Three students from a Local Training Initiative in Abbeyfeale headed to Cinemagic Dublin Film Academy this week. Rhiannon Murray from Newcastle West, Josh Rolfe from Abbeyfeale and Patrick Cronin, from Knocknagoshel, beat off stiff competition to attend the prestigious film academy in Dublin organised by the Cinemagic organisation. The academy takes place from 27th-31st March in The Lab in Dublin. The students, who are studying Digital Media Technology as part of their QQI Level 4 Pathway to Employment course with Abbey Heritage Project, entered their own short films in the competition to secure a place.
Course tutor Claire O’Mahony said, “the students will get the opportunity to work with professionals on the production of a film, attend masterclasses and get career guidance on different areas of the film and television industry.” The short film will be made under the guidance of industry professionals, led by filmmaker Patrick Maxwell, Headline Films. The budding filmmakers will have the chance to develop their talents and earn their credit on the local production which will be screened as part of the Cinemagic Dublin Film Festival in May 2017.
The QQI Level 4 course, which is run by Abbey Heritage Project, is sponsored by Limerick and Clare ETB and is the only full-time adult education course in Abbeyfeale. Anyone interested in applying for the next course should email abbeyheritageproject@gmail.com with their name and contact details.
Some of the guest speakers at this year’s Dublin Film Academy include: Aisling Walsh – writer and director known for work such as ‘Song for a Raggy Boy’, ‘An Inspector Calls’, ‘Wallander’, ‘A Poet in New York’ and most recently produced ‘Maudie’, with Ethan Hawke and Sally Hawkins; Michael Lennox – BAFTA Winner and Oscar Nominated Director of ‘Boogaloo and Graham’ and ‘ A Patch of Fog’; Diarmuid Noyes –Actor whose credits include ‘Borgia’, ‘Five Minutes of Heaven’, ‘Killing Bono’ and ‘Good Vibrations’. Diarmuid recently starred in the recent Cinemagic film ‘Chancer’; Louise Kiely, Casting Director known for ‘Red Rock’, ‘Sing Street’ and ‘What Richard Did’; Dean Rossiter – Composer and Songwriter – Dean’s body of work has received Academy, Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe awards. Dean recently composed the score for Cinemagic’s ‘Delicate Things’ and ‘Chancer’; Alison Crinion – Communications Director, Industry Trust for IP Awareness Ireland; Colm Nicell and Garry Walsh – Awarding-winning DOP Colm Nicell and award-winning Producer Garry Walsh known for the hit feature documentary, ‘Older Than Ireland’; and Liam Ryan – Production Manager and Industry and Short Film Programmer for the Dublin International Film Festival.