Forty Foot Up for Prize – 1st April 2009

Leticia Agudo, Paul McGrath & Aoibheann O'Sullivan, under the name An Lár, have made the finalists of the International Documentary Challenge 2009 with their short film Forty Foot.

During 5-9 March, 142 filmmakers from 15 countries made 116 short non-fiction films with the assigned theme of ‘Hope and/or Fear’. 13 finalists will screen at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival on 9th May, 2009 at 9 pm where the winners will be announced.

Filmed at the 40 Foot swimming spot in Sandycove, the short focuses on the people who have been swimming there for years through snow, gales or sunny mornings. The film sheds light on what happens there every morning and demonstrates that it is much more than just swimming.

To see information posted on the filmmaker’s blog during the process of the project, please click here.

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In The Blood to Screen on RTÉ 1 – 1st April 2009

In The Blood, an hour-long documentary telling the remarkable story of The Kilfenora Céilí Band, will be broadcast at 22.30 on Tuesday, 7th April, on RTÉ 1. This legendary band is now celebrating one hundred years in existence.

Directed by John O’Donnell, the documentary explores The Kilfenora Céilí Band, both past and present and looks at how their music evolved from the Fife and Drum band of the 1800s into the Brass and Reid at the turn of the century before eventually settling into a ten piece band of wind and string instruments.

The documentary was funded by the Broadcast Commission of Ireland, Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board, the Arts Council and RTÉ, and includes contributions from such well–respected musicians and broadcasters as PJ Curtis and Kieran Hanrahan.

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Wexford Student Wins Ireland's Young Filmmaker Award – 27th March 2009

17-year-old student Nicholas Sheridan has been named as Ireland’s Young Filmmaker for 2009 at this year’s Fresh Film Festival in Limerick. His extraordinarily powerful film The Grim Trials of Vida Novac, dealing with racism, poverty and illness, took first prize at the festival, which is host to the premier accolade in Ireland for filmmakers aged 18 and under.

There were 180 entries in all competitions at this year’s festival, which also offered a forum for young filmmakers, workshops and exhibitions, screening of features and other events. 

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Short Film Festival in Berlin Seeking Submissions – 27th March 2009

The interfilm 25th International Short Film Festival in Berlin, which runs from 3–8 November 2009, is now accepting submissions for its international competition.

The competition is open to films completed after 2006 with a maximum running time of 30 minutes.

Please note that the deadline for submissions is 26th June 2009.

For further information please click here.

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5th Annual Directors Finders Series 2009 – 25th March 2009

The Directors Finders Series Award presents an Irish director with an opportunity to showcase their film in the state-of-the-art Director’s Guild of America Theatre, Sunset Boulevard, LA, to an audience of American distributors and industry personnel with a view to securing a U.S. distribution deal.

The Directors Finders Series spotlights works of fiction, documentary or drama feature submissions from Irish directors who have not secured US distribution for their films.

An international panel of experts, which includes a representative from Pathe UK, will select the winning director and film. The film and the director will then travel to LA, where an official screening will take place.

The winning film will be launched on 16th July in Dublin in The Morrison Hotel at a special awards ceremony hosted by internationally acclaimed directors Neil Jordan and Jim Sheridan.

The deadline for applications for this year’s event is 27th April 2009.

Applications are available to download on www.sdgi.ie

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Corona Fastnet Short Film Festival – 25th March 2009

The Mizen Peninsula is Ireland's most southwesterly point. Its nearest cinema is an hour away by car in Bantry. Despite this fact, this year it will host its first Short Film Festival. The films will be screened in the Cinemobile – Ireland’s first state of the art 100 seater mobile cinema.

The festival will run from 14–17 May and all films submitted for the festival will be screened in various venues around Schull. The shortlisted films in each category will be screened in the Cinemobile in town.

Three major Irish film directors – Kirsten Sheridan, Gerard Stembridge and Jim Sheridan – have thrown their full weight behind the project and have committed to attending the festival, showing films and running workshops.

For further information please visit www.fastnetshortfilmfestival.com

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National College of Art and Design Free Exhibition – 25th March 2009

Dublin’s Light House Cinema will be providing the camera obscura setting for a unique display of developing work of 22 artists from the National College of Art and Design (NCAD). The exhibition will be open daily from 1.30 pm–9 pm from 27th March until 6th April, and will be free of charge and open to the public.

The students, who are from a range of post graduate programmes, will be showcasing works from a broad range of media, including design, digital arts, painting, photography, installation, performance and sculpture.

For Information on the show please visit www.cameraobscura.ie

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US Film to Go Into Production in Ireland – 25th March 2009

The US feature film Leap Year starring Amy Adams (Doubt, Enchanted) and Matthew Goode (Watchmen) will go into production in Ireland at the end of this month.

Scripted by Harry Elfont, Deborah Kaplan (Made of Honour) and Simon Beaufoy, who won the Oscar® for Best Adapted Screenplay for Slumdog Millionaire, Leap Year has an Irish budget of $16.5 million which will be spent directly on Irish crew and services. The film is directed by Anand Tucker (When Did You Last See Your Father?) and will prep and shoot in various locations throughout the country over a 4–5 month period creating 150 jobs for local crew and hiring approximately 1500 extras during this time.

The film will be produced by Spyglass Entertainment and co–produced by Morgan O’Sullivan and James Flynn of World 2000, based at Ardmore Studios.

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New Video Works by Anthony Haughey – 25th March 2009

Nearly 6,000 immigrants have died on the frontiers of Europe since 1988. Among them, 1,883 have been lost at sea in the Sicilian Channel between Libya, Tunisia, Malta and Italy. Prospect, a new video work by Anthony Haughey, highlights this neglected issue, exploring personal stories and experiences of illegal immigrants in ‘Fortress Europe’.

In Progress ll, a video work made in collaboration with Susanne Bosch, the camera moves continually around a dinner table, at which a group of recent migrants to Ireland are telling stories.

Launched on Friday 20th March, the screenings take place over the following weekends (Fri–Sun) up until 12th April in the Gallery of Photography, Meeting House Square in Temple Bar.

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Filmsense – 25th March 2009

The Graduate School of Creative Arts and Media and The National Film School, Institute of Art Design & Technology (IADT), Dún Laoghaire present a one–day conference on Film and Education – Filmsense, which will take place on Friday, 24th April 2009 at IADT Dún Laoghaire

The conference will seek to explore the relationship between film as a technical medium, pedagogy and creativity. Of particular interest is how the processes of filmmaking are taught within national curricula at primary, secondary and tertiary level.

For a full programme of events including registration and further details please visit www.gradcam.ie

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Human Rights Film School Competition – 25th March 2009

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties’ (ICCL) inaugural Human Rights Film School Competition is fast–reaching its closing date of 17th April 2009.

Five shortlisted films will be shown at a Gala Screening early this summer and adjudged by the ICCL’s prestigious competition jury, which includes directors Kirsten Sheridan, Jim Sheridan and Rebecca Miller. The winning filmmaker will be awarded a place in the Summer School on Film and Human Rights, which takes place during the Venice Biennale this summer.

For further information please click here.

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Boy in the Striped Pyjamas as Educational Tool – 25th March 2009

A nationwide study, commissioned by Miramax Films and the London Jewish Cultural Centre to mark the DVD release of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas on 9th March, surveyed 1,200 British secondary school children of all religions about their knowledge of the subject.

The results found that, despite the fact that Holocaust studies are part of the national curriculum in English secondary schools, two in three (63%) pupils underestimate the death toll at concentration camps by as much as five million lives.

A quarter (25%) of respondents do not know what Auschwitz was, with one in ten (8%) mistaking it for a country bordering Germany. Others believe it to be a type of bread or a beer–like drink.

Some taking part in the study – the equivalent of over 135,000 secondary school pupils – even misidentified images of historical figures such as Winston Churchill, Salvador Dali and Albert Einstein as Adolf Hitler.

Makers of the movie Miramax Films are now working with the charity Film Education to encourage use of the DVD of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas as the basis for increasing children’s knowledge of what happened.

To download survivor transcript, clips, image and artwork from The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas please click here.

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Irish TV & Film Freelancers Directory – 25th March 2009

Irish TV & Film Freelancers Directory is a new website for industry professionals allowing them to list their contact details, CV and other information which will enable production companies here and abroad to find and hire freelance professionals. 

To visit the site please go to www.callsheet.ie

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Filmbase to Host a Free Info Session on Podcasting – 25th March 2009

Filmbase will host a free information session on podcasting this April. The session will outline current trends in the use of podcasting by artists, teachers and organisations and will take place from 10.30 am until 1 pm on Wednesday April 1st at Filmbase. The session will show how podcasting can be used as a learning tool by filmmakers and artists, and how filmmakers can use podcasting to distribute their own content online.

Topics to be covered will include: What is podcasting?; trends in the use of podcasting by artists: how music and video is being distributed online by bands; trends in the use of podcasting by teachers: learning online using podcasting, with specific reference to online post production tutorials for filmmakers; trends in the use of podcasting by organisations such as art galleries and film festivals; online distribution methods for podcasts; and technical aspects of podcast distribution & preparing content for the web.

The session will be led by multimedia producer and filmmaker John Callaghan. John produces and directs short films, music videos and mini documentaries. He also runs the successful video podcast site www.TheBubble.ie and is co–owner of the video production company Mercury Boy. John also releases his own work under the name Cal–TV.

If you would like to register an interest in attending this session please email your full name and contact details to events@filmbase.ie.

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Metrodome DVD Giveaway: Winner Announced – 25th March 2009

We are pleased to announce that the winner of our Metrodome competition is Francesco Pilla. Congratulations!

The answer to our question 'Who is the first Colombian to ever receive an Oscar® nomination?' was Catalina Sandino Morena.

Keep an eye on www.filmireland.net for more competitions!

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Finscéal Pháidí to Screen at Palm Beach International Film Festival – 24th March 2009

The short film, Finscéal Pháidí, which launched recently to a full house at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, has been selected to screen in competition at the 2009 Palm Beach International Film Festival. The festival will take place from 23–27 April at various locations throughout Palm Beach County. Winners will be announced at a private ceremony on 27th April

Finscéal Pháidí (Páidí's Tale) is the latest project from the team behind the multi award–winning short film Mac an Athar. Written and directed by Colm Bairéad and produced by Greg Corcoran for Fingers Crossed Films, Finscéal Pháidí, a 15 minute short film, was commissioned as part of the Filmbase / TG4 Lasair scheme with support from Gael Linn and Foras na Gaeilge. 

Next up for Finscéal Pháidí on the festival front will be The Cleveland International Film Festival (19–29 March). Following Cleveland is the Jameson Belfast Film Festival in April where Finscéal Pháidí will be screening in the highly competitive Jameson Short Film Competition.

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11th Annual Scriptapalooza Screenplay Competition – 24th March 2009

The Scriptapalooza Screenwriting Competition, which was founded in 1998, is now accepting submissions for this year’s competition. Each year dozens of production companies and literary representatives sign on as participants to read Scriptapalooza's winners, finalists and semifinalists.

The final deadline for submissions is 15th April 2009.

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Cinemagic Festival 2009 – 24th March 2009

The Cinemagic Film and Television Festival for Young People is coming back to Dublin. From 6–13 May young film and TV enthusiasts will have a wealth of screenings, masterclasses with film and television industry guests, workshops for schools, a cross border jury panel and Q&A’s to chose from. All of these aim to entertain, motivate and create opportunities for young people aged 4–25.

To view the festival programme online please visit www.cinemagic.ie

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Film Offaly Award 2009: Call for Entries – 10th March 2009

Film Offaly are looking for unique, original stories by talented new filmmakers, professional and novice alike. The winner will receive: €8,000 towards the cost of their production; a premier in Tullamore Omniplex Cinema; 1-year's Filmbase membership to the writer, producer and director of the winning film; a 50% discount on production equipment and/or editing facilities from Filmbase for the project; and Filmbase's production insurance to cover the shoot. The only stipulation is that the filming must take place in Offaly.

Applicants should submit a script including a 500-word synopsis of the film project. Submissions should be sent to Film Offaly, Offaly County Council, Charleville Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

Closing date for submissions is 3rd April.

For more information please visit www.filmoffaly.ie or call 057 9357400.

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Funding Announced for Irish Language Projects – 10th March 2009

As a result of its first funding round in 2009, the Irish Language Broadcast Fund has announced its latest funding decisions. The wide range projects awarded includes a third series of youth drama Seacht and a docu-drama about Charles Byrne, an 8ft tall ‘giant’ Tyrone man who lived in the 1700s.

For a full listing of all projects awarded and more information, please click here.

The remaining deadlines for 2009 are Friday 29th May and Friday 25th September.

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Nationwide Release for Irish Feature WC – 10th March 2009

WC is being released in cinemas across Ireland from 13th March ’09. Written and directed by Liam O Mochain, the film will screen at Movies@Dundrum, SGC Dungarvan, and Eye Cinema Galway.

Starring Julia Wakeham (The Tudors) and Liam O Mochain (The Book That Wrote Itself), the film is set in and around the male and female toilets of a Dublin jazz bar and follows the trials and tribulations of two low-paid toilet attendants and the people they serve.

WC had its world premiere at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival and screened at the Montreal World Film festival, the Galway Film Fleadh, Zimbabwe International Film Festival, won best feature film at the Waterford Film Festival, screened in Competition at the Cairo International Film Festival and has been invited to screen in the Las Vegas International Film Festival in April ’09.

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IFI Anime Weekend – 10th March 2009

A weekend of Japanese Anime will be taking place 28–29 March at the IFI. Presented by the Irish Film Institute, the Embassy of Japan in Ireland and the Japan Foundation, the weekend will offer Irish audiences a rare chance to see four 21st century anime movies on the big screen.

The weekend kicks off with Naruto: Legend of the Stone of Gelel, a taste of the Naruto phenomenon that has a huge young fan base. Rintaro’s Metropolis is a more grown-up anime film based on a reimagining of Fritz Lang’s famous 1927 vision of the same name. Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence fast-forwards to 2032 and takes us to a cyborg society where unmodified humans have become a threatened minority. Sword of the Stranger offers a more traditional view of Japan: an anime take on the classic live-action films of samurai swordplay.

IFI are delighted to welcome Masahiro Andô, director of Sword of the Stranger, for a Q&A after the film’s screening. There will be two free talks from renowned anime expert Helen McCarthy: A Brief History of Post-War Japanese Animation (including an interview with Masahiro Andô) and Japanese Anime for Adults.

Free tickets for the talks need to be reserved through the IFI box office. There is a special rate for the Anime festival of €5 per screening for under-16s and students. Tickets can be booked in person at the IFI box office, by telephone on 01 679 3477 or online a www.ifi.ie

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Win for The Secret of Kells – 10th March 2009

The Secret of Kells, a co-production between Ireland, France and Belgium, has won best director (Tomm Moore) and best producer (Cartoon Saloon, Les Armateurs and Vivi Film) of the year at Cartoon Movie Tributes 2009, awards given at the annual Cartoon Movie forum. The three-day event is a business forum for the European animation industry and held its 11th edition 4–6 March in Lyon, France

620 sector professionals came together to see over 50 productions including both completed films and works in progress. One of the new developments of Cartoon Movie 2009 was the participation of producers from the videogame industry. 3D films targeted at family audiences are also extremely popular.

Since 1999, more than 130 projects with a total budget of €800 million have obtained full financing due to this annual forum aimed at strengthening the production and distribution of animated feature films in Europe. Cartoon Movie's next edition will be held in Lyon from 3–5 March, 2010.

The Secret of Kells is currently on nationwide release in cinemas.

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Galway Fleadh Call for Submissions ’09 – 10th March 2009

The 21st Galway Film Fleadh will take place from 7–12 July 2009 and has opened its call for submissions. The Fleadh accepts feature films, documentary features and short films. Screening at an earlier film festival will not preclude selection, although priority will be given to European and world premieres.

Entry forms are now available for both features and shorts and the deadline for feature submission is Friday 17th April; the shorts deadline is Friday 15th May.

For further information, please visit www.galwayfilmfleadh.com

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BSÉ/IFB Short Shorts Deadline Announced – 10th March 2009

Bord Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board have announced a call for submissions for the next round of the successful Short Shorts scheme. The new deadline for the scheme is Friday, 8th May 2009.

Short Shorts funds up to seven, 3–5 minute films and aims to encourage the making of ultra-short films which are innovative, provocative or in some way risky and rule-breaking. The scheme was modified last year so that the films have to conform to a particular genre each year.

The theme for this years short films, whether live action or animated is ‘Films with No Dialogue.’ This does not mean silent films, but rather films where the soundtrack can contain anything except audible dialogue. The Mr. Bean television series and related feature film is a good example of this type of genre. It is hoped that having the shorts packaged together under this specific genre will allow the IFB to market the Short Shorts more effectively internationally.

The successful short films will premiere at the Cork Film Festival in October. For more information please click here.

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Free Talk at Silent Film Festival – 10th March 2009

There will be a free talk at the Killruddery Silent Film Festival 2009, which takes place 13–15 March in Killruddery, Bray, Co Wicklow.

‘From Silent cinema to a cinema of Silence’, a talk by Katherine Waugh, will take place Saturday 14th March at 1.00 pm.

Waugh will look at the resurgence of interest in ‘silence’ in the new ‘genre’ of contemplative cinema and will focus on early and silent cinema and the continuing relevance they hold for contemporary artists and filmmakers. Katherine Waugh is a freelance writer on contemporary art and film.

For further information, please click here.

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Imagine Cup Deadline Extended – 10th March 2009

The deadline for the 2009 Imagine Cup has been extended to 1st April. Now in its sixth year, The Imagine Cup is an annual competition aimed at third level students that encourages young people across the globe to apply their imagination, passion and creativity to technological innovations that can make a difference in today's world. To enter the short film strand of the competition, participants have to submit a three-minute script or storyboard responding to the statement: ‘Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems facing us today.’

Irish finalists will be brought to Egypt to participate in the Imagine Cup World Finals, where they are required to make a short film inspired by their winning idea. A prize of $8000 USD will be awarded to the overall winning entry.

Click here to register and gain access to some free Microsoft software.

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The Secret of Kells Nationwide Release – 9th March 2009

The Irish animated feature film The Secret of Kells, directed by Tomm Moore and produced by Cartoon Saloon is currently on nationwide release in cinemas.

For more information about the film, please visit
http://theblogofkells.blogspot.com

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Veteran Actress Anna Manahan Passes Away – 9th March 2009

Born in Waterford City, Anna Manahan played numerous roles in Irish and English theatre, television and film in an acting career that spanned five decades.

Manahan’s theatre career was highly successful; in 1998 she won the Tony Award for her performance in the critically-acclaimed Broadway production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane.

She had a long run in Fair City and roles in The Clinic, Lovejoy and The Bill. Manahan also appeared in several feature film roles, including A Man of No Importance (1994), Hear My Song (1991) and She Didn’t Say No! (1958), a film which challenged the social mores of the time.

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DVD Giveaway! – 9th March 2009

Answer this simple question to be in with the chance of winning the 'scary as hell' (Toronto International Film Festival) They Wait, starring Sin City's Jaime King, and The Heart of the Earth, a historical epic starring Catalina Sandino Morena, of the Oscar®-nominated Maria Full of Grace.

Who is the first Colombian to ever receive an Oscar® nomination?

Email answers with your name, address and phone number to competitions@filmbase.ie. The deadline to enter the competition is Monday, 23rd March. Winners will be announced online on 24th March.

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Huston School at African Film Festival – 6th March 2009

Rod Stoneman and James Finlan of NUI Galway’s Huston School of Film & Digital Media have travelled to Western Africa for the continent’s largest film festival, FESPACO. Held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, the film festival first started 40 years ago and has evolved into an internationally renowned event.

The team from NUI Galway will continue a long-standing collaboration with the Imagine Film School in Ouagadougou, by running a newsreel workshop for its students. The resulting newsreels will be shown on television and in cinemas throughout Ouagadougou as part of the festival, which runs 28th February–7th March.

For further information about the festival, please visit http://www.fespaco.bf/index_A.html

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Jim Sheridan to present IFI’s St. Patrick’s Festival Film – 6th March 2009

Darby O’Gill and the Little People is to be introduced by Jim Sheridan at the IFI as the Irish Film Archive celebrates St Patrick’s Day.

Joining the St. Patrick’s Festival 2009 in celebration of all things green, the Irish Film Archive is proud to present Disney’s Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959), the tale of a crock of gold, a wily Irishman and his battle of wits with the King of the Leprechauns.

Although actor Cyril Cusack and Chief Justice (later President) Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh are said to have picketed the film’s launch for what they felt was its ridiculous stereotyping of Irish people, this boisterous romp features sparkling performances by Jimmy O’Dea, Albert Sharpe and a young Sean Connery. Jim Sheridan will introduce this, one of his all-time favourite ‘Irish’ films, which, he says, features ‘some of the best performances ever by Irish actors Jimmy O’Dea and Albert Sharpe.’

Darby O’Gill and the Little People will be screened at the IFI on Saturday 14th March 2009 at 5 pm.

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Amsterdam Art Film Festival – 6th March 2009

The year 2009 marks the beginning of the construction of the new Filmmuseum and therefore this year’s edition of DOKU.ARTS will concentrate on architecture. From 11–14 June at the Filmmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, around thirty creative documentaries about art and artists will be screened at the fourth edition of the festival.

The festival mainly focuses on films neglected by major international festivals and on cultural productions less often screened by public broadcasters. Directors of all nominated films are invited to be present at the festival. Highlights from the Filmmuseum’s collection are also screened. On Friday, 12th June 2009, the Mediafonds will host a one-day seminar, aimed at professionals, about documentary film and architecture.

For more information please visit www.doku-arts.com

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Discovery Campus Documentary Forum – 6th March 2009

The Discovery Campus ‘Seriously on Series’ will be taking place 7–8 March in Munich. This will be an in-depth look at documentary series with panel discussions, case studies and clips, attended by the major players in Europe and North America: Discovery Communications Europe, France 5, PBS International and ZDF/ARTE, amongst others.

To read the detailed programme, please click here.

To look at the list of experts who will be attending, please click here.

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Córdoba Animation Festival Call for Entries – 6th March 2009

The Association for the Development of the Animation Industry of Córdoba is announcing the call for entries for the 5th International Animation Film Festival of Córdoba, Animacor'09, which will be held from 2–7 November.

A total of €39,000 will be awarded to prize-winners in the course of the festival. The winners will also receive the ‘Carrasquito’ statue.

Animacor'09 screens not only films from European and Latin American countries, but also from South Korea, Iran, Canada, Russia and Japan. The festival will also feature matinee screenings for schools, evening screenings held in the Filmoteca (Film Archives) of Andalusia and exhibitions and workshops devoted to the application of new technologies in animation.

For more information, please visit www.animacor.com

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Portuguese International Film Festival – 6th March 2009

FEST, the International Film Festival Portugal, will take place 21–28 June. The Official competitive section in the festival, aimed at directors up to 30 years of age, has five categories: Fiction, Documentary, Experimental, Animation and Music Videoclip. The Silver Castle competition is also open for feature films from directors for whom this is their first or second work. The festival does not charge an entry fee.

For further information, please click here.

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Diploma Spriocdháta/Deadline – 6th March 2009

Tá an spriocdháta d'áiteanna ar an gCúrsa Ard Diploma i Léiriú Teilifíse le Nemeton/WIT, ag druidim linn go tapaidh: 17 Aibreán. Tá gach táille ar an gcúrsa seo clúdaithe.

Tá níos mó eolais anseo.
www.nemeton.ie/nemeton/pages/english/training_education.html

The deadline for the hugely successful Nemeton/WIT TV Production Higher
Diploma is fast approaching: April 17th. Course fees for the Diploma are fully covered.

For more information, please click here.
www.nemeton.ie/nemeton/pages/english/training_education.html

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Record Cinema-Going in Jan ’09 – 6th March 2009

In line with the trend of recent years, the number of people going to the cinema throughout the Republic of Ireland continues to rise. January 2009 recorded a year on year increase of 2%. More than 1.7 million Irish cinema-goers went to their local cinema in January ’09, the highest ever recorded January admissions figure.

Irish admissions per capita are the highest in Europe, with ROI admissions per capita at 4.3, in comparison to the EU average, which is 1.96 per capita.

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All Day Free Films – 6th March 2009

To mark International Women’s Day on Sunday 8th March 2009, the Progressive Film Club will be having a festival of films made by and about women, beginning at 11 am and continuing all day at the New Theatre in Temple Bar. Films include a community-made film about Fatima Mansions and Zanzibar Soccer Queens, a film about a group of young women who determine to better their lives and to define new identities through playing football. Admission is free.

For further information and a full programme, please visit www.progressivefilmclub.ie.

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MUFF Call for Entries – 11th February 2009

The 6th Mid Ulster Film Festival is due to take place 1–3 May 2009 at The Ulster History Park, Gortin Road, Omagh.

The festival is currently open for submissions. Please note that the closing date for entry of all films is 19th March 2009.

For entry forms please visit www.midulsterfilmfestival.com

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Public Interview with Liam Neeson – 11th February 2009

The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival has confirmed it will be hosting a Public Interview with acclaimed Irish actor Liam Neeson. The interview is to be conducted by film critic Michael Dwyer and it will be a unique opportunity to hear the star of Schindler's List and Michael Collins talk about his life and work.

The event takes place on Saturday 21st February at 4 pm in Cineworld. Tickets cost 10 euro. To book a ticket for this special event please click here or contact the Box Office in Filmbase, Curved Street, Temple Bar (0)1 672 8861.

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Breaking Boundaries to Open Heart of Gold Film Festival – 11th February 2009

Irish documentary Breaking Boundaries has been confirmed as the opening film in this year’s Heart of Gold Film Festival in Queensland, Australia.

Directed by Paul Davey, the documentary follows the Irish cricket team over six remarkable weeks in the Caribbean at the ICC Cricket World Cup, which saw the face of cricket change forever as Ireland took its place among the cricketing nations of the world.

The festival runs from 25–29 March. For more information please visit www.heartofgold.com.au

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Arts Council Congratulates Martin McDonagh – 11th February 2009

The Chairman of the Arts Council, Pat Moylan has sent her congratulations to Irish writer Martin McDonagh who on Sunday night won a BAFTA award for best original screenplay for the film In Bruges.

‘This is a wonderful achievement by a very talented writer, and the Arts Council is proud of its association with Martin McDonagh. The public can be proud of the continuing success of Irish artists at home and abroad, and the key role that the taxpayers' funding for the arts plays in sustaining our vibrant and creative society’, Ms Moylan said.

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IFI's Ireland on Sunday Series Continues with Tailwind – 11th February 2009

Tailwind is to be screened as part of the IFI’s Ireland on Sunday series. The documentary is the work of John T. Davis, one of Ireland's most respected and admired filmmakers.

Through a series of interviews with WWII veterans, including pilots, WAAFs, civilians and war–brides, Tailwind tells the story of tens of thousands of men and women from every Allied nation who came to Northern Ireland to prepare themselves, and their aircraft, for frontline action and to participate in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Ireland on Sunday is a strand of programming at the IFI which offers audiences and filmmakers an opportunity to engage with new Irish work. Director John T. Davis will participate in a post–screening Q&A session.

Tailwind (+Q&A) will be screened at the IFI on Sunday 22nd February at 1 pm. Tickets can be booked by telephone on 01 679 3477 or online here.

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The Secret of Kells and Cherrybomb Premiere at Berlin – 9th February 2009

Irish films The Secret of Kells and Cherrybomb had their world premieres yesterday at the Berlin International Film Festival.

The Secret of Kells, directed by Tomm Moore and produced by European Producer of the Year, Cartoon Saloon, is a beautifully animated film featuring the voice talent of Brendan Gleeson and Mick Lally and will screen as part of the Generation K plus section of the festival.

Cherrybomb, directed by Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Leyburn and written by Daragh Carville has been officially selected as part of the Generation 14Plus programme. It stars Robert Sheehan, Rupert Grint and Kimberley Nixon.

Irish audiences will have an opportunity to see both films during the upcoming Jameson Dublin International Film Festival. The Secret of Kells will close this year’s festival on 22nd February at the Savoy. Cherrybomb screens on 20th February at Cineworld.

Irish talent is well represented at the Berlin festival with a wide number of producers travelling to raise finance for their feature films. A number of emerging Irish filmmakers have also been selected to participate in an exciting international initiative Advance Party II which will develop eight new films from some of the most exciting filmmaking talent emerging from the UK and Ireland. Eight directors were selected and include emerging Irish filmmakers Rory Bresnihan, Ciaran Foy, Oscar® nominee Steph Green and Enda Hughes, who will come together at the festival to work together on eight new scripts.

Other new Irish filmmakers have been selected for the prestigious Berlin Talent Campus at the festival. Filmmakers include Patrick Butler (director/producer), Narayan Van Maele (cinematographer/director), Lauren Mackenzie, (writer/director), Michael Kinirons, (writer/director), John Hayes (director) and Rebecca Daly (director).

An Irish reception at the Festival will take place tonight to celebrate new Irish cinema at the festival and to provide key networking opportunities for the industry delegates.

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Instituto Cervantes Screenings – 9th February 2009

Cowards is to be screened as part of the Jameson International Film Festival in colloboration with the Instituto Cervantes and the Spanish Embassy of Ireland. The Screen Cinema will show the film on 14th February at 8.50 pm and again on 17th February at 4 pm. For tickets and further information please click here.

The documentary Castells (Castles) will be screened on 18th February and Antonio's Steps will be screened on 25th February. Both films are at 6.30 pm at Instituto Cervantes and entry to both is free.

Further information please visit dublin.cervantes.es

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Ireland to Sign Co–Production Agreement with Hungary – 9th February 2009

Representatives of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board and the Hungarian Motion Picture Public Foundation are to sign a co–production agreement in Berlin on Sunday February 8 with the aim to foster co–productions between the two territories.

The deal includes a reciprocal feature whereby producers from both countries will take turns acting as majority co–producers.

This agreement would work on the basis that when a co–production in which the majority of the budget comes from the Irish side occurs, this will be followed by a co–production in which the equivalent percentage comes from the Hungarian side.

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George Morrison to Receive a VOLTA – 3rd February 2009

Renowned Irish documentary maker and archivist George Morrison will receive the lifetime achievement award, the VOLTA, at the 2009 Jameson Dublin International Film Festival (12–22 February 2009).

The 50th anniversary screening of Morrison's 1959 masterpiece Mise Éire will take place as part of the festival on Tuesday 17th February at 8.30 pm in Cineworld.

The film will be introduced by Ceann Comhairle, John O'Donoghue, who will present George Morrison with the VOLTA on behalf of the festival.

To book tickets for this special event please click here.

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Stranger Than Fiction Documentary Festival – 3rd February 2009

The IFI Stranger Than Fiction Documentary Festival will run from 18–21 June and the submission deadlines have just been announced.

The programmers are looking for submissions of short documentary films (maximum of 15 minutes) in the following categories for possible inclusion in the festival: Short Irish Films and Short International Films.

Submissions should be addressed to: Submissions Co–Ordinator, Stranger Than Fiction, Irish Film Institute, 6 Eustace Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Please note that submissions must arrive before the final closing date of 4th May 2009 with a non–refundable entry fee of €25 in order to be considered for inclusion in the festival. Entry is free if submissions are received by the 1st April 2009.

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Video Competition – 3rd February 2009

Private I, Public Eye is a video making competition for the public launched by the Data Protection Commissioner to mark Europe Data Protection Day (28th January 2009).

The competition, which is being run in conjunction with Google aims to encourage debate and create awareness of data protection and privacy issues. Winning entries will be posted on YouTube. In addition, a prize fund of €10,000 has been created with a first prize of €5,000.

The competition is open to anyone over 13 years of age. A video on the theme Private I, Public Eye must be submitted before the 30th of April to the Data Protection Commissioner's YouTube channel.

For further details on the competition, judging and rules please click here. 

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The Seasons with Kila Musicians – 3rd February 2009

The Irish Film Archive at the IFI and The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival will present a special screening of The Seasons accompanied by live music from Colm and Rossa Ó Snodaigh (members of Kíla) and harpist Cormac de Barra.

The Seasons is an intimate diary of life in the little village of Kilkelly, Co. Mayo. Filmed in 1935 by amateur filmmaker Dr. John Benigus Lyons, it charts the social and agricultural life of the village over the course of the year.

It will be screened on Saturday 21st February at 7.30 pm and tickets cost €18.

For further information and bookings please click here or contact the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival box office on 01 672 8861.

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€750,000 Awarded In Cinema Digitisation Grants – 3rd February 2009

The Arts Council and the Irish Film Board have announced that seven cinemas will share an award of €750,000 between them as part of the Cinema Digitisation Grant Scheme.

The Scheme, which is an initiative of the Cultural Cinema Consortium, seeks to provide grants that will allow Irish cinemas to purchase and install digital projection equipment.
 
The seven cinemas awarded grants are Light House Cinema (€200,000); Irish Film Institute (€150,000); Screen Cinema (€110,000); Cinema North West (€75,000); The Cinemobile (€75,000); Mermaid, Wicklow Arts Centre (€70,000); and Town Hall Theatre, Galway (€70,000).

The Digital Cinema in Ireland Report can be downloaded here.

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5th Insight Out International Symposium – 3rd February 2009

The Insight Out international symposium, which runs from 23–27 March 2009  at the HFF Film & Television University in Potsdam, will focus on developments in digital production technologies and explore the shooting, production and mastering of stereoscopic 3D movies. It will present the variety of technical possibilities for the production and creation of stereo 3D films.

For further information please click here.

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Sarah Bolger Selected as Emerging Acting Talent – 2nd February 2009

The 2009 Shooting Stars, a group of ten young actors selected by a professional jury and European Film Promotion (EFP) members as the stars of the future, this year include Irish actress Sarah Bolger, who will be presented to the international film industry and the world's media at the Berlin Film Festival (7–9 February 2009).

Sarah Bolger debuted in Jim Sheridan's In America in 2003, and followed this with roles in Stormbreaker by Geoffrey Sax in 2006 and The Spiderwick Chronicles by Mark Waters in 2008. She can currently be seen on television in The Tudors. Her next film will be Iron Cross by Joshua Newton.

The others to be presented are David Kross, Carey Mulligan, Cyron Bjørn Melville, Samuli Vauramo, Hafsia Herzi, Orsi Tóth, Alba Caterina Rohrwacher, Verónica Echegui, Céline Bolomey.

For further information on the event and each of the actors and to view the trailer please click here.

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Transparent Premiere – 2nd February 2009

Transparent, a short film by Irish director Paul Donnellon, has been selected for the 7th Anniversary Tour of the International Festival of Cinema & Technology, starting on 7–8 February 2009 at the Downtown Independent Theatre, Los Angeles.

Transparent, a VooDooDog production, is an enjoyable surreal comedic version of French philosophers and French filmmaking from the 60's.

For further Information on the International Festival of Cinema & Technology please click here.

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Five Minutes of Heaven Wins at Sundance – 28th January 2009

Oliver Hirschbiegel's Five Minutes of Heaven, which stars Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt, has won the prestigious World Cinema Directing Award and World Cinema Screenwriting Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

The film, which explores aspects of Northern Ireland's troubled past, will receive its Irish Premiere on 21st  February as part of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival. The screening will be attended by cast members Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt, as well as director Oliver Hirschbiegel and writer Guy Hibbert.

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Light House Cinema for Jameson Film Festival – 28th January 2009

Light House Cinema has become the latest venue to be added to the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival's programme (12–22 February).

Dublin's newest cinema will screen a selection of films from the upcoming festival, including the premiere of Round 4 of the Lasair short film scheme, which showcase exciting work from new and emerging filmmakers working in the Irish language.

For a full list of films featured in the festival click here.

For further information on Light House Cinema click visit www.lighthousecinema.ie

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Documentary TV Masterschool – 28th January 2009

Munich will host the 1st Open Training Session of the Discovery Campus Masterschool on 7th & 8th March 2009. 

Discovery Campus will explore the nature, types, subjects, dramatic structure, format and production principles of documentary series with panels, case studies and many opportunities for discussion during the two day event.

For more information please click here www.discovery-campus.de

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FIA Study on Gender Stereotypes – 28th January 2009

Gender stereotypes are still prevalent in film, television, theatre and radio in Europe. As a result, women performers continue to struggle for work, particularly as they get older according to a new study, Age, Gender and Performer Employment in Europe.

The study is the product of a year–long research project led by the International Federation of Actors (FIA), an international non–governmental organisation representing performers' trade unions, guilds and professional associations around the world.

The report is being launched simultaneously in capitals across Europe. The main launch is in Brussels and is hosted by Proinsias De Rossa, Labour Party MEP for Dublin. The Dublin launch is hosted by the Irish Equity Group in SIPTU's cultural division.

Jameson Dublin International Film Festival Launched – 27th January 2009

Acclaimed Hunger actor Liam Cunningham and Oscar®-nominated actress Saoirse Ronan unveiled the impressive programme of events at the 7th Jameson Dublin International Film Festival launch. The launch took place in The Odeon, Harcourt Street at 6.30 pm Monday 26th January.

Taking place from the 12–22 February, the festival features a stellar lineup of guests including Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Clive Owen, James Nesbitt, Neil Gaiman, Frederic Raphael, John Crowley, Armando Iannucci, Michel Houellebecq and Artistic Director of Cannes Film Festival Thierry Fremaux.

Presenting over 130 features from 28 countries, the festival is due to attract audiences of over 40,000 with archive and premiere screenings, special guests, discussions and unique events.

For booking and full programme information please click here www.jdiff.com, or contact the Box Office in Film Base, Temple Bar.

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Social Networking Site for Film Industry – 27th January 2009

Crewger is an organisation dedicated to the advancement of the Irish film community by facilitating the production, promotion and exhibition of original content by filmmakers of all ages and backgrounds working in Ireland today.

Co–founded in 2008 by Brendan Phelan and Michael Flanagan, Crewger have set up a new website that aims to provide information from Ireland's emerging online film and video scene.

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World Premiere of the 35mm Print of Peidhleacán Solais – 27th January 2009

Peidhleacán Solais (Butterfly Light), a short experimental film by Muskerry students working with filmmaker Dónal Ó Céilleachair, will receive its world premiere at Rotterdam’s 38th International Film Festival, which runs from 21st January to 1st February, 2009.

This film was made as part of Súil Lán (Eye-Full), the 2008 Muskerry Gaeltacht Filmmaker Residency at Ionad Cultúrtha of the Gaeltacht.

Click on www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com for full programme information.

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Temple Bar TradFest – 27th January 2009

As part of the fourth annual Temple Bar TradFest, audiences can enjoy two very special film screenings in the IFI on Saturday 31st January and Sunday 1st February.

Bringing It All Back Home will be screened at the IFI on Saturday 31st at 12 pm. Following the screening, a public interview will be conducted with writer and producer, Philip King. From Shore To Shore can be seen on Sunday 1st February at 12 pm. Tickets for both IFI films cost €8/€10.

The festival will also feature free outdoor screenings of Daniel O’Hara’s acclaimed short films Fluent Dysphasia and Yu Ming Is Ainm Dom in Meeting House Square every evening from 28th January–1st February.

For more information or to book tickets call the festival box office on 01 6712321 or click here visit www.templebartrad.com or www.tickets.ie

For the full programme of the Temple Bar TradFest please click here

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New BBC Northern Ireland Brand – 26th January 2009

Belfast design consultancy Frank have completed work on a new brand identity for BBC Northern Ireland.

Frank developed an extensive package of onscreen tools revolving around a principle animation – a malleable organic logo resolve, designed to reflect BBC Northern Ireland’s values and forms the cornerstone of the new on–screen identity.

Frank delivered a programme opening tag, trail openers, in–house programme end boards, endboard for independent productions and a string of other on–screen elements.

The new brand is set to air in February.

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Win a VIP Trip for Two to Hollywood – 26th January 2009

To celebrate the 7th Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, Irish Independent’s Day & Night and Jameson have teamed up to provide a chance to win a VIP trip to Hollywood.

The prize includes flights for two, four nights in a luxury hotel, limousine transfers, guided studio tours and Jameson cocktails on Sunset Boulevard, plus $1,000 spending money.

For full details on how to enter, please click here www.jdiff.com/iconicmoviescene/

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Free Film Screenings for Over 65s – 26th January 2009

Kerry Film Festival and Siamsa Tire have announced three free screenings to take place in Tralee.

The films to be screened are Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps on 5th February, Stephen Frears’ Mrs. Henderson Presents on 5th March, and Sidney Lumet's 12 Angry Men on 9th April.

All screenings will take place in Siamsa Tire at 2.00 pm and are for anyone over 65.

For more information please call Kerry Film Festival on 066 712 9934.

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New Boy Nominated for an Academy Award® – 23rd January 2009

The Irish short film New Boy, directed by Steph Green and produced by Tamara Anghie, has been nominated for an Academy Award® in the Best Live Action Short Film category.

Other Irish interests include Martin McDonagh, who has been nominated in the Best Original Screenplay category for In Bruges. Irish producer Redmond Morris is one of the four producers on The Reader, which received five nominations including Best Picture, and Nathan Crowley has been nominated in the category of Best Production Design for his work on The Dark Knight.

The 81st Academy Awards® will take place in Hollywood on 22nd February.

For the full nominee list please click here

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Final Call for Docs in Thessaloniki – 21st January 2009

Docs in Thessaloniki is an international pitching forum, where where participants can develop their documentary projects and pitch to a panel of international financiers.

The forum is an opportunity to create alliances with future collaborators and co-producers as well as to network with colleagues. Docs in Thessaloniki takes place from 18–22 March 2009.

Please note that the deadline for submitting a project is 25th January 2009.

For further information please click here.

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IFTA Announce Rising Star Award Nominations – 21st January 2009

Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (BSÉ/IFB) and the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) have announced the nominees for the Rising Star Award.

Sarah Bolger is nominated for her performance in The Spiderwick Chronicles and The Tudors. Lance Daly is up for writing and directing Kisses. Enda Walsh is nominated for co-writing Hunger, and Michael Fassbender for his portrayal of Bobby Sands in Hunger.

Saoirse Ronan, who won last year’s award for her performance in Atonement, is nominated for two Awards for her roles in City of Ember and Death Defying Acts.

The 6th Annual IFTAs will take place at Dublin's Burlington Hotel on 14th February, 2009.

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Garage Nominated for Three Evening Standard Awards – 20th January 2009

Lenny Abrahamson's Garage has been nominated in three categories for an Evening Standard Award matching Frost/Nixon for the most nominations. Lenny Abrahamson is up for Best Director, while Mark O'Halloran is in the running for best Screenplay, and Pat Shortt features in the Best Actor category.

Already the recipient of numerous awards, including the CICAE Prize Directors Fortnight at Cannes in 2007 and four IFTA's. Garage tells the story of Josie (Pat Shortt), a harmless misfit as he searches for intimacy over the course of a summer which sees his life changed forever.

Steve McQueen’s Hunger is up for Best Film Award, while Michael Fassbender has been nominated for the Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Bobby Sands in the same film.

The Evening Standard Awards were founded in 1973 and have honoured some of the biggest talents in filmmaking.

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Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards – 20th January 2009

The Dublin Film Critics Circle (DFCC) has named Steve McQueen's study of Bobby Sands' last days, Hunger, as the best Irish film of 2008, narrowly beating Lance Daly's Dublin-based Kisses to the top spot. The other Irish film gaining recognition was Liam Nolan's and Ross Whitaker's study of St. Saviour's Olympic Boxing Academy in north Dublin, Saviours.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood was a comfortable winner in the main category.

The best acting awards were won by Kristin Scott Thomas, for her role in the French drama I've Loved You So Long, and Daniel Day-Lewis was honoured for his performance in There Will Be Blood.

McQueen, originally a gallery-based visual artist, won the award for best breakthrough and playwright Martin McDonagh was runner-up for In Bruges. Other films attracting attention included The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, No Country for Old Men and Nadine Labaki's first feature-film Caramel.

The DFCC, which polls professional critics in the capital, limits its selection to those films released in Ireland during the calendar year. The DFCC was set up three years ago to represent established print and broadcast reviewers.

For a full listing of all the winners, click here.

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Irish Agent Hylda Queally to Receive Award – 13th January 2009

Creative Artists Agency (CAA) agent Hylda Queally will be honored at the US-Ireland Alliance’s ‘Oscar Wilde: Honouring the Irish in Film.’ Kate Winslet, who last night won a Golden Globe and is currently starring in the highly acclaimed films, The Reader and Revolutionary Road, will present Queally with her award. Brendan Gleeson and Jonathan Rhys Meyers will also be honoured at the event, which will be held in Los Angeles on February 19th.

Born in County Clare, Ireland, Ms Queally’s clients, in addition to Ms Winslet, include Cate Blanchett, Penélope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Isla Fisher, Rinko Kikuchi, Mathieu Amalric, Ben Whishaw, Evangeline Lilly, Guillaume Canet, Michelle Williams, and Simon Pegg.

Last year, honouree and The Simpsons creator, Jim Brooks, saw Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova perform at the event. The Academy Award® winning duo (Best Original Song for Falling Slowly from the film Once) will appear in an upcoming episode of The Simpsons.

This event has become the casual Irish party that precedes the Academy Awards®. Previous honourees include Colm Meaney, Neil Jordan, Jim and Sheridan.

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Jewish Motifs Film Festival 2009 – 13th January 2009

The 6th International Film Festival Jewish Motifs Warsaw 2009 will be a competition of films on Jewish themes in the following categories: Feature, Documentary and Experimental/Animation/Short.

The festival prizes are the statues of the Warsaw Phoenix, a symbol of revival and cash prizes.

The festival organizers will cover the traveling costs for the film director (or one person per production) and accommodation costs in Warsaw for one person per production.

The festival will accept films produced in 2007 or later on DVD PAL (with English subtitles) only.

The deadline for submissions is 2nd February 2009 and a list of films accepted for the competition will be announced on 10th March.

For further information please visit www.jewishmotifs.org.pl

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Irish Film Archive Celebrates 125 years of GAA – 13th January 2009

Rooney kicks off a series of GAA On Film screenings from the Irish Film Archive at the IFI to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the association and will be introduced by Nicky Brennan, President of the GAA. The Irish Film Institute has had a long and happy association with the GAA, most notably that the National Film Institute (as the IFI was then known) filmed the All-Ireland Finals from 1948 through to 1968.

Rooney (1958) is a comedy classic which follows the trials and tribulations of dustbin-man and hurler James Ignatius Rooney (John Gregson) from his digs in the O’Flynn household in Rathmines to the heady heights of Croke Park where he joins the Dublin team (wearing black and amber and played here by the 1947 Kilkenny hurlers) for the All-Ireland Final. Based on the Catherine Cookson novel, Rooney, and directed by George Pollock, this enchanting and entertaining adaptation features a top-notch supporting cast including Barry Fitzgerald, Maire Kean, Jack MacGowran and Noel Purcell.

Shown alongside the main feature will be Three Kisses (1955), an Oscar®-nominated short from the same era about a promising young hurler from the village of Ballykilly, County Cork who makes it big. American collector Paul Balbirnie donated both of these rare prints to the Irish Film Archive, where they are being preserved.

Please phone +353 1 6793477 to book tickets or click here.

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Bray Music Video Festival – 13th January 2009

Bray Music Video Festival will be the first ever of its kind in Ireland when it brings three days of music videos to the seaside town of Bray, Co. Wicklow. The event will operate like a standard film festival with music videos being submitted and the best been chosen to screen and compete for the prizes of Best Shot, Best Cut, Best Directed, Best International and Best Overall Videos. There are a host of prizes on offer including the best overall video, which consists of two days studio time in Ardmore Studios, a lighting rental package worth almost €2,000 and a practical FX package worth over €1,000. The weekend will also feature live music and workshops with heavyweights of the music video industry.

To submit a video, please go to www.braymvf.com. The closing date for submissions is 28th March 2009 and the entry fee is €10.

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6th Annual IFTA Nominees Announced – 9th January 2009

The Irish Film and Television Academy has announced the shortlist of nominees for the 6th Annual Irish Film and Television Awards, which takes place on Saturday 14th February at the Burlington Hotel, Ballsbridge and will be broadcast that night on RTÉ One at 9.30 pm.

The nominees were officially unveiled at a press conference held in Dublin by IFTA CEO Áine Moriarty and actress Amy Huberman. Nominations were announced in 37 award categories across film and television. The number of submissions have increased from last year, with over 270 titles being submitted reflecting the growing expertise and continual development of the Irish film and television industry.

All of the categories have been shortlisted by Academy members and Jury panels of experts from around the world.

The five shortlisted Best Feature Film contenders for 2009 are Marian Quinn’s coming of age feature 32A; the prison-breaking The Escapist; Lance Daly’s urban drama Kisses; Enda Walsh co-scripted Northern story Hunger about Bobby Sands and Ian FitzGibbon’s dark comedy A Film with Me in It.

In the Acting categories, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson have both been nominated for Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges along with comedian Dylan Moran (A Film with Me in It) and Michael Fassbender (Hunger). Actresses in a Leading Role include Tribeca-winner Eileen Walsh (Eden), Jenn Murray (Dorothy), newcomer Kelly O’Neill (Kisses) and Oscar® nominee Saoirse Ronan (City of Ember).

Feature Documentary is a new category for 2009, reflecting the importance of this growing genre in film. The shortlist includes the musical Dambé: The Mali Project; Gabriel Byrne - Stories from Home; Irish boxing documentary Saviours; the asylum seekers story Seaview and the surfing documentary Waveriders.

For further details and a full listing of the nominees, please visit www.ifta.ie

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Dublin Film Festival Seeks Volunteers – 9th January 2009

The 7th Jameson Dublin International Film Festival is currently seeking volunteers to be part of the festival team.

Running 12–22 February 2009, the festival will host some of the finest exponents of contemporary cinema and show over 100 great Irish and international films. This is a fantastic opportunity to experience a major international film festival first hand and contribute to the success of Ireland’s biggest film event.

We are looking for enthusiastic people to fill various roles in: Venues, Administration & Production and Event Hospitality.

As a charitable, not-for-profit event, the festival is only possible because of the support and dedication of volunteers.

If you are 18 years or older and are interested, please click here to download the volunteer form (www.jdiff.com) or contact volunteers@jdiff.com for more information. The closing date for applications is 14th January 2009.

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Filmbase/RTÉ Short Film Award 2009 – 9th January 2009

Filmbase is calling on all emerging filmmakers to apply for the January round of the Filmbase/RTÉ Short Film Award scheme. Aspiring and seasoned scriptwriters, producers and directors can apply for this award which will fund up to three new short films from a total fund of €30,000 (an additional production and post-production facilities package is also offered to each production team as part of the award). Applications for the award will be accepted from Friday 16th of January. All applications for the award must be at Filmbase by the deadline, which is 5 pm Friday 30th January.

Ireland's longest running short film award scheme, the Filmbase/RTÉ Short Film Award aims to uncover new talent and encourage a fresh approach to filmmaking. This award is suitable for those looking to break into the Irish film industry or for those more experienced filmmakers who may be looking to develop a new approach to their craft. The award is not suitable for full-time students; however, recent film graduates are welcome to apply. Over the last two decades numerous films have been made under the scheme, many of which have screened and won awards at film festivals both nationally and internationally.

For more info, or to download the application form, click here or contact Clare at Filmbase by email on admin@filmbase.ie or phone 01 679 6716.

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AsoloArtFilmFestival 2009 Call for Entries – 9th January 2009

The XXVIII Edition of AsoloArtFilmFestival will be held in Asolo (Treviso, Italy) from the 28th August to the 6th September.

Created in 1973 by Flavia Paulon, the former festival enjoyed international success for over two decades, until it was interrupted in the ’90s. Refounded in 2001, this edition of AsoloArtFilmFestival will offer an annual exhibition with a contest dedicated to films and videos dealing with the topic of art in all its forms.

The contest is divided into six sections: Films On Art (works on art in all its forms), Artists’ Biographies (works of historical reconstruction and critical interpretation on personalities from the world of art and music), Films On Architecture and Design (works on architecture, urbanism and design relating to art in all its forms), Video Art and Computer Art (works using electronics or computer technologies as a method of direct artistic expression), Productions of Schools of Cinema (works related to art in all its forms, produced by schools of cinema, specialized higher education institutes and universities), Harmony and Territory (documenting works for the harmonious development of the territory and its contradictions, increasing the value of potential and resources with respect for culture and the environment).

The entry form download is available here and the closing date for applications is 15th May ’09.

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Irish Film Wins Two Awards in One Day – 8th December 2008

Juanita Wilson's acclaimed Irish short film, The Door, picked up two of the most prestigious film awards last Saturday, The Gold Medal for Fiction at the Zinebi Film Festival in Bilbao, Spain and Best Irish Short Film at the Foyle Film Festival in Northern Ireland.
 
Writer/Director Juanita was delighted with the reaction to her film at Bilbao which receives thousands of entries from all around the world. Later that day, she also found out that her film had also won Best Irish Short at Foyle.
 
Recipients of these awards qualify for consideration in the Short Film category of the Annual Academy Awards and several previous winners at Foyle have gone on to win the Oscar® for Short Film such as Andrea Arnold's Wasp, Martin McDonagh's Six Shooter.
 
The Film was shot in Kiev and Pripyat in the Ukraine last January and was supported by the Irish Film Board's/RTÉ's Short Cuts Award.

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7th Jameson Dublin International Film Festival Highlights – 8th December 2008

The eagerly awaited line-up for the 7th Jameson Dublin International Film Festival is beginning to take shape and festival goers can expect the programme to build and expand upon the major successes of the 2008 festival. This year’s programme marks Gráinne Humphreys second year at the helm as festival director and she is planning another showcase of the best in contemporary world cinema along with a glittering array of special guests and high-profile gala events.

Among the first films to be confirmed for this year’s festival include Laurent Cantet’s The Class, unanimously voted the Palme d’Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival and the first French film to win the award in over 20 years. Featuring a multicultural cast of first-time teenage actors, The Class has been described by critics as ‘utterly engrossing from start to finish’ and creates an astonishingly rich slice of life in a tough Parisian neighbourhood.

Tomm Moore’s animation feature The Secret of Kells is set to premiere at the festival and brings the story of the boy behind the famed Book of Kells to life complete with stunning visuals and music from trad wizards Kila while Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s breathtakingly photographed Three Monkeys, winner of the Best Director prize at Cannes, will feature as part of the special showcase of contemporary Turkish cinema.

This year’s retrospective focuses on Belgian auteur Chantal Akerman, described by the Village Voice as ‘arguably the most important European director of her generation’ and a leading light in experimental, deeply personal filmmaking. Akerman has had a profound impact on feminist filmmaking discourse and has proven herself to be an uncompromising and dedicated practitioner of the cinematic arts.

Finally, after the success of last year’s partnership, Dublin City Public Libraries, in association with the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival are preparing a very special film quiz. Libraries across the city will field teams of three older people (over 55 years) who will compete in the film quiz final on February 7th in Dublin City Library and Archive, Pearse St, Dublin 1.

The 7th Jameson Dublin International Film Festival runs from February 12th to the 22nd. For more information, please visit the website at www.jdiff.com

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Irish Film Archive Presents This Other Eden – 8th December 2008

Part of the series to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ardmore Studios, this month the Irish film Archive presents This Other Eden (1959), digitally re-mastered from elements preserved at the British Film Institute.

The first Irish feature to be directed by a woman, This Other Eden is a caustic comedy set in 1945. The film explores the traumatic legacy of the Civil War. With a supporting cast of Abbey players from Milo O'Shea and Hilton Edwards, This Other Eden is not just a critique of the past but a witty and complex comment on an emergent modern Ireland. The film will be introduced by Dr. Luke Gibbons.

This Other Eden is presented by the Irish Film Institute at 6.40 pm, Wednesday 17th December 2008.

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Irish Film Archive Presents This Other Eden – 8th December 2008

Part of the series to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ardmore Studios, this month the Irish film Archive presents This Other Eden (1959), digitally re-mastered from elements preserved at the British Film Institute.

The first Irish feature to be directed by a woman, This Other Eden is a caustic comedy set in 1945. The film explores the traumatic legacy of the Civil War. With a supporting cast of Abbey players from Milo O'Shea and Hilton Edwards, This Other Eden is not just a critique of the past but a witty and complex comment on an emergent modern Ireland. The film will be introduced by Dr. Luke Gibbons.

This Other Eden is presented by the Irish Film Institute at 6.40 pm, Wednesday 17th December 2008.

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IFI's Ireland on Sunday Presents Identities – 9th December 2008

Fresh from its premiere at the Cork Film Festival, the IFI's Ireland on Sunday presents Identities, Vittoria Colonna's debut feature-length documentary. Identities is a sensitive and compelling documentary which explores the multicoloured, multicultural transgender community in Ireland. Five personal stories, revealed through intimate observational footage, give shape to the different but parallel worlds of Transvestism, Transsexualism, Drag, Sexual Identity, and Gender Dysphoria.

Filmmaker Vittoria Colonna and Producer Rachael Lysaght will take part in a Q&A after the film.

Identities will be screened as part of the IFI's Ireland on Sunday Series at 12 pm, 14th December 2008.

Tickets can be booked on www.ifi.ie or 01 679 5744

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DARE2BDRINKAWARE Teams Up with Cinemagic Festival – 1st December 2008

The DARE2BDRINKAWARE film competition have announced that it is teaming up with the Cinemagic festival to offer an array of prizes to student filmmakers.

Now in its second year, the competition is sponsored by drinkaware.ie and organised by the Digital Hub Development Agency.  A prize fund of €5,000 is up for grabs by entrants to DARE2BDRINKAWARE each year.

Fionnuala Sheehan, CEO of drinkaware.ie, announced today that Cinemagic has agreed to support the DARE2BDRINKAWARE competition by offering additional opportunities and prizes to student film-makers.

‘The next Cinemagic festival will take place in Dublin in May, and films that are shortlisted for DARE2BDRINKAWARE will be screened during the festival.  In addition, the producers of all shortlisted films will get the chance to take part in master classes on a range of topics relating to film and television production.  We are delighted to be able to offer these opportunities to student film-makers and hope to continue to expand DARE2BDRINKAWARE over the coming months.’

In addition to the prize fund of €5,000 already in existence, the partnership with Cinemagic means that students who enter the competition will also have a chance to get their films screened at an international festival and take part in master classes with high-profile television and film professionals.

Students have until Friday 12th December, to submit a short film proposal for the competition. They can do this using an online form, which is available at www.DARE2BDRINKAWARE.com. Once the proposal has been accepted, they have until the beginning of April to produce the short films.

DARE2BDRINKAWARE is open to all third-level students in Ireland. Further information and full guidelines for the competition are available at www.DARE2BDRINKAWARE.com. Further information on the Cinemagic festival is available at www.cinemagic.ie

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The Pint and a Picture Show to Screen Irish Feature Starfish – 1st December 2008

On Monday 1st December the Pint and a Picture Show will screen Starfish, Stephen Kane's second feature, made just a few years ago. Regulars of the Pint and a Picture Show will recall that his debut feature The Crooked Mile (2000) – one of the first Irish feature films made on digital – was shown at a previous Picture Show a few months ago and was followed on the night by a Q&A with the director.

The Pint and a Picture Show is a free screening event that began in the first week of February 2008.

The programme normally consists of a full-length film (feature or documentary) preceded by a slate of quality Irish short films; often there is an informal Q&A session with one (or more) of the filmmakers whose work is being screened on the night, immediately after their film is shown.

The Portobello bar/hotel on South Richmond Street, just beside Portobello Bridge on the Grand Canal, is the venue for the event (and also for Cine-café, which has already made its debut there last Monday 27th October – the two events will share this venue, taking alternate Mondays until further notice).

For further information please contact Howard Linnane (organiser/MC) at 086 3614787.

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Film about Asylum Seeker Wins Second Award for Students – 1st December 2008

NUI Galway students were among the winners at the 7th Media and Multicultural Awards (MAMA). Richard Walsh and Julian Ulrichs, students of the M.A. in Production and Direction at the Huston School of Film & Digital Media, won an award for their short documentary F.G.M. - No Way Home. Dealing with the issue of female genital mutilation, the film tells the story of Pamela Izevbekhai, a Nigerian woman currently seeking asylum with her daughters in Ireland. 

The MAMAs were established by the newspaper Metro Éireann, to recognise people, groups, companies, institutions and media platforms that promote diversity and multiculturalism in Ireland.  In September, F.G.M. - No Way Home was also awarded the Best Short Documentary prize at the Radharc Awards.

For their short film, producer Richard Walsh, from Ballybunion, County Kerry, and Director Julian Ulrichs, from Galway City, travelled to Nigeria to film footage for the documentary. The resulting piece is a hard-hitting yet sensitive exploration of the cultural and legal aspects surrounding the issue of female genital mutilation.  
The short documentary was based on a brief proposed by students of the M.A. in Public Advocacy, who collaborate with Production and Direction students every year to deliver incisive films addressing societal issues.

Earlier this year, another Huston graduate Brian Deane won the Babelgum online film festival prize which was presented by Spike Lee at the Cannes Film Festival. Huston Screenwriting graduates have also won three out of four Stella Artois Pitching Awards at recent Galway Film Fleadhs.

Huston School of Film & Digital Media runs a number of M.A. courses including Production/Direction, Screenwriting, Film Studies, Arts Policy, Digital Media and Public Advocacy. 

Further information available from www.filmschool.ie

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Ballina Film Club Present Andrei Tarkovsky – 1st December 2008

In January, Ballina Arts Centre will be hosting the second of their Ballina Film Club presents a series with a month-long programme of events celebrating the life and work of Andrei Tarkovsky.

The programme will kick off on Tuesday 6th January with Solaris, one of the auteur’s best-known works. Based on the novel of the same name by Polish science fiction author, Stanislaw Lem. Regarded as Tarkovsky’s masterpiece, Solaris won the Grand Prix Spécial du Jury and the FIPRESCI prize and was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The programme continues on Tuesday 13th January, with The Sacrifice. Tarkovsky’s final film. Thursday 20th January will see Stalker get an airing. Loosely based on the science fiction novel Roadside Picnic by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky. The programme winds up on Thursday 27th January with The Mirror.

As well as the core programme of screenings, there will also be a dedicated Secondary Schools film available for local schools to arrange screenings. The schools film will be Ivan’s Childhood, one of Tarkovsky most intriguing, yet accessible films.

Full film information available on the website. For more information, contact Ballina Arts Centre, Barrett St., Ballina, Co. Mayo. Tel: 096 73593, email: ballinaartscentre@eircom.net.  The programme is presented in association with access>CINEMA.

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The Observatory Publishes a New IRIS Plus Report – 28th November 2008

The European Audiovisual Observatory has just published its latest legal analysis of the must carry/must-offer debate entitled ‘Progress in the Must-offer Debate Exclusivity in Media and Communication’. It is available for download here.

Authors Alexander Scheuer and Sebastian Schweda of the Saarbrücken-based Institute of European Media Law open their report with a useful explanation of the meaning of media exclusivity. Clearly, the passage from terrestrial transmission as the sole means of broadcast to satellite, cable, IPTV and TNT has transformed the parameters of exclusivity, as more and more platforms seeking content are available for its broadcast.

The report then deals with the must-carry concept as a connecting factor, tracing the development of this legislation back to the allocation of available cable capacity and the scarcity of broadcasting resources.

For further information on the content of IRIS products, contact the legal department:
susanne.nikoltchev@coe.int – francisco.cabrera@coe.int

To take out a subscription to our IRIS monthly legal review with its IRIS plus supplement contact markus.booms@coe.int

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Hitting the Festival Circuit: How to Get Your Film into Film Festivals – 28th November 2008

This December Filmbase will host a free information session for filmmakers on how to get your short film into festivals both at home and abroad. This afternoon session, which will take place at 2 pm on Wednesday the 3rd December, will give filmmakers the opportunity to hear from a panel of representatives from the Irish film industry on what to do when applying to film festivals with your short film and how to do it. The panel will include Mick Hannigan (Corona Cork Film Festival), Nicky Gogan (Darklight Film Festival, Still Films), Ronan Burke (Black Sheep Productions) and Nerea Aymerich (Film Ireland magazine).

The session will begin with Mick Hannigan and Nicky Gogan talking us through the art of applying to film festivals, from the point of view of the festival organiser. What sort of information do they look for, what are the basic requirements, how important are your synopses and images etc… Ronan Burke will then give us the filmmaker’s perspective using the multi-award winning film Jellybaby as a case study. Jellybaby, which Ronan co-directed with his brother Rob, won numerous awards as well as screening at over sixty film festivals both at home and abroad. Finally, Nerea Aymerich will look more closely at one element of the application process that is often overlooked, having strong production stills to represent and promote your film.

This session is free and open to filmmakers who are looking to apply to film festivals for the first or second time. If you would like to attend this session please email Clare Creely at Filmbase on admin@filmbase.ie. Make sure to note your full name, your phone number and, if relevant, the name of your production company. Participants will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis.

For more information on the session please visit the Filmbase website at http://filmbase.ie/news/FestivalsInfoSession08.php

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Call for Submissions to the 56th Sydney Film Festival 09 – 27th November 2008

The 56th Sydney Film Festival is now open for submissions. Feature film, documentary or short film made since January 2008 that has not been screened in New South Wales can be submitted. For full rules and regulations, and to fill in the new online form visit www.sff.org.au/submissions

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Oscar® Winner Martin McDonagh Scoops Irish Writers Guild Award – 26th November 2008

Martin McDonagh's In Bruges, which starred Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, scooped the Best Film Script Award Tuesday 25th November at the second annual ZeBBies, the Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild (IPSG) Awards.
 
At a ceremony at Dublin's Sugar Club hosted by Senator David Norris, the other award winners were:

Best Theatre Script: Christian O'Reilly – Is This About Sex?
Best Radio Script: Lucy Caldwell – Girl from Mars
Best Television Script: Mark O'Halloran - Prosperity (Episode 3, 'Georgie's Story'),
 
A Special ZeBBie Award was presented to the Writers Guild of America. Bob Schneider, Vice-President of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAe) was in attendance to accept the award.
 
The ZeBBies are named after O.Z. Whitehead (aka Zebby), actor and writer, who sponsored playwriting awards with the Society of Irish Playwrights (now the IPSG) for many years. The ZeBBies were established to recognise the writer as the creative architect of every drama.
 
Special Award was presented to Bob Schneider, Vice-President of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAe) by David Begg, General Secretary, Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
 
In collaboration with the Irish Film Archive of the IFI, the film Ireland A Nation (1914) was screened after the ceremony with accompaniment from 3epKano. 
 
The Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild is the representative body in Ireland for writers for the stage and screen, including radio and the new media. The Guild is the writers' voice: fighting for their rights, as well as supporting, advising and lobbying. It ensures that writers secure fair contracts and remuneration.
 
Full list of winners, nominees and presenters available here.

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Peg Bar Call for Show Reels – 26th November 2008

'It's a Peg Bar affair' is a networking event for animation artists, illustrators and SFX. Peg Bar are currently looking for show reels from artists.

The Peg Bar collective created a networking event directed solely at the animation industry in Ireland. They began the project in July 2008 and have gained a lot of success from their first event in August 2008. Since their last event, they have started a blog with Interviews, pod casts and news of Irish animation/animator on top of organising their next event in January 2009. The Peg Bar collective is made up of Daniel Spencer, Anna O'Sullivan, Ben Hennessy, Lisa Scannell and Ben Harper and can be contacted at pegbaraffair@gmail.com

'It's a Peg Bar Affair vol.2' will be held Friday 23rd January, and the show will be opened by Eamonn Butler of Double Negative (Hellboy 2, 10,000 BC, Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix).

A disc containing 2 movie files of your show reel and a word document/PDF with your short bio, picture of yourself and CV is required. The two movie files should be an uncompressed version of your reel and a compressed version under 50 MB of your reel (.avi or .mov).

Please email reels to pegbaraffair@gmail.com replies will include full details for application.

The deadline for received applications will be Monday 22nd December 2008
 
Updates available at www.pegbaraffair.blogspot.com

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Record Breaking Year for the IFI French Film Festival – 26th November 2008

The IFI's French Film Festival ended last night after ten days of cinematic festivities, twenty films and hugely increased audiences and box office receipts. The revenue raised was up an incredible 46% compared with 2007 despite tough economic conditions and audience numbers were up by 1400 representing a 36% increase.

The prestigious Audience Award votes have been counted and the winner has been announced as Conversations with my Gardener directed by Jean Becker. A rich story of rediscovered friendship in an idyllic rural setting; played out by Daniel Auteuil and Jean-Pierre Darroussin. Irish audiences will get a second chance to see the film when it is released exclusively at the IFI on 12th December 2008.

The IFI's French Film Festival was supported by lead partners; The Arts Council, Ambassade de France en Irlande, Maison de la France and sponsors; Alliance Francaise, Airbus, Air France, CRH, Europa Cinemas, Hennessy, Radisson SAS, The Sunday Times and TV5Monde.

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AsoloArtFilmFestival XXVIII Edition Announce Competition – 26th November 2008

The competition announcement for the XXVIII Edition of AsoloArtFilmFestival is available on www.asolofilmfestival.it

The festival will take place will be held 28th August–6th September 2009 in Eleonora Duse Theatre, Asolo (Treviso), Italy.

The entry-form download is available at:
http://www.asolofilmfestival.it/2009/competition_announcement_2009.pdf

For any further information contact 28edition@asolofilmfestival.it

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The Paulaner German Film Festival at the IFI from December – 24th November 2008

The Paulaner German Film Festival returns to the IFI with a programme of German films of 2008. Admired for its edgy, uncompromising narratives and political bite, the German film industry is going from strength to strength. A number of major international successes in recent year's (Downfall, Lives of Others, Goodbye Lenin) have firmly re-established German film as a major player in World Cinema. This year's festival has a great selection of the domestic successes of 2008 all competing to be the next international sensation.

The festival opens with Chiko, produced by Faith Akin, who shot to international fame by documenting the Turkish German experience in Head-On and The Edge of Heaven and directed by the Özgür Yilridim. The film follows Chiko's attempts to break in to the lucrative drug trade.

IFI Programmer Pete Walsh launched the programme saying, 'Things to watch out for include major works by such established directors as Doris Dörrie (Cherry Blossoms — Hanami), Veit Helmer (Absurdistan) and Emily Atef (The Stranger in Me). Equally impressive is new work by relatively unknown talents, including A Hero's Welcome by Brigitte Bertele'.

More hard-hitting tales of street life can be found in Drifter while Germany's continuing struggle to come to terms with immigration is teased out in rich-girl-poor-girl story Beautiful Bitch. You can find a more unconventional take on the immigration theme in Machan, a comedy-drama based on the real life 'inexplicable' disappearance of the Sri Lankan 'National Handball Team'.

The Paulaner German Film Festival wouldn't be the same without a touch of the more eccentric German fold traditions and this year is no exception with Echoes of Home which documents the world of experimental yodelling. Also on the mountains is North Face, a thrills and spills mountain adventure on the Eiger set just before the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

In all there are 16 features to choose from and VIPs are expected to fly in for the occasion. Susanne Wolf, the up-and-coming star of The Stranger In Me, that premiered to great acclaim this year at Cannes, will be in making a guest appearance at the screening.

The Paulaner German Film Festival is supported by the Goethe Institute Ireland.

Full programme and tickets are available through the IFI website or by calling the Box Office on 01 679 3477.


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Submissions Call for International Festival of Films on Tribal Art & Culture 2009 – 24th November 2008

VANYA (an enterprise of Dept of Tribal welfare, Government of Madhya Pradesh) and iiMC (Indian Infotainment Media Corporation) announce its second edition of International Festival of Films on Tribal Art & Culture 2009 (IFFTAC 2009) at Indore, Madhya Pradesh which will run from Feb 6–9, 2009. The festival will culminate with a screening and awards ceremony on 9th February 2009. It will be an International event that will bring the best films on Tribal culture and art from all over the world. A total of 65 films from 40 countries were screened for IFFTAC 2008 where they competed for 6 awards.

Under the stewardship of Shri Shriram Tiwari as the Festival director, and Mr. Devendra Khandelwal, Chairman, Organizing Committee, IFFTAC 2009 will showcase films based on the theme of Tribal culture, art, religion, architecture, philosophy, traditions, mythology, history, life-style, food, costumes, jewellery, sports and various aspects associated with them. It will also offer awards and certificates to the participants. Renowned film personalities are expected at the festival. One way economical fare and 2 day free accommodation may be considered for overseas participants.

IFFTAC 2009 will welcome films not exceeding 150 minutes and can be as small as 1 minute. Film can be feature, documentary, narrative, fiction or animation. Films must be available on DVD for presentation or preview purposes. Entry is open and free, for all film makers… amateurs, students and professionals with respective separate competitive sections for them, and the last date for submission is Jan 15, 2009.

Filmmakers whose film may be selected for screening will receive discounted rates on accommodation and one way fare. The festival entry form is now available for download at the festival's official website.

For further questions write to info@ifftac.org

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DTS Creating 50 New Jobs – 24th November 2008

Up to 50 new jobs have been announced for Limerick. They are being created by the entertainment technology company DTS which is to establish its European headquarters at the National Technology Park in the city.

The new Limerick company, DTS Licensing Limited, will have responsibility for licensing, management, administration, business development, marketing, sales, finance and potentially research and development and gaming.

DTS first introduced its audio technology in 1993 with the release of the Jurassic Park film. Since then many major film studios adopted the DTS format for use in cinemas around the world.

www.dts.com

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KINOPOLIS Polish Film Festival in Dublin – 21st November 2008

KINOPOLIS is a project organised by the Pomeranian Film Foundation and the Polish Embassy in Dublin. Both institutions were actively involved in creation of two previous Polish Film Festivals that took place in the Irish Film Institute in 2006 and 2007. This year’s event, aiming to promote the achievements of Polish cinematography on the Emerald Isle, has been prepared in cooperation with an Irish partner, the Dublin Cinema Group. It comprises of a 3-day exposition of Polish feature films and animated films as well as Polish silent cinema accompanied by live jazz music. This year’s festival will welcome Polish film and theatre actor Zbigniew Zamachowski as well as Marek Skrobecki, co-creator of Peter and the Wolf, an animated film awarded an Oscar® in 2007.

Screen Cinema, D'Olier Street

21st November, 8.30 pm, tickets €9: A Usual Life of Unusual People:
Preserve (2007, 100’) a film debut of Lukasz Palkowski

22nd November: Rysiu, Edek, Tomek – 3 incarnations of Zbigniew Zamachowski

The Big Picnic, (1982, 86’), by Krzysztof Rogulski, 4 pm, tickets €9
Reverted (1994, 78’), by Kazimierz Kutz, 6pm, tickets €9
Hi Tereska (2000, 86’), by Robert Glinski, 8pm, tickets €9
Screenings followed by public meeting with actor Zbigniew Zamachowski

The Sugar Club, 8 Lwr Leeson Street, 6pm, tickets €10

The 23rd November: 60 years of Polish animation – Marek Skrobecki

DIM (1992, 10’)
Ichthys (2005, 15’3’’)
Peter and the Wolf (2006, 32’) – an Oscar® winner by Suzie Templeton and Marek Skrobecki. Screening followed by public interview with Marek Skrobecki.

A Strong Man (1929, 78’), by Henryk Szaro – a silent movie with live jazz concert, 8 pm, tickets €10

All films have English subtitles.

Full information available at www.dublin.polemb.net/index.php?document=371

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European Film Promotion (EFP) Newly Designed Website – 21st November 2008

European Film Promotion (EFP) is online with a newly designed website. The new online image of EFP presents itself in a clear, concise and user friendly manner. The website, moreover, offers free access to the constantly updated bio and filmographies of young actors, producers and distributors with whom EFP has worked since 1997 in its various programmes.

With national export and promotion organisations from 30 countries, EFP promotes market European cinema, and the talent behind it, throughout the world. Currently, EFP is preparing ‘Shooting Stars’ Europe's best young actors to be showcased at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival (05–15 February 2009). In order to give ‘Shooting Stars’ an even higher profile, EFP has recently launched an own website for this programme. www.shooting-stars.eu is a platform for European acting talent, providing an archive with the biographies of all of the ‘Shooting Stars’ since 1998 and publishing up to date news about the programme during the Berlinale.

European Film Promotion’s new website available at www.efp-online.com

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2nd Annual Writers Guild Nominees – 19th November 2008

Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges, which starred Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, is among the three shortlisted nominees for Best Film Script at the second annual ZeBBies, the Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild (IPSG) Awards. Roddy Doyle and Mark O’Halloran scoop two nominations each. Graham Linehan, best known for Father Ted, is shortlisted for Best Television Script for The IT Crowd.

The ZeBBies are named after O.Z. Whitehead (aka Zebby), actor and writer, who sponsored playwriting awards with the Society of Irish Playwrights (now the IPSG) for many years. The Awards will be hosted again this year by Senator David Norris.

The ZeBBies have been established to recognise the writer as the creative architect of every drama. The awards will be presented for the best script in the categories of film, television, radio and theatre. The shortlisted candidates are:

Nominees for Best Film Script:
Martin McDonagh for In Bruges
Mark O'Halloran for Garage
Mark O'Rowe for Boy A
BEST FILM SCRIPT AWARD TO BE PRESENTED BY: Ingrid Craigie (Whistleblower)

Nominees for Best Television Script:
Marcus Fleming for The Running Mate (Episode 1)
Graham Linehan for The IT Crowd (Series 2: Episode 1, 'The Work Outing')
Mark O'Halloran for Prosperity (Episode 3, 'Georgie's Story')
BEST TELEVISION SCRIPT AWARD TO BE PRESENTED BY: Tom Hickey (Alarm)

Nominees for Best Theatre Script:
Bisi Adigun and Roddy Doyle for Playboy of the Western World
Sebastian Barry for Pride of Parnell Street
Christian O'Reilly for Is This About Sex?
BEST THEATRE SCRIPT AWARD TO BE PRESENTED BY: Hilda Fay (Fair City)

Nominees for Best Radio Script:
Lucy Caldwell for Girl From Mars
Roddy Doyle for Two Men Meet
Garret Keogh for Nancy

BEST RADIO SCRIPT AWARD TO BE PRESENTED BY: Frank Kelly (Father Ted).

Special Award to be presented to:
Bob Schneider, Vice-President of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAe).

In collaboration with the Irish Film Archive of the IFI, the film Ireland a Nation (1914) will be screened after the ceremony with accompaniment from 3epKano.

The winners will be announced at the ZeBBies Awards Ceremony on Tuesday the 25th of November, at the Sugar Club, 8 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2.

Information available on the website www.script.ie

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