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Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland Shorts at the 69th Cork International Film Festival: Discover new stories from emerging Irish filmmakers

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Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland Shorts at the 69th Cork International Film Festival: Discover new stories from emerging Irish filmmakers

Posted: 1st November 2024

Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland is proud to present the World Premiere of new Irish short films funded under the Focus and Real Short film schemes, along with Cork picks of recent Screen Ireland short films, at the 69th Cork International Film Festival. 

The programme will screen on Saturday, 9th November at 2.30pm, and includes the World Premieres of Helen O'Reilly's Come Back and Tara Hegarty's Gael Force.  Tickets are available here.

The Frameworks short films featured in this screening are co-funded by RTÉ.

Find out more about the films on the programme below.

Come Back

11-year-old Jenny wants to restore her relationship with her older sister, but Lisa's new friends have other ideas.

Written and directed by Helen O'Reilly, produced by Nathan Griffin.

Speaking about the film ahead of the Premiere, writer and director Helen O'Reilly said:

It was an absolute dream to make ‘Come Back’ and we were so lucky to find the brilliant Hannah Dargan, Aoileann O’Leary, Amy Corbet, and Emily Walshe to play the teenagers in our coming-of-age drama. Aside from Hannah, the others hadn’t been on a film set before, but our amazing crew made them feel so welcome and I’m pretty sure they had the times of their lives. In fact, I can still hear Aoileann’s cries of ‘Ding Dong Darling’ when they were being called to set from hair and make-up each morning. We also had the most incredible team of artists working with us – from Sandra Dunne in Hair and Make-up to Colm Hogan, our DP; the legend that is Dougal Cousins who found Killadoon House as our main location; and Derek Wallace, our Production Designer, who transformed it into an eerie abandoned house which helped create the atmosphere on screen. With only eight hours each day from the time the actors arrived on set to when they left, our amazing AD, Emily Roche, had the set working like clockwork and we had so much fun.

An unforgettable experience that was so fulfilling for me both creatively and personally. I am so grateful to Screen Ireland for the opportunity.

Follow Come Back on its festival journey on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Gael Force

In 1999, the Irish national broadcaster, RTÉ, announced that its weather forecasters, who were trained meteorologist and household names, would be replaced by attractive young television presenters. But the people of Ireland had something to say about that.

Gael Force
Directed by Tara Hegarty, produced by Roisín Geraghty.

Speaking about the events documented in the short documentary and its contributors, director Tara Hegarty said:

We were so lucky that Evelyn Cusack kept an extensive personal archive of the events. People from all corners of the country and from all walks of life, wrote letters and the forecasters kept every one of the letters they received. These letters – along with the radio and newspaper archive - offer a lively insight into the shock, disappointment and often rage of the public at the time. 

Follow Gael Force on its festival journey on Little Rose Films' Instagram page.

Turnaround

Following a sudden, tragic bereavement, a West Cork cleaner must decide if she will uphold a tightly hidden secret whilst navigating the fast paced pressures of a tourist property turnaround.

Written and directed by Aisling Byrne, produced by Killian Coyle. Kilian Walters (Editor) and Daniel Keane (DOP) worked across production through Arcade Film.
Written and directed by Aisling Byrne, produced by Killian Coyle. Kilian Walters (Editor) and Daniel Keane (DOP) worked across production through Arcade Film.

Turnaround received its World Premiere earlier this year at the 36th Galway Film Fleadh, where it won the prestigious Academy Award-qualifying Tiernan McBride Award for Best Short Drama.

Follow Turnaround on its festival journey on the film's Instagram page and website.

Mero

Mero makes her way into the city by train. It feels like this might be her first time out in some time. She ducks into her favourite café where a mug of coffee and an encounter with a kindred spirit put her at ease.

Mero
Written and directed by Jack Phelan, produced by Claire Lennon.

Follow Mero on its festival journey on Fictions Pictures' Instagram.

One More Round

Based on the true stories of three Irish couples. Amy, a beauty therapist, and Darren, a street sweeper for Dublin City Council (The Corpo) are a working class Dublin couple, both 31, who have been struggling to conceive a baby. After Amy and Darren’s first failed attempt at IVF, funded by a credit union loan, Amy is desperate to try again. Without consulting Darren, Amy trades in her lovely little mini for an old Volkswagen polo and books them in for another round of treatment.

One More Round
Written by Lauren Larkin, directed by Barry John O'Connor, produced by Natalie Britton.

Follow One More Round on its festival journey on the film's Instagram page and website.

Peat

Anne Byrne, recently widowed, lives with her useless adult son, Petey. Left juggling housework and the bog, she's run ragged until her witchy neighbour Helen suggests building a Golem - a creature built for labour. But when Anne develops feelings for it, Petey fiercely rejects this new father figure.

Peat
Written and directed by Paudie Baggott, produced by Maggie Ryan.

Peat received its World Premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh last summer, and has since embarked on a festival journey across Ireland and the world, screening in festivals including Newport Beach Film Festival, Kerry International Film Festival and Belfast Film Festival. It recently picked up the Audience Choice Award at the Dark Hedges International Film Festival.

Follow Peat on its festival journey on the film's Instagram page.

Cat & Mouse

Disguised as a mouse, an inept thief makes an unlikely connection with a disgruntled waitress during a bungled diner robbery.

Cat & Mouse
Written by Clare Monnelly, directed by Michael-David McKernan, produced by Mícheál Fleming.

Following Irish screenings at the Galway Film Fleadh and the Kerry International Film Festival, Cat & Mouse received its North American Premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival last month alongside several other Screen Ireland supported short films, including Paudie Baggot's Peat and Allyn Quigley's Yellow Belt. The programme was received warmly and screened to a sold out audience, prompting the festival team to schedule a second screening a couple of days later.

Director and Michael-David McKernan and producer Mícheál Fleming ahead of the film's North American Premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
Director and Michael-David McKernan and producer Mícheál Fleming ahead of the film's North American Premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

Follow Cat & Mouse on its festival journey on the film's Instagram page.