YOUNG GALWEGIANS who love everything to do with film can look forward to the Junior Galway Film Fleadh in the Town Hall Theatre from November 3 to 6.
The fleadh introduces youth audiences to non mainstream cinema and helps them to develop a critical awareness of film. It also aims to educate young people in the art of storytelling through the media of film and video production
Teacher and parental involvement is encouraged through Q+A sessions, a script competition, and teachers’ notes and workbooks that accompany the films.
Among the films being shown is the atmospheric French feature Home, about the extreme lengths a family go to in order to stay in their home despite the fact a major motorway is being built outside their door.
This will be preceded by a short documentary also entitled Home, made by Patrickswell NS in Limerick, about a family’s struggle with the deterioration of their neighbourhood.
Also being screened is the German film The Crocodiles about group dynamics, physical disabilities, and family issues, while Irish feature My Brothers focuses on three young brothers’ quest to honour their father’s memories.
The main documentary is the enlightening and hilarious Exit Through the Gift Shop which looks at the value of art amid the culture of celebrity.
Animation fans can look forward to the surreal and hilarious A Town Called Panic, a high speed stop-motion animation about a cowboy, an Indian, and a horse, full of slapstick and chases. Younger children can look forward to the animated film Princess Lillifee on Saturday November 6.
This year’s Shakespearean feature, in preparation for the Leaving Cert is Hamlet, starring Mel Gibson.
Short films from youth groups, schools, and individuals such as Trading Faces Stage School in Galway and the Galway Film Centre will be screened.
Workshops this year include acting for the screen with Ros na Run’s Linda Breathnach; Make up for film + TV; and animation with Edith Pieperhoff. The award winning Galway based animator John Jennings will host a Manga animation workshop. Galway Bay FM’s Garry Kelly will host a radio production workshop.
The fleadh’s third annual Story Pitching Competition, which gives those aged between 13 and 18 a chance to pitch their idea for a feature, documentary, short, TV series, or novel, to an audience of their peers will take place on Thursday November 4.
Tickets are available for screenings from the Town Hall on 091 - 569777 and www.tht.ie Bookings and information on all films and workshops is on 091 - 562200. See www.galwayfilmfleadh.com/junior
