The Short Film Sector Inside the Irish Film Industry at Irish Film Festa

22 March. The Making Shorts – Short Films Panel takes place on 22 March as part of the 11th IRISH FILM FESTA, running from 21-25 March. The event offers an in-depth analysis over the short film production as part of the Irish and Northern Irish film industry, a sector whose work has gained international accolades.
The production of short films in Ireland is constantly developing, both in terms of quality and quantity: the Irish Film Board, public institution that supports the national film industry, every year it provides specific funds for fiction, documentary and animation, including also other special initiatives. In Northern Ireland similar initiatives are carried out by Northern Ireland Screen.
The programming of the main national festivals devotes ample space to short films; out of these – the Galway Film Fleadh, the Cork Film Festival and the Foyle Film Festival – are Academy Awards qualifying festivals and hence they guarantee their winners the eligibility for the Oscars.
So far, three short films from Ireland or Northern Ireland have won an Oscar for Best Short Film: Six Shooter by Martin McDonagh (2005), The Shore by Terry George (2011) and Stutterer by Benjamin Cleary (2015).
IRISH FILM FESTA pays particular attention to this area of the Irish film production and since 2010 has hosted a popular competition dedicated specifically to shorts.
The panel of this year represents a special occasion for networking and debate for all Italian filmmakers and film professionals since they will have the chance to share ideas and projects with their fellow Irish filmmakers following the panel presentation.
The speakers include Christine Morrow (Northern Ireland Screen), Derry O’Brien (Network Ireland Television) and Eibh Collins (Galway Film Fleadh, short film programmer). Some short films directors attending the festival will also take part in the panel.
The event, with free entry and simultaneous translation, will be held in the Sala Deluxe at the Casa del Cinema from 15.00-17.00 on 22 March. RSVP (info and accreditation): irishfilmfesta@gmail.com – tel. 339650901. For full details see IFF website.