IFTN's weekly film festival round up returns, turning the spotlight on new Irish comedy at Washington, documentary plaudits at Warsaw, and a heavy presence for Irish animation at the Savannah Film Festival.
Comedy Short 'Spot' To Screen At Capital Irish Film Festival
Fresh from their award victory at the Corona Fastnet Short Film Festival, Irish filmmakers Carl Collins and Cormac McDonagh will see their comedy short 'Spot' screen to wider US audiences this December.
As part of a professed mission to "bring the best in new artistic talent from Ireland to audiences in America", Washington D.C.'s Capital Irish Film Festival will screen 'Spot' as part of a wider festival programme designed to highlight low-budget Irish productions to American audiences and buyers.
'Spot', which features a bizarre day in the life of used-car salesman Gerry, was directed by Carl Collins from a script written by McDonagh, who also stars in the lead role. IADT graduates both, Collins and McDonagh also produced the film with Liz Seaver composing the score.
The Capital Irish Film Festival takes place from Decemeber 5-8, and will also feature screenings of Mark O' Connor's 'Stalker' and Lance Daly's 'Life's A Breeze'.
Get the Picture wins audience award at Warsaw International Film Festival
'Get the Picture', a documentary detailing the story of famous photojournalist John G. Morris, has screened at the prestigious Warsaw International Film Festival and collected the Audience Award for documentary film.
Produced by Ferndale Films, the documentary marks the directorial debut of industry veteran Cathy Pearson. Currently mid-festival circuit with screenings at Raindance, the Hamptons and the Stockholm International Film Festival, this marks the second award for 'Get the Picture', having already picked up Best Irish Documentary at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival earlier this year.
The film was funded through a combination of crowd-funding and IFB allocations, and will continue the on the festival circuit in the hopes of adding to its already-impressive victories.
Frameworks Animation at the Savannah Film Festival
This year's Savannah Film Festival features a heavy Irish presence, with three of the seven films screening in the festival's Professional Animation category having received funding the Irish Film Board's Frameworks short film scheme.
'Irish Folk Furniture', 'The Missing Scarf' and 'Fear of Flying' all screened on Sunday October 27th as part of the short film programme, and will feature again on Friday November 1st.
Directed by Tony Donoghue ('A Film From My Parish'), 'Irish Folk Furniture' details the social and cultural history of Irish farmhouse furniture. The documentary picked up the award for Best Animation at Sundance.
'Fear of Flying' is directed by Conor Finnegan and has already picked up the Audience Award at Glasgow Film Festival and Best Animation at the Galway Film Fleadh, while 'The Missing Scarf- - directed by Eoin Duffy - previous won critical acclaim and the award for Best Animation at the LA Shorts Fest 2013.
The repeat screenings of all three films will be followed by Q&A's with 'Irish Folk Furniture' and 'The Missing Scarf' directors Donoghue and Duffy, respectively.
Frameworks is an Irish Film Board scheme devised to stimulate ground-breaking new work from Irish animators. It is co-funded by RTÉ and the Arts Council.
