Irish Programme Announced for Guth Gafa Documentary Film Festival
Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board (IFB) is delighted to announce it's support again this year as an industry partner for the 4th Guth Gafa International Documentary Film Festival which takes place in Gortahork, Donegal 12th - 14th June.A rich and varied Irish programme has been announced which includes world premieres, Irish language films and award winning shorts all of which have a focus, according to David Rane, Festival Programmer "on celebrating the power of the individual, of the community and of the unknown and unacknowledged people who set out to make a difference and change the world for the better."
Debut feature documentaries include the IFB-funded TODAY IS BETTER THAN TWO TOMORROWS, directed by Anna Rodgers, a coming-of-age film about two 11-year old boys who leave their village home to become novice monks in Laos, and IDENTITIES, directed by Vittoria Colonna, which explores the multi-cultural transgender community in Ireland, reflect the emerging talent of new directors in the Irish documentary world.
The world premiere of STOLEN CHILD, directed by Donegal resident, Niall O'Sullivan, will screen at the festival. It tells the tale of Palestinian child prisoners, incarcerated, sometimes for years, by the Israelis for offences such as throwing stones. This will be presented in a double bill with the screening of BLANKETMEN, which charts the morale of Republican prisoners through the tumultuous period of the 1976 - 1981 H-Block protests. Eight digital stories, made by asylum seekers in Ireland about their lives in direct provision hostels will also premiere at the festival.
A number of Irish language documentaries will screen over the weekend including FREDERICK DOUGLASS AGUS NA NEGROES BÁNA, directed by John Doherty and Dermot Nevin, which focuses on the slave turned abolitionist, Frederick Douglass, and his escape from slavery leading to refuge in Ireland at the peak of the Great Famine and MACGILL: TACHRÁN GAN TODCHAÍ, directed by Des Bell which is a docu-drama about navvy poet, novelist, dramatist and screen writer, Patrick McGill (played in the film by Stephen Rea) who went from crushing poverty in Donegal to become one of Ireland's most successful authors. Both documentaries received funding from the IFB.
Other Irish language films include PEADAIRIN NA STOIRME, directed by Paddy Hayes, which explores a new perspective on the life and works of Peadar O'Donnell, writer, agitator, radical and to many, the godfather of Irish socialism; AN MHUC DUBH, directed by Grainne McGuinness, takes a gentle nostalgic look at the old Donegal railway line through Fintown that closed in the 1940s; and TEAMHAIR by Colum Stapleton, which is an eclectic journey through the 5,000 year history of the Hill of Tara.
Guth Gafa International Documentary Festival, in the village of Gortahork in County Donegal, will be opened by Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan, and will run from the 12th to the 14th June.
As well as all the Irish documentaries at Guth Gafa, there is a programme of 21 award-winning international films along with panel discussions Representing Reality Beyond Verité: New Forms of Documentary and Documentary Cinema in Ireland and Europe: A Case Study and Comparison.
Some of the services available include the Festival Club and Café, scenic tours of Donegal on bus or bike, and a special children's programme, including films, art workshops and a free crèche.
David Rane said that "because of the support and commitment of the Guth Gafa team, our key sponsors, the Irish Film Board and Ealain na Gaeltachta, the many volunteers and the Gortahork community itself, Guth Gafa will be presenting it's most exciting and diverse festival yet".
Bookings can be made online at http://www.guthgafa.com/ and further information can be got from the Festival team on 074 9180730.