The IFI has announced a call for entries to its annual Pete Walsh Critical Writing Award, created in memory of esteemed IFI Programmer, Pete Walsh. The deadline for submissions is February 29th, 2016.
The Pete Walsh Critical Writing Award is given annually to an outstanding piece of critical writing on any one film theatrically screened in Ireland during the previous calendar year (in this case 2015). The focus is on film appreciation and criticism rather than academic analysis and the winner receives a year’s free entry to films at the IFI.
IFI Director Ross Keane said: “The Pete Walsh Critical Writing Award is now entering its third year and it’s clear that the passion for film writing and critical appreciation that Pete championed is something that many people share. We have received very high quality entries in the past two years and this year will undoubtedly be no different.”
In addition to the prize of a year’s free entry to the IFI, the winner’s name will be announced in the IFI monthly programme and their winning entry published in full on the IFI website. Entries should be submitted to petewalshaward@irishfilm.ie
Judging Panel 2016:
- Tony Tracy (Huston School of Film & Digital Media, NUI Galway)
- Tara Brady (The Irish Times)
- Kevin Coyne (Irish Film Institute)
- Grainne Humphreys (Audi Dublin International Film Festival)
- Professor Neil Sinyard
The closing date for entries will be 5pm on Monday 29th February, 2016 and entry is open to anyone resident in Ireland. There is a maximum word count of 1250 words, though the IFI anticipates many entries will be more concise. The focus is on film appreciation and criticism rather than academic analysis. It is essential that entrants read the full competition rules and submission guidelines which are available on the IFI website at www.ifi.ie/writingaward
The Pete Walsh Critical Writing Award is an annual award that is inspired by the late, esteemed IFI programmer. Pete Walsh, who passed away in December 2012, and was a central figure at the IFI for 18 years, building an internationally admired film programme, and hugely enriching cinema exhibition and appreciation in Ireland.