|
We continue our love affair with the short film with
some 32 programmes devoted to this exciting art form.
In addition to the competition screenings, there are
a
number of special programmes. Barbara Albert, the subject
of our ‘Focus On’ section first came to
our attention through her short films including the
wonderful and award-winning Sonnenflecken. Similarly
Damien O'Donnell, director of our Opening Gala, Inside
I'm Dancing, achieved a reputation as a ‘director
to watch’ with his now classic short 35 Aside.
We screen that as part of our 3X3 programme.
We are delighted to once again host the Jameson Award
for Best National Short Film, one of 12 festivals to
do so. This pan- European project, in support of the
art of the short film, carries a monetary prize of €6,000,
and also ensures that the winning film participates
on a tour of European film festivals.
There were over 50 entries to our 'Made in Cork' section
and it is gratifying to think that there is such an
amount of local filmmaking activity. We have selected
eight short films for the 'Made In Cork' Best Short
award which now has the monetary support of the Irish
Examiner.
We are equally pleased that we have a new award, Gradam
Gael Linn, with a prize of €3,000 to reward excellence
in short filmmaking in the Irish language. Given the
success of Irish-language short films in Cork over the
years - Lipservice, Eireville and last year’s
Audience Award winner, Yu Ming Is Anim Dom - it is appropriate
that we have such an award and in conjunction with this
we screen a programme of great shorts in the Irish language.
Zanzibar Films have produced some 16 short films to
date, many of which have screened in Cork in recent
years. This year they are the subject of our new ‘carte
blanche’ programme, Cárta Bán. As
in previous years we are delighted to premier the latest
round of Irish Film Board-funded Short Cuts, Oscailt
and Irish Flash shorts.
Ken Wardrop is one of the most exciting filmmaking talents
to have come our way in many years. He submitted six,
sometimes startling but always accomplished short films.
We were impressed enough to
devote a special programme to his wonderful films. Special
mention must also be given to local filmmaker Peter
Foot, who was indeed the recipient of a Special Mention
at the recent Venice Film Festival with his film The
Carpenter And His Clumsy Wife.
Finally, we remember Ronan Phelan, director of Gangs
of Waterfall, who died recently. Ronan was extremely
talented and Gangs Of Waterfall, Best ‘Made In
Cork’ Short of 2001, still stands as, arguably,
the best short film to come out of Cork. He is greatly
missed.
|
