CORONA FASTNET SHORT FILM FESTIVAL LAUNCH At Crane Lane, Cork Thursday April 16th 2009. It's hard to believe this is the inaugural year of the Corona Fastnet Short Film Festival, from the number of high quality submissions, to the list of celebrity patrons involved, the line up is amazing. The Irish Film Classifier, John Kelleher who was at Crane Lane for the Cinematographers Party, said 'I have been on the Film Festival Circuit for the past forty years and have never seen such a line up in the first year of a festival. Many highly regarded Film Festivals from Cannes to The Corona Cork Film Festival would be proud to claim this festival programme.' The Cinematographer's Party launched the four day programme to be held in Schull, West Cork from Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th May. Film Composer and twice Golden Globe Nominee Maurice Seezer welcomed the 150 strong audience, giving 'special thanks to Corona for their generous support'. Michael Barry of Barry & Fitzwilliam said he was 'blown away by the enthusiasm and passion of the Committee members and sais he was delighted to be in a position to assist and encourage such an innovative festival. Also at the party was creator of Scrap Saturday, Festival Patron Gerard Stembridge, who likened his participation in the Festival to that of Salieri in the film Amadeus, 'a man of average ability, yet the only one to recognise genius and quash it, and I am looking forward to quashing genius in May, lots of it'. He said to much laughter. The Festival Chairman Chris O'Dell, cinematographer on the famous Morse and Lewis TV series, compellingly with props, conjured up the chaotic atmosphere on set, as all of the film crew strive for that moment of magic when it all comes together. He said 'While looking at the 88 short film submissions for the Festival I have seen many moments of magic and hope you will too when you attend the events in May.' Other well known names in the film world including directors Kirsten Sheridan, Jim Sheridan, Jack Gold and former Director General of the BBC Greg Dyke will also be involved in 'Audiences With' and Workshops at the Festival. 88 films have been submitted into the competition, the quality of which is extraordinary. There are a number of awards being offered, including Best of Festival, Best Comedy, Best Use of Music and Best Drama, all of which have prizes of €500. All of the films submitted will be screened in various venues around Schull and screenings are free except for the shortlisted screenings on Sunday which cost €10. Ireland’s first state of the art mobile cinema will show the short-listed films in each category. Tickets for workshops and 'Audiences With' cost €10. Whether you see yourself as a film maker or are simply interested in film as entertainment, make sure you get to Schull for the four days of the Festival. You will get the chance to meet and listen to experienced film makers, attend workshops, enjoy a wide variety of films and just have fun. The fringe events include storytelling, book launch and signing, concert with the extraordinary Dog Tail Soup on Saturday night, sight seeing trips on land and sea and much more. Tickets will be available from @ Your Leisure, Main St. Schull For further information phone 085 1588 309 or log on to www.fastnetshortfilmfestival.com

back to »The Corona Fastnet Short Film festival