NEW IRISH TALENT: BSÉ/IFB Short Shorts Premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh
The new line up of SHORT SHORTS will premiere during the Galway Film Fleadh this week, providing an opportunity to see an exciting new series of Irish short films, from both new and established directors currently working in the Irish film industry.Now in its fifth year, the Short Shorts film scheme has provided opportunities for filmmakers to produce 3-minute original films, which are used to promote the Irish film industry. Award winning films from this scheme include Ruairi Robinson’s Oscar nominated FIFTY PERCENT GREY, Melina Padua AGRICULTURAL REPORT, and Stephen Bradley’s NO, NO, NO. Every year a selection of the Short Shorts films are released theatrically with a major feature film in cinemas across Ireland.
This year sees an exciting mix of animated and live action films including animated short IT'S SOME KIND OF VOODOO directed by Nicky Phelan. Narrated by Neil Hannon from the band The Divine Comedy, IT'S SOME KIND OF VOODOO is a dark and gothic fairy tale of one man’s obsession gone too far, animated with string puppets. Phelan is a full time animation director with Brown Bag Films and has worked on a number of commercials and short films.
NO STRINGS ATTACHED, directed by Dave Chapman is a 2D animated humorous story about the loss of innocence and the power of imagination. Chapman has recently graduated from IADT and has previously worked with Kavaleer Productions.
There are a number of comic films on the theme of romance including Johnny O’Reilly’s live-action short 3MINUTE 4PLAY, a surreal tale of desire and jealousy starring Ruth Nega (BREAKFAST ON PLUTO) and Aprés Match comedian Risteard Cooper. O’Reilly previously directed The Terms which picked up over 21 prizes at international film festivals and was short listed for the 2002 Oscars. CAPITAL LETTERS writer-director Ciaran O’Connor has directed MAYBE IF YOU, a hilarious story of a couple trying to inject some spice into their relationship. CHANGES, directed by Lorcan Finnegan, who produced the series Wonderscreen broadcast on TV3 earlier this year, is a beautifully drawn animated short which takes a cynical look at relationships.
James Cotter has directed EGGS, a new take on Irish farming practices where new life stirs in the silage. Tom Hopkins, director of award winning short CLOSE selected for the Venice Film festival last year, has directed O a fast-paced story of life and death. Trevor Murphy has directed EYE SPY a sci-fi tale about a gigantic, alien, floating eyeball invading planet earth. Murphy has previously directed a number of animated short films. And finally Kealan O’Rourke’s film SILVER LINING is a surreal tale of an elderly man overcoming many obstacles with a little magical intervention. Kealan has directed a second short film BEFORE SUNRISE which will also premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh this year .
Don’t miss the opportunity to see all of these short films at the Galway Film Fleadh this Sunday July 10th at 2.30pm.
The next deadline to apply for to the Short Shorts film scheme is September 9th 2005.
For more information on these films and for details on how to apply for the Short Short scheme please visit www.filmboard.ie