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Mar 31

Irelands Young Filmmaker of the Year 2019 Announces Winners

by richanthon in Entertainment, Festival, News, Youth 0 comments 1918 0

Irelands Young Filmmaker of the Year 2019 announces winners. Jane Foley, founder of Fresh Film Festival, second place finalist Cal Arnold O’Driscoll, 16 from Dublin 7, first place winner Sean Treacy, 14 from Wicklow and third place finalist Milosh Hughes, 18 from Malahide, Dublin and comedian Pat Shortt at the Senior Finals of Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards 2019 in the Odeon, Castletroy on March 28th. Picture: Zoe Conway/ilovelimerick

Irelands Young Filmmaker of the Year 2019 announces winners

Irelands Young Filmmaker of the Year 2019 announced its Junior winners on Wednesday, March 27 and its Senior winners on Thursday, March 28 at the Fresh Film Festival 2019 in Limerick. The competition, which received a record of more than 1,700 entries this year, announced the winners at the Odeon Castletroy.

14-year-old Sean Treacy from Ashford in Wicklow took home the title of Ireland’s Young Senior Filmmaker of the year 2019 for his short film ‘Rue’, a story about a boy who regrets his last words to his best friend. Speaking about his win, Sean said, “To win here today is an absolute honour, especially considering the quality of the films that were entered! I think this year’s films are the highest quality that Fresh Film has ever received. They were all absolutely outstanding and any of them could have placed first. I am really honoured and chuffed that it was this film that won. It’s one the actors and I worked really hard on, I couldn’t have done it without them, and they were amazing. I can’t thank Fresh Film Festival enough for organising the whole event, it was just fantastic!”

Sean also directed the short film ‘Spark’, in which the body of a camera brings a young boy’s dream to life, which was also screened during the festival. Sean had previously come second in Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2018 for his film ‘Brother’ in which two kids become unlikely friends after they are forced to spend time together.

Irelands Young Filmmaker of the Year 2019 announces winners

Pictured are comedian Pat Shortt, first place finalist Rhianna Keane, 12, Fresh Film Festival Founder Jane Foley, Emma Sams, first place finalists Irina Daw, 12, Rowan Knox, 12, and Art O’Rourke, 13, at the Odeon, Castletroy on March 27th at the Fresh Film Festival 2019. Pictures: Zoe Conway/ilovelimerick

Students from Clare who were part of the Sparks Film Group took home the title of Ireland’s Young Junior Filmmaker of the year 2019 for their short film ‘CAT-astrophe’, in which a strange cat is found and weird things begin to happen. Emma Sams, the group’s mentor from the Spark’s Film Festival in Clare spoke about their win, “Well it’s brilliant! They put so much work into putting the film together. It came from a small festival held at the Scarriff public library in Scarriff, East Clare, called Spark’s Film Festival, which has been going for a few years. It’s a miniature version of Fresh Film Festival. These guys came and did some workshops during the week of the festival and put so much work and effort into putting the film together. It’s brilliant to see that they’ve been rewarded for all their hard work, thanks to Fresh Film Festival”.

At the Seniors, Cal Arnold O’Driscoll, aged 16 from Dublin was the second place winner for his film ‘Big Bad World’, in which two Irish teens from the ’90s, finally break the rules by going on their very own vacation. Milosh Hughes, aged 18 from Malahide in Dublin took home third place for his film ‘Descensus’, which is a story about a young who boy loses his grip on reality as constant nightmares cause him to spiral into madness. Waterford’s SWAY Project for Waterford city won Best Group at Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2019 for their film ‘Big Trouble in Little John’s Park’.

At the Juniors, students of Kilcoona National School in Galway, were the second-place winners for their film ‘Some Time in the Woods’, which follows Anna and her five friends as they go into the woods for a picnic, where Anna stumbles upon an old pocket watch which leads to them travelling back in time. While Ivan Fair aged 11 from Westport, Mayo took home third place for his film ‘I Miss You’, a sad story about a boy who misses his brother that died, and how he copes with his grief.

Vigga Wagner from Copenhagen in Denmark won the International Film Award for her film Bubblehead which follows a girl who lives a solitary life with her pet fish that meets a cute boy when she visits the pet shop after her goldfish dies.

Other entries received Highly Commended Awards on the day. In addition to the Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year awards, a number of specialist awards were presented for both the Juniors and the Seniors including the Radharc Trust Award (documentary), the Boulder Media Animation Award, the RTE 60 Second Short Film Award and the RTE Factual Award, in addition to the International and Audience awards.

Jane Foley, Artistic Director of @FreshIreland congratulated winner Seán for his film “Rue”! Congratulations to everyone! #ilovelimerick #irelandsyoungfilmmakeroftheyear pic.twitter.com/rgNpx1TQqy

— #LimerickTilliDie (@ilovelimerick) March 28, 2019

Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year is the highlight of Limerick’s Fresh Film Festival, which is now in its 23rd year. Other highlights of Fresh Film Festival 2019 include feature screenings and workshops including an Industry Master class with The National Youth Film School.

“Ireland’s Young Filmmaker has a very interesting approach,” says Jayne Foley, Director of Fresh Film Festival. “Storytelling is at the core,” she says, “because the budget is usually either low or non-existent, filmmakers have to be very inventive with plot and location.” Jayne adds, “The festival is a forum where young film-makers can meet each other. Even at that stage networking is important. You may end up meeting the same people again later in your career. As advocates of young filmmaking, we also try to showcase films abroad. We’ve brought Irish films and young filmmakers to Korea, Austria, Germany, and Edinburgh. This year we are excited to have a number of international young filmmakers coming to Fresh and sharing their filmmaking experience with us.”

For more information on the Fresh Film Festival, go here.

For more stories on the Fresh Film Festival, go here.

Jun 05

Irelands Young Filmmaker of the Year 2018 Senior Finals announces winners

by richanthon in Festival, News, Video, Youth 0 comments 3587 0

John Farrelly, 17, winner of the Senior Irelands Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards 2018 pictured with his family at Fresh Film Festival at Odeon Cinema, Castletroy Limerick. Picture: Cian Reinhardt/ilovelimerick

Irelands Young Filmmaker of the Year 2018 Senior Finals announces winners

Irelands Young Filmmaker of the Year 2018 Senior finals announced its winners at the Fresh Film Festival 2018 in Limerick on Thursday, March 22. The competition, which received a record of almost 1,500 entries this year, announced the winners at the Odeon Castletroy.

Limerick winners included Melanie O’Donnell, from Limerick aged 18 took home third place for her film ‘Catharsis’ and Luke Culhane, aged 15 from Castletroy who took home the RTÉ Factual Award for his film ‘What’s Your Story?’.

Melanie O’Donnell, aged 18 from Adare, Limerick took home third place for her film ‘Catharsis’, in which a young patient purges her mind through art with the help of her psychiatrist. Speaking about her third-place finish, Melanie said, “I’ve been making films for seven years and I have to say when it comes to making films, whatever age you are, you have to have perseverance, patience, and passion”.

Limerick’s Luke Culhane, aged 15 from Castletroy, also took home the RTÉ Factual Award for his film ‘What’s Your Story?’. Speaking about his win, Luke said, ”I’m speechless. The standard was so high. I have no words. I’m really proud and honoured”.

17-year-old John Farrelly from Warrenpoint, Down, took home the title of Ireland’s Young Senior Filmmaker of the year 2018 at the Irelands Young Filmmaker of the Year 2018 Senior Finals for his short film ‘Choice’, a boy suspects there is something not quite right with his life. Speaking about his win, said, “I’m so glad I won Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2018. I worked really hard and the hard work paid off. I would encourage anyone interested in film to enter next year as it’s a great opportunity and encourages young people to make films”.

Sean Treacy, aged 13 from Ashford, Wicklow was the second place winner Irelands Young Filmmaker of the Year 2018 Senior Finals for his film ‘Brother’, in which two kids become unlikely friends after they forced to spend time together. Speaking about his second place, Sean said, “Today has probably been one of the best days of my life. The standard was on a whole other level than I think anyone here expected. Fresh Film Festival is making so many stars here because the level of filmmaking was just amazing. I’m so shocked and so blessed to have come second place”.

Melanie O’Donnell, 18, Limerick with her family who won third place at Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards 2018 Senior Finals which took place at Odeon Cinema, Castletroy Limerick. Picture: Cian Reinhardt/ilovelimerick.

Waterford’s SWAY Project won Best Group at Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2018 for their films ‘Useless’ and ‘DUFF’, with the latter also taking home the Audience Award on the day. Speaking about their win, Youth Worker Eoin Dalton said, “We are delighted to win. They are a great bunch of young people and they put so much work into their films and took their responsibilities as filmmakers very seriously”.

Other entries received highly commended honours on the day, including CBS Ennistymon in Clare for Ensemble, Jack Doyle from Kildare for Performance, Rueben Harvey from Laois for Comedy, Josh Lynas from Down for Direction and Dónal Cotter from Dublin for Production Design.

Luke Culhane, (15), Castletroy, Limerick winner of the RTE Factual Award at Senior Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards 2018 which took place at Odeon Cinema, Castletroy Limerick. Picture: Cian Reinhardt/ilovelimerick

In addition to the Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year awards, a number of specialist awards were presented on the day including Emily McGee, aged 18 from Kilkenny City whose film ‘Bird’ took home the Boulder Media Award for animation, and Aaron Moloney, aged 19 from Clonlara, Clare, whose film ‘ Toast’ won RTÉ 60 Second Award. Additionally, Jakub Bajerski, aged 17 from Ennis, Clare, won the TG4 Award for the best film in the Irish Language for his film ‘The Baile Mór’, while Anna Murray, aged 16 from Loreto Secondary School in Fermoy won the Radharc Senior Award for her film ‘Traveller Life: The Reality’.

Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year is the highlight of Limerick’s Fresh Film Festival, which is now in its 22^nd Year. Other highlights of Fresh Film Festival 2018 include feature screenings and workshops including an animation workshop with Brazilian animator Alexandre Almeida Juruena De Mattos.

Fresh Film Festival encourages young people from Ireland and overseas, aged 7 to 18 years, to create, exhibit and share films. The festival provides an opportunity for these young filmmakers to have their work seen on a cinema screen for the first time and to compete for the title of Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year. All films submitted are also considered for a range of Specialist Awards including the Radharc Trust Award (documentary), the Boulder Media Animation Award, the RTE 60 Second Short Film Award and the RTE Factual Award, in addition to the International and Audience awards.

Reflecting on this year’s Festival, Fresh Film Festival Director Jayne Foley commented, “This is our 22^nd Fresh Film Festival, so it’s a huge Festival this year. We’ve had 1,500 films from filmmakers all over the world. We are here with a packed, packed cinema, so it’s a great success. We are delighted to have all of these young filmmakers from around the globe joining us for the Festival this year”.

Further details about the Fresh Film Festival can be found here.

For more stories on the Fresh Film Festival, go here.

Jul 30

Limerick Pride Parade 2015

by richanthon in Community, Culture, Dance, Entertainment, Events, Festival, Gay, I Love Limerick, Inspirational, Music, News, Nightlife, Old Posts, Parade, People, Performance, Press, Pride, Promo 0 comments 3774 0

Pictured: Nollaig Malone, Miss Limerick 2015,Marianne Madoxx, Richard Lynch, Hugo Dahn and Myles Breen, Grand Marshall Limerick Pride 2015. Picture: Dolf Patijn.

Limerick Pride Parade 2015 was held this year, Sat July 18, for huge crowds coming out to participate in this year’s festivities.

There has never been more reason to celebrate Limerick Pride than there has been this year, because of Ireland’s decision to legalise same-sex marriage earlier in May. National pride was celebrated after the marriage referendum but local pride in the decision was celebrated today, with three marchers carrying a Limerick flag near the front of the parade, with the words; “Limerick Said Yes”, printed on the front.

Elaborate outfits, colourful posters and rainbow pride flags covered the streets of Limerick City. A number of groups donated their time and effort to take part in the parade, as well as political parties Fianna Fáil, Labour, Sinn Féin and AAA showing their support.

The parade, leaving City Hall at 3pm, wound its way around our city, through O’Connell Street, Mallow Street and Henry Street, before arriving back at City Hall. The Parade Grand Marshall was Myles Breen, who rode in the back of an open-top car as it travelled the route of the parade. Myles, in his ever cheerful and charismatic manner, interacted with the crowds as he passed, and later referred to them as he addressed the growing crowds at the after-party: “I’m sure everyone who marched in the parade with me must have been overwhelmed by the response of people and with the positivity, respect and just sheer acceptance.”

The parade after-party, hosted by Paul Ryder, held performances by The Voice contestant Niall O’Halloran and Retro Fusion Gospel, a unique group that mixes different genres of music. Myles Breen performed his annual tea dance and took on a new spin, integrating elements of the rumba dance style.

Lisa Daly, chairperson of Limerick Pride, said the event was only possible ‘because of everyone coming together, not just as a country but for everyone behind the scenes, to send a very strong message that we’re all finally equal.”

Richard Lynch, Festival Organiser, said a few words at the after-party in The Orchard, saying ‘that now the LGBT community were equal in the eyes of the world in terms of Marriage Equality, our next goal is for complete equal rights of our transgendered brothers and sisters.’

Richard interviewed people on the day about what was the next step for the LGBT community in terms of equal human rights and the general consensus was that Trans people are among the most vulnerable members of Irish society and experience high levels of stigmatisation and marginalisation. Research shows suicidality, regular harassment and violence and systemic discrimination are commonplace. The good news is since June trans people in Ireland will now not have to rely on testimony from psychiatrists or endocrinologists to have their gender recognised by the state.

Instead, their self-declaration will be accepted, for the purpose of updating passports, driving licences, obtaining a new birth cert, and getting married. While the legislation is still not perfect, and we must not forget those under 18, non-binary people and people with an intersex condition, it is wonderful that Ireland recognised its citizens’ rights to determine our own identity. We are in a new era for trans rights in Ireland.

The Climax party, held in Dolan’s Warehouse on Saturday, wrapped up the day with performance by Dragged Up, later followed by DJ Ruth.

This year’s festival was focused around the theme of not only accepting others, but also accepting and expressing yourself.

Visit the Limerick Pride website here

Visit the Limerick Pride Facebook here

Visit the Limerick Pride Twitter here

Limerick Pride 2015 launch at Dolan’s Warehouse

by richanthon in Advertisement, Art, Audio, Business, Charity, Community, Culture, Dance, Education, Entertainment, Events, Fashion, Festival, Gay, I Love Limerick, Inspirational, Learning, Local Buisness, News, Nightlife, Old Posts, Parade, Performance, Photos, Press, Pride, Promo, Support, Video, Youth 0 comments 3199 0

Pictured: Mrs Elsie Cox, Myles Breen, Richard Lynch, Mayor Jerry O’Dea and Aladdin Kishk. Picture by: Jonathan Baynes.

The countdown to Limerick Pride 2015 officially began with the press launch at Dolan’s in Limerick City on Mon, June 29.

At the Limerick Pride 2015 launch Patrick McElligott, Chairperson of Limerick Pride said: “We are thrilled to be able to offer a fantastic line up for Limerick Pride 2015, running from Tues, July 14 until Sun, July 19. There is something for everyone culminating in the annual Pride Parade on Saturday July 18 and the PrideFest party directly after the Parade. We want to welcome everyone to join us in celebrating LGBT culture in Limerick and show Limerick for the truly open and accepting city that she is. It is set to build on the success and positive energy of previous years festivals, promoting community spirit, community engagement and celebration. This past year the Irish LGBT community has received resounding support from the wider Irish community in their support of equal rights and marriage equality so this will be reflected in this year’s Pride Parade. We will celebrate our freedom and the opportunity we have been given as a community to develop the concept of the family unit within our community.”

Jerry O’Dea, newly appointed Mayor of Metropolitan District of Limerick, showed his support for the LGBT movement at the launch, adding: “In previous years, people who have participated in Pride have felt that this annual event was their only time to be truly express themselves. Since the passing of the marriage referendum, Ireland’s LGBT population has been joined by the wider population in celebration.”

The Limerick Pride Festival 2015 will be taking place starting on Tues, July 14 with events each day until Sunday July 19 and will feature a multitude of events, from educational workshops and discussions to evenings of music and club nights, to cater to the Pride needs of everyone.

This year’s Pride will have an educational aspect. Workshops will be held during the week covering topics such as a Coming Out, Sexual Empowerment and social groups for people of all ages, orientations and genders. All will be welcome to the workshops regardless of their sexual orientation giving the people of Limerick City an opportunity to get to know the Limerick LGBT community more and everyone is encouraged to get involved.

For the first time ever, The Mr and Ms Gay Limerick competition on Sat, July 11 will be held before the Limerick Pride festival at the Best Western Pery Hotel at 9pm, hosted by Paul Ryder with Regina George taking to the decks once the winners have been crowned to entertain us with the best party music around. Tickets are priced at €10.

Limerick Pride’s official Launch night on Tues, July 14 will be in “Stroker’s Gay Bar” on William Street with champagne, finger food and dance floor musical treats.

The ‘Pride Wedding Show’, a wedding fair established in 2014 as part of Limerick Pride Festival, will take place on Wed July 15 at the Limerick Strand Hotel. Sharon McMeel, an award winning wedding planner, said about the fair: “We’ll have different suppliers and vendors there, so all couples regardless of their sexual orientation will have a good opportunity to get answers to their important questions if they are considering getting married. With the historic ‘Yes’ vote this year for the marriage referendum, we actually had many engagements on the day of the referendum. It’s great to be able to look out for all the people who have gotten newly engaged.”

The annual Pride Parade on Sat, July 18, bring some extra colour and music to Limerick City Centre, gathering at City Hall at 2pm, the Parade will make its way at 3pm up O’Connell Street, across Mallow Street to Henry Street, past Arthurs Quay Park and returning to the Potato Market for PrideFest 2015 – a showcase of LGBT Culture in Limerick that you will not want to miss!

This years Grand Marshall will be none other than Limerick legend, actor, director and playwright, Myles Breen. Myles has been a stanch advocate of LGBT rights for decades and in 2009 as part of Limerick Pride, staged his play “Language UnBecoming a Lady”, telling the story of one gay man’s life in Limerick and it left a profound effect on audiences in Limerick. Now as Myles is about to take the play to New York in Sept, it is fitting that he leads the community in their walk through the streets of Limerick celebrating their freedom and new-found equal rights. Myles said: “I am beyond honoured to be asked to be the Grand Marshall of this years Parade. Growing up in Limerick in the 70’s and 80’s, I never dreamed of one day leading a Parade through the streets of my beloved hometown in celebration of equal human rights for the LGBT community. It’s a dream come through and I feel my life has come full circle. I hope everyone comes out to help me celebrate!”

That night after Pridefest, the main “Climax Party” at Dolan’s Warehouse, will feature “Dragged Up” star Paul Ryder and guests Pixie Woo and Victoria Secret performing their colorful show full of energy and movement, followed by DJ Ruth on the main floor and a “Saved by the 90’s” party upstairs.

A full line-up for Pride week can be found at the Limerick Pride website, with updates on their Facebook and Twitter pages. Tag your photos and comments about this years Pride with #ExpressYourselfLimerick.

For media inquires email the Chair of Limerick Pride at [email protected]

For more information on Limerick Pride, click here

Check out the Limerick LGBTQ Facebook here

Check out the Limerick Pride Twitter here

To read more about Limerick Pride, click here

May 26

Limerick Says Yes to Marriage Equality

by richanthon in Art, Awareness, Community, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Festival, Gay, I Love Limerick, Inspirational, News, Old Posts, Press, Pride, Promo, Support 0 comments 3308 0

Limerick Says Yes to Marriage Equality

Limerick Says Yes. Last Saturday, The Yes Equality campaign team was out in force at the count in the UL Arena, conducting tallies as boxes were opened and votes were counted. I spent the day with my crew filming and photographing a very emotional day that will be remembered forever in Irish history as Irish voters decisively voted in favour of marriage equality, making Ireland the first country to do so through the ballot box.

The people of Ireland backed same-sex marriage by a landslide in a referendum that marked a dramatic social shift in a traditionally Catholic country that only decriminalized homosexuality two decades ago. After one of the largest turnouts in a referendum there, 62 percent of voters said ‘Yes’, making Ireland the first country to adopt same-sex marriage via a popular vote. It is a social revolution and it’s very clear that this referendum is an affirmation of the views of young people.

One member of the Yes Equality team, who goes by the name of Billie, got down on one knee to propose to her long-term girlfriend Kate Stoica after the result became clear. “Kate we make a great team. I love you inside and out, head to toe, I don’t want to waste another minute of my life without you as my wife,” said Billie. “I’m very overwhelmed right now,” said Katie, who was surrounded by friends and well-wishers including her mum Jacinta.

Afterwards, we all went to the Kasbah Club at Dolans for the announcement of the National vote. It was like New Years Eve in 1999 as people cried, laughed and held each other. I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it was happening and I burst into tears at the final announcement. I am so incredibly proud of Limerick, of Ireland and of all the people involved in the campaign. What is more important is the key message of equality and inclusion for the LGBT section of our community in Limerick and Ireland, who have gained equality, inclusion and respect. In that regard we all have won as it has brought us forward on a global platform in the fight for equal human rights for all. This campaign energised and brought a whole new generation of our young people onto the electoral register and into politics and voting for the first time. It’s proof that we can change things. Here is to a brighter future and a new vision of love. One huge step for Ireland, another small step for the world.

Category Archives: Festival

Irelands Young Filmmaker of the Year 2019 Announces Winners

Irelands Young Filmmaker of the Year 2018 Senior Finals announces winners

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