The interdisciplinary seminar aims to encourage and strengthen links between various policy fields: broadcasting and communications, socio-economic development and sociolinguistics and language planning.

The seminar will be opened by Cathal Goan, former Ceannasaí (Director) of TG4 and the Director-General of RTÉ, as well as the current TG4 Leas-Cheannasaí (Deputy Director), Pádhraic Ó Ciardha.

The event is aimed at a wide range of people: independent producers, academics working with Irish, communications, journalism or other fields, public servants, and educationalists in general.

Although the seminar will be held in Irish, full interpretation into English is offered and those who do not speak Irish are particularly welcome to attend.

Further information and a booking form are available from www.dcu.ie/tg4 or from email tg4@dcu.ie

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Director Gabriel Range's previous film, The Day Britain Stopped, questioned what might happen if Britain's transportation system suddenly failed and was his first experiment with this style of filmmaking.

Gabriel Range and its producers Simon Finch (who co-wrote the script with Range) and Ed Guiney will be in Cork for the European premier of the film which takes place at 8.30pm in the Cork Opera House on October 8th.

The Full Festival Programme for the 51st Cork Film Festival which runs from
October 8-15 will be announced on Thursday 28 September. Tickets for all events and screenings will be available from September 30 on www.corkfilmfest.org and in the Festival Box Office which is located in Kelly's Post Office, 15 Grand Parade Cork.

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The film festival now in its seventeenth year is set to run from 17 November to 3 December 2006 at various venues across Belfast.

This year’s programme boasts an eclectic range of film screenings including special premieres, international feature films, documentaries, shorts, foreign language films, education packages and accompanying industry workshops which are both practical and fun for young people aged between 4-25. Visit www.cinemagic.org.uk to find out more.

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Thirteen projects were selected for interview and six awards have now been made to the value of €400,000:

-Wildfire Films, €80,000 awarded for a film by Conor Horgan on the visual artist, Dorothy Cross (Bursting into Beauty).
-Donald Taylor Black, €70,000 awarded for a film about the photographer, David Farrell – A History Looking Through.
-Straydog Films (Jackie Larkin and John O’Donnell), €70,000 awarded for a film about the Kilfenora Ceilí Band (In the Blood).
-Ciarín Scott, €70,000 awarded for a portrait of filmmaker and Aosdána member, George Morrison – Pioneer of Irish Cinema.
-Trish McAdam, €70,000 awarded for a film about the work of actor Donal O’Kelly (What am I doing here?).
-Dara McCluskey, €40,000 awarded for a portrait of Dundalk troubadour, Jinx Lennon (Noisemaker).

The funds awarded can be used collectively as a full production budget or as seed money to help finance a larger budget.

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A formidable line-up of industry practitioners will be on hand throughout the day to impart their knowledge and take part in Q&As.

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For English language programme, contact: amministrazione@asolofilmfestival.it

Read interview with Carlo Montanaro, co-artistic director of the Asolo International Art Film Festival, here.

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BL!NDSPOT requires participants to make a test commercial for a real or imaginary product, service or cause. BL!NDSPOT is being run by BL!NDER, a leading TV commercials production company. The commercial must be less than 60 seconds and can be shot on any format and it can also be animated.

The Best Test Commercial will win €2000 and the director may be offered the opportunity to be represented by Bl!nder. All of the best entries will receive exposure with the top advertising agencies in Ireland.

For more information see www.blinder.ie/blindspot or email blindspot@blinder.ie for more details and an entry form.

Blinder has signed four new directors to its roster: Gary McKendry, Hady, Martin Brennan and Peter Darrell. This brings the Blinder roster to eight directors, including Brian Williams, Enda McCallion, Kieron J Walsh and Richie Smyth, whose work includes some of the most acclaimed advertising on Irish television.

All of their showreels can be seen online at www.blinder.ie

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VooDooDog are currently creating the animated sequences for the US documentary American Teen Movie for director Nanette Burstein and follows seniors at a high school in a small Indiana town and their various cliques. Burstein’s previous documentary was The Kid Stays in The Picture, the life story of legendary Hollywood producer and studio chief Robert Evans.

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Hosted by the US-Ireland Alliance, a non-profit organization created to foster ties between the US and Ireland, the star-studded event was designed to honor Irish writing in film. Trina Vargo, founder and president of the Alliance, noted that the event, which is co-sponsored by the Irish Film Board, was also created to 'bring together leaders in the Irish film community with their Hollywood counterparts at a fun, casual Irish party – a great precursor to the black tie and couture evenings ahead.'

Last year's sold-out event honored Neil Jordan, Jim Sheridan and David Holmes and brought out a host of luminaries including Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Anjelica Huston and Disney Chairman Dick Cook.

A native of Belfast, Van Morrison has one of the most enduring and consistently impressive careers in music history. His music is included in nearly fifty films including the soon-to-be released Scorsese film, The Departed, as well as Breakfast on Pluto, What A Girl Wants, The Royal Tenenbaums, Bridget Jones Diary, One Fine Day, When a Man Loves a Woman, Prelude to a Kiss, Thelma & Louise, An Officer and a Gentleman, Proof of Life, and As Good as It Gets.

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Speed Dating Event for Writers and Directors – 13 September 2006

The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland and the Irish Screenwriters and Playwrights Guild have organised the Directors and Writers Speed Dating Event which will be taking place on Tuesday, 3rd October at 7.30pm sharp in the Clarence Hotel (6-8 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2)

Each director will meet each writer for exactly eight minutes to talk about his/her project and see if there's any spark between them.

Places are only open to members of either guilds. Please bring your business card or contact details and if you decide you want to take things further both Guilds are available to advise you on pre-nups, vows or any of the other more confidential services your new relationship needs.

Phone the SDGI office at 01 6337433, email: birch@sdgi.ie or ISPG at 01 6709970 or email trish.groves@script.ie by Friday the 15th of September. Places are strictly limited.

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The Leitrim Cinemobile, in association with the Irish Film Institute, presents Adaptation: William Trevor On Screen, a festival of films based on the author's works, taking place from 22–24th September. Ten films will be shown in the festival in a celebration of Irish talent both behind and in front of the camera as well as William Trevor's wonderful stories.

The opening night programme begins with a reception in the local dancehall, the Rainbow Ballroom of Romance in Glenfarne, Co. Leitrim, which was the inspiration for William Trevor's famous short story. Live music will be provided by the Frank Chambers Dance Band. Anyone in 1950s dress will be given free admission to the screening of Pat O'Connor's classic film The Ballroom of Romance which is screening later that evening in the Leitrim Cinemobile. The Ballroom of Romance is a classic of the Irish screen, and was named by Irish Times critic Michael Dwyer as one of his five favourite Irish Films (Film Ireland 100)

On Saturday and Sunday the Leitrim Cinemobile will move to Dromahair, Co. Leitrim where the festival programme continues with a rare opportunity to see a wide range of cinematic and television adaptations of William Trevor's work, some of which have not been shown since their original transmission. Titles drawn from the Irish Film Archive, RTÉ Archives and the archives of BBC Northern Ireland include: Fools of Fortune; Felicia's Journey; Attracta; Beyond the Pale and August Saturday. Special guests will include filmmakers Pat O'Connor, Robert Cooper and actor Tom Hickey.

Tickets will be available from the Leitrim Cinemobile 086 317 3075 / 086 822 1139
For the full festival programme please see www.irishfilm.ie or www.leitrimcinema.ie

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Ten Irish Nominations for Prix Europa 2006 – 8 September 2006

Ten productions from Ireland will compete at this year's European media festival, taking place from 14 to 21 October in Berlin and Potsdam. The Irish nominees, which are among 209 television, radio and internet productions nominated to compete are:

Stardust (Ciaran Donnelly/RTÉ, TV Fiction category); John McGahern: a Private World (Pat Collins/RTÉ, TV Documentary category); The Search of Tristan's Mum (Peter Kelly/ RTÉ, TV Iris category); Prime Time Investigates: Sex Traffic (Janet Traynor/RTÉ, TV Iris & Current Affairs category); Prime Time Investigates: Home Truths (Maire Kearney, Janet Traynor/RTÉ, TV Current Affairs category); The Last Harbinger: An Elegy For Shadows Fleeting In Twilight (Roger Greggé/Crazy Dog Audio Theatre company, Radio Drama category); The Fisher Tapes (Leo Lynch, Cathryn Brennan/RTÉ, Radio Drama category); Rumours from Monaghan (Peter Woods, Sean Rocks/RTÉ, Radio Documentary category); RTÉ Other Voices (RTÉ, Internet category)

For further information see www.prix-europa.de

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Dublin-based ensemble 3Epkano will perform their new live soundtrack for Dziga Vertov's masterwork Man With a Movie Camera as part of Dublin's Fringe Festival.
The performance will take place in the Spiegeltent, St. George's Dock, IFSC, on 12th September at 8pm. Anyone who attended the first performance of 3Epkano's new score will agree that this is a truly unmissable event. For more information visit the Dublin Fringe website.

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IFTA Extends Membership Deadline – 7 September 2006

The Irish Film & Television Academy has confirmed that membership for the new voting Academy will remain open until Friday 22nd September as a reaction to industry requests for an extension. Membership is open to Irish industry professionals working at various levels in all disciplines.

Should you wish to apply, fill out the Membership Form available at www.ifta.ie, and return it with the relevant fee to the Academy's office before Friday 22nd of September.

For more details about the Academy visit www.ifta.ie.

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The Irish short film George has been distributed in cinemas nationwide with the feature film The Front Line, by Buena Vista International (Ireland).

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Rory Breshinan and John Butler, George was funded as part of Short Cuts scheme co-funded by the Irish Film Board and RTÉ. George stars Irish actors Hugh O’Connor (Cowboys & Angels) and Amy Huberman (The Clinic).

For more information on Irish Film Board short film schemes visit www.filmboard.ie

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John O'Donoghue T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, today granted a supplementary funding award of over €2 million to the Irish Film Board, with the aim of continuing to increase film production levels in the last quarter of 2006 and for the first half of 2007. This extra funding from the Irish government will be invested in film and television projects which are expected to generate in excess of €30 million worth of film production activity in the Irish economy in the next twelve months.

'I am pleased to allocate a further €2.3 million, which will bring the total allocation of funding to the Film Board to €19.4 million in 2006, an overall increase of 21% on the 2005 allocation. The government has also introduced significant improvements to the film tax incentive Section 481 this year. As a result of these improvements, we anticipate that film and television in Ireland will generate over €80 million in 2006 alone' said Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O’Donoghue.

Last year, Minister O’Donoghue, in response to the low production levels being experienced by the film industry awarded €1.5 million in supplementary funding to the Irish Film Board with the direct aim of increasing production levels in Ireland. The additional funding ensured that Irish film production levels increased substantially during 2006, generating major opportunities for the Irish film industry.

Irish film and television projects also benefits the tourist industry. Failte Ireland figures indicate that foreign tourists attracted to Ireland by film and TV spent an estimated €250 million in 2001

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Critical Voices is the Arts Council’s biennial programme of public debate about art, culture and ideas. This year’s programme turns the spotlight on the artist and society, and reflects current international intellectual debate.

In association with Critical Voices 3, the IFI welcomes Edgardo Cozarinsky to Dublin to present his new film Night Watch and participate in an on-stage interview after the screening with Dr Ciaran Cosgrove (TCD). Best known for his subtle, semi-documentary films, his most recent novel, The Moldavian Pimp, was published earlier this year.

Night Watch (Ronda nocturna) is a haunting portrait of night and the city. Víctor (Gonzalo Heredia) is a young male prostitute who cruises the streets of Buenos Aires by night in search of trade, making his way from one odd, fragmentary encounter to the next.

The screening will take place on Saturday 26th August in the Irish Film Institute at 2pm.

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Friday 8th of September marks the final deadline date for all entries to the Stella Artois Film Awards at the 19th Seagate Foyle Film Festival, which will run from the 10–19 November 2006.

This year the 19th Seagate Foyle Film Festival will host the competition for the prestigious Stella Artois Film Awards in the categories of: Best Irish Short, Best International Short, Best Animation, Best Documentary, and Best Short Feature.

To submit your entry to the Stella Artois Film Awards of the19th Seagate Foyle Film Festival log onto www.foylefilmfestival.com for entry forms and application information. Contact the Festival Office for any further details on T: (44) 028 7126 7432 E: s.kelpie@nerve-centre.org.uk or write to The Director, Seagate Foyle Film Festival, The Nerve Centre, 7-8 Magazine Street, L’Derry, Northern Ireland BT48 6HJ

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John Hill's groundbreaking study Cinema and Northern Ireland: Film, Culture and Politics is the first book to focus solely on the cinema from and about Northern Ireland. This comprehensive account,based on detailed archival research, traces the history of film production in Northern Ireland from the beginnings of a local film industry in the 1920s and 1930s, when the first Northern Irish 'quota quickies' were made, through the propaganda films of the 1940s and 1950s and on to the cinema of the 'troubles'.

On 6th September at 6.30pm, John Hill will introduce the screening of Ourselves Alone (Brian Desmond Hirst,1936) at the Irish Film Institute.

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The modest success of last weeks Navan Film Festival has legitimised its place in the film festival circuit.

Highlights of the festival included a rare screening of 1998's feature Fatal Deviation, Tony Brown's controversial documentary The Man Who Blew Up The Pillar, the short film Nowhere Man by Navan native Paul Webster, Emily's Song and Silent Suffering.

Producer Paul Williams collected the Award for Best Short for his film Portrait starring Navan man Gerry Shanahan.

Brothers Jason and Jonathan Figgis collected the Award for Best Feature for their unsettling documentary A Curious Incident in the Life of Uri Gellar.

Canadian Jonathan Joffe was unavailable to collect the prize for Best International Film Cost of Living. Festival Patron Eamon Matthews accepted the award on his behalf.

The Navan Film Festival was organised by local filmmakers Paul Cotrulia, Brian Matthews and Niall Shanley and was kindly supported by Excel Print, Clarke's Sports Den, The Newgrange Hotel, Probono Publico, Tierney Auctioneers, Element Records, Staunton's, Smiths and The Tailteann.

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CastingsWorldwide.com is the exciting new web based Online casting agency for actors, models and extras that promises to keep your finger on the pulse of the film, television and modelling industries. Castings Worldwide is the first website that will include castings from around the world, allowing you to find work wherever you are.

Castings Worldwide offers a range of fantastic services to its users: industry news on theatre, film, television and commercial productions in Ireland and abroad; information on global festivals; an internal email address so you can keep track of the castings you go to; the ability to upload your CV and send it to relevant parties; video uploads so casting directors can see your full potential; speaking voice uploads; a notice board for job postings; an interactive newsletter and monthly competitions. Now is the best time to join, with members who sign up before the end of this year receiving membership until January 2008.

For more information see www.castingsworldwide.com

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The Irish Film Archive will be screening Paddy on Wednesday, 13th September 2006. 'Europe's most banned author', Lee Dunne, will introduce the film adaptation of his controversial book Goodbye to the Hill. Mr. Dunne has had 7 books and 2 films banned.

Paddy was banned by the Irish censor in 1970 due to its sexual frankness, and never enjoyed a legitimate cinema screening in Ireland. It was only on August 1st 2006, that the Irish Film Censor's office issued the film with a cert – a 12A rating – to allow Irish cinema audiences to see this for the first time in its history.

It stars Abbey actor Des Cave as an 'Irish Alfie' who lives his mother, sister and brothers, but spends most of his time seducing a succession of women around Dublin and spending time in Mulligan's Pub on Poolbeg Street with his reprobate friend (played by Milo O'Shea).

Paddy will be given its Irish premiere – 36 years later – on Wednesday 13th September at 6.30 pm in the IFI Cinema, 6 Eustace Street Temple Bar. The infamous Lee Dunne will introduce the screening and, following the screening, he will sign copies of his re-published Goodbye to the Hill in the IFI bookshop.

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Future Shorts Ireland are polishing off the projector for another bout of festival shenanigans at the Manuta Lives Festival in Roscommon this weekend (19th & 20th August 2006).

The festival is run by the Mantua Project, set up two years ago as an artists’ space, and contains studios and accommodation and exhibition space. The festival ran last year and proved such a success that the ante has been upped this time round

There will be 3 main areas hosting over 60 live acts and visual artists and covering many styles of music. The music acts include Eek A Mouse, Radioactive Man, Plaid and Luke Vibert, to name just four. Dublin’s own Alphabet Set Crew will be running their own stage with a quality line up that should not be missed.

Some of the visuals of the festival will be provided by Delicious9, Mercury Boy, Pussykru and many more.

Future Shorts Ireland is honoured to be included in such a line up and will hope to raise some eyebrows on their own, with their exciting festival selection. Some of the films screened will include Carolina Melis In Which a Butterfly Lands on a Zebras Head, Marc Isaac's Lift, Richard Linklater’s Live From Shiva’s Dancefloor as well as a host of both Irish and international hits

For more information on Future Shorts Ireland visit www.futureshorts.com/ireland

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Wexford Arts Centre in partnership with The Arts Department of Wexford County Council and the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon, is pleased to announce an inaugural Emerging Visual Artists Award, valued at €8,000. Submissions are invited from visual artists working in all visual media for this award. This is a new initiative for the visual arts in Co. Wexford and is aimed at recognising, supporting and encouraging the development and excellence of committed emerging artists in kick starting their career and achieving professional recognition.

Submissions will be assessed by an Independent Selection Panel, all of which have appropriate expertise in the visual arts. The successful recipient of the award will be required to create a new body of work during the period November 2006 – October 2007, which will be exhibited at Wexford Arts Centre during November 2007. Applicants must be resident in Ireland for a minimum six-month period to be eligible to apply.

The deadline for receipt of submissions is 5.00 p.m., Thursday, 28th September, 2006. For further details please contact: Catherine Bowe, Administration Manager, Wexford Arts Centre, Cornmarket, Wexford. P: 053. 91 23764 F: 053.9121765 E: catherine@wexfordartscentre.ie or The Arts Department, Wexford County Council, County Hall, Wexford. P: 053. 9176369 / 053. 9176441 F: 053.43532 E: arts@wexfordcoco.ie

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The inaugural Minicinefest is taking place in Ranelagh in the Cinemobile, on Saturday 30th September, as part of the Ranelagh Arts Festival.

This is a fantastic opportunity for budding filmmakers to see their short films on the big screen and to have their work viewed by reputable figures in the Irish film industry. All entries should be submitted by 23rd of August 2006 in DVD format only. Films should be no longer than seven minutes in total, and should have been made within the last two years. A 10-euro entry fee applies.

Further details and entry forms can be found on www.ranelagharts.org

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The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland, in association with the Directors Guild of America, is delighted to announce the Directors Finders Series 2006. The Finder Series award presents a unique opportunity for Irish directors to engage with the US film industry. The purpose of the series is to spotlight independent Irish directors and their films. The SDGI will launch the selected Irish film in LA, screening to US distributors, agents and press in the prestigious DGA Theatre on Sunset Boulevard. This year the award will be open to fiction, documentary and drama.

The Directors' Finder Series, initiated by the Independent Directors Committee of the DGA chaired by Steven Soderberg, has, since its inception, screened more than 75 independent films.

An international panel of experts will select the winning film. The film and the director will then travel to LA, where an official screening will take place on the 27th. The Sunset Theatre is the host venue and the event will be attended by key industry figures. The screening will be introduced by Jeff Soroka of the DGA and Paul Balbirnie of the SDGI. The director will then participate in a Q&A after the film.

Last year, 17 Irish directors submitted their films and an esteemed panel of judges decided on Pavee Lackeen, by Perry Ogden. Perry travelled to LA, where he had meetings with Vitagraph films and First Look films. He then presented and screened his film, following it with a Q&A session conducted by Paul Quinn.

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