state bodies “, added Mark Mulqueen, Director Irish Film Institute.
The GEARRSCANNÃIN DVD pack is available to secondary schools around Ireland via the Educational Centres. To find contact details for your nearest Educational Centre click here.
To download the Education Guide that accompanies the DVD click here: Education Guide