24 May 2017
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
The 9th Fastnet Film Festival launched this evening at Grove House in Schull, West Cork. Speakers at the event were the Festival Chairperson Aidan Stanley and Maureen Hughes. Also in attendance to celebrate the festival’s opening party were Jim Sheridan and Joan Bergin.
Over 400 guests soaked up the sunshine and atmosphere, enjoying live music from the PC Quartet, a performance of the Lion King from Schull Community College, wine, Longueville House Cider and canapés courtesy of Gubbeen and West Cork Pies. Following the party, guests enjoyed a Screening of the Secret Scripture, followed by a Q&A with Jim Sheridan, Lesa Thurman, Geraldine Macalinden and Pauline Cotter.
Schull is definitely the place to be this week, right through to the Wrap Party on Sunday night.
Fastnet is a major showcase for Irish and International short film, focusing on the craft of film, held in high regard on a local, national and international level. With Seminars, Masterclasses and Workshops covering, Lighting, Screenwriting, Casting, Auditioning, Score Composition, Film Ethics, Filming in Conflict, Animation, Creating Content on Your Mobile, Set Design, Shorts to Feature, Costume and more.
Fringe events include the Long Island Cinema, Filmmakers Hub, CornerTalk, Live music, Drama, Movie Quiz, Café viewing, Silent Cinemas, high quality free family entertainment and much more. The GALA EVENT will see Academy Award winning film historian Kevin Brownlow, Premiere the 1925 restored silent film, The Goose Woman accompanied by world famous composer and conductor Carl Davis on grand piano. Supported by Cork County Council, IMRO and Tomar Trust.
Crash Ensemble, at the cutting edge of contemporary classical music, will perform live on the West Pier on Long Island Schull on Saturday 27th May at Sundown. Crash Ensemble is Ireland’s foremost contemporary music ensemble; a group of world-class musicians who play the most adventurous, ground-breaking new music of today.
Other guests include David Puttnam, Jim Sheridan, Lenny Abrahamson, Stephen Frears, Stephen Rennicks and many more. Also, featured at the festival will be in excess of 400 screenings, Local Interest Films and World Cinema Programmes.
“The 9th Fastnet Film Festival would not be possible without the support of our sponsors William and Judith Bollinger, RTE Supporting the Arts, Fáilte Ireland, The Arts Council, Benny & Cliona McCabe, The Irish Film Board, Screen Training Ireland, The Sunday Times, Turkish Airlines, Viv Nathan, Frank Daly, Michael Satke, Cork County Council, Ken Kilkenny, Denis and Mary Ryan and Peter and Sabine Kelly, IMRO and huge private support from friends and local businesses. A big thank you goes out to the village of Schull for providing an idyllic setting for what is now an internationally acclaimed Film Festival and for the outstanding encouragement and enthusiasm of the entire community toward this event.
“A big thank you goes out to the village of Schull for providing an idyllic setting for what is now an internationally acclaimed Short Film Festival and for the outstanding encouragement and enthusiasm of the entire community toward this event.” Said Chair Aidan Stanley.
A wonderful way to herald what will prove to be an intriguing and innovative Festival from Wednesday 20th to Sunday 24thMay 2015.
Despite the fact that the town has no cinema, organisers have come up with innovative methods to showcase over 250 films all over the town by encouraging filmmakers, tourists and locals to access the submitted competition films locally, on their laptops, iPads and smart phones, simply by logging on. For four days at the end of May, Schull village itself becomes a cinema with screenings in 9 venues in town. There will be special guests, gala screenings, workshops and round table discussions, Gavin Harte’s Cycling Cinema Tent where the projector and sound runs on pedal power, Horse Box Cinema, Children’s activity tent with puppetry, storytelling, tee-shirt painting and children’s movies, BBQ, Music and Market Stalls all at the Secret Garden on Main Street.
