Irish language films
June 14, 2011
The Irish short film sector has been thriving in recent years, and thanks to initiatives like Gearrscannáin, funded by the Irish Film Board, Irish film makers have demonstrated that they have no shortage of imagination or talent. Films produced under the scheme to date can now be viewed on www.thisisirishfilm.ie, media hub of the Irish Film Board.
An office clerk who literally loses his tongue, a woman who has the ability to renew her age every one hundred years and a dentist who wreaks bloody havoc on a quiet village – these are just a sample of the diverse range of characters to be encountered in the series of 17 Irish language short films available to view on the website.
Each year, the Film Board releases two Irish language short films under the Gearrscannáin scheme, which aims to inspire up-and-coming film directors to produce Irish language films which challenge the audience and present them with interesting themes to explore.
The shorts produced to date, which include a number of animations, showcase a wealth of film-making talent and feature some of Ireland’s most widely acclaimed actors such as Brendan Gleeson, Charlotte Bradley, Tomás Ó Súilleabháin, Colm Ó Maonlaí and Anne Learmont, to name but a few. The films were shot at various locations around Ireland over the last number of years and explore a wide spectrum of subjects, from mental health to the rekindling of passion in a flagging marriage.
Films can be viewed on the site www.thisisirishfilm.ie. To find them, click on the “Shorts” tab at the top of the page, then scroll to the bottom and click on “Gearrscannáin (2010)”. DVDs of the films can also be obtained from Bord Scannán na hÉireann on (091) 561 318. All the shorts come with a 15 cert rating.
The Irish Film Board is currently accepting applications for Gearrscannáin 2011. The deadline for applications is 8 July 2011.
