Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Boyne Valley, Droichead Arts Centre and filmmaker Frank W. Kelly have announced the inaugural Boyne Valley International Film Festival. Curated by acclaimed filmmaker and Boyne Valley native Frank W. Kelly and Collette Farrell, Droichead Arts Centre Director, this two-day event will feature the best short films from around the country, and the world, with a special focus on films made in the region.
The Festival will also shine a light on the work of talented writer, director and producer Roisin Kearney, screening a selection of her shorts: Run, No Dogs, The Family Way, We Have Each Other and Paddy.
The history and natural beauty of the Boyne Valley lend themselves perfectly to the medium of film. With this in mind, the Festival will screen a selection of shorts made in the region by filmmakers including Darren Thornton, JJ Harrington, Martin O’Donoghue, Colm Sexton and Joe Rooney, Leah Rossiter, and Bill Murphy and Frank W. Kelly, and will also screen films by young emerging filmmakers.
Other Irish film talent showcased at the Festival will include Kelly Campbell, Mark O’Halloran, Rioghnach Ní Ghrioghair, Naomi Sheridan, Myles O’Reilly, Caroline Grace Cassidy, Tristan Heanue, Niall McKay, Nessa Rafter, Imogen Murphy & Kate Gilmore, as well as a selection of international shorts, a workshop on how to make a short film, Q&A’s with filmmakers, and a panel discussion on the importance of inclusion in filmmaking, hosted by LMFM’s Sinead Brassil.
The festival is also inviting filmmakers to pitch a short film idea by email, no longer than 2 pages, by the 5 August. Three filmmakers will be shortlisted, awarded a small bursary of €500, and invited to pitch to a panel during the festival. One lucky filmmaker will be chosen, and further awarded a bursary of €2,500 to write the script, plus a studio space for 6 months in Droichead Arts Centre, Barlow House.
Combining filmmaker Q&A’s, panel discussions, and workshops, we will also highlight the work of an up-and-coming filmmaker in our Filmmaker in Focus. We want to create an environment for filmmakers and audiences to connect, and celebrate film in the inaugural year in the historical medieval town of Drogheda.
Frank W. Kelly, Curator
We are delighted to finally launch BVIFF, this has been in the planning for a while, but was interrupted due to Covid. We have such a range of film talent in this region, combined with the heritage and history and we can’t wait to showcase it all during the Festival.
Collette Farrell, Droichead Director,
Funded by the Arts Council, Meath County Council Arts Office, Louth County Council and in partnership with LOVE Drogheda BIDS.