23 May 2024
By Elaine Murphy
roger@TheCork.ie
The 15th Fastnet Film Festival launched last night Wednesday 22nd of May at Arran St East on Main St in Schull, West Cork. Speakers at the event were, Chair of Fastnet Film Festival, Tom McCarthy, Councellor Caroline Cronin and top Irish Casting Director Maureen Hughes. Also, in attendance to celebrate the festival’s opening were Actor Aidan Gillen, Paul Laverty screen writer, Desiree Finnegan CEO of Screen Ireland, Gerard Stembridge and many more festival guests.
Over 500 film enthusiasts soaked up the sunshine and the atmosphere, enjoying live music from Stuart Wilde and the Birdmen. Rising Sons Larger and Longueville House Cider was flowing as was the conversation on film and delicious West Cork produce catered by the Newhaven Restaurant was in plenty supply. Schull is the place to be and be seen this week, right through to the Award Ceremony on Sunday night.
Several exciting participating guests at the festival will include James Nesbitt, Paul Mescal, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Stephen Rea, Ed Guiney, Olivia Caffrey, David Puttnam, Lenny Abrahamson plus many more film experts will be on the scene in Schull for the duration of the festival. Also, featured at the festival will be more than 200 short films, 18 feature length films, outdoor cinema, live music, a Focus on Horror, Irish Day on Cape Clear and Oscar winning Duo Tom and Ross will host the now famous Film Quiz, no prizes just the filmmakers’ reputations at stake!
The festival which runs each year over the last weekend in May in Schull West Cork, will host a series of Seminars, Masterclasses and Workshops covering, Directing, Acting, scoring your film, Casting, Auditioning, Scriptwriting, Production, Shorts to Feature and more. Fringe events include, Live Music, Drama, Exhibitions, Café Viewing all over town and high quality, Free Family Entertainment for all.