While it is great to see such a thriving arts scene in Ireland, it can sometimes be challenging for film festival organisers to stand out and compete in a crowded market.
However one festival seems to have carved themselves out very distinct and unique position by offering up and coming filmmakers an opportunity to screen content shot solely on mobile devices.
The Dublin Smartphone Film Festival, Ireland’s newest international film festival dedicated to filmmakers exclusively using mobile devices (i.e. phones and tablets), kicks off on Saturday 27th January 2018. The festival will screen a selection of short film, documentary, animation and music videos, along with hosting industry and educational workshops.
The festival is now accepting submissions for 2018 from both local and international filmmakers and the awards categories include Best Fiction, Music video, Documentary, Animation, and Best 360/VR film with entries restricted those no longer than 15 minutes in length. The festival programmers are on the lookout for strong original concepts with an inventive use of the technology and have teamed up with several smartphone equipment manufacturers including Shoulder podcast, Helium, and Iographer to award amazing prizes for each category as well as feedback on all submissions received.
The festival founder, Robert Fitzhugh, a filmmaker who has previously worked for the Reel World Film Festival in Canada and more recently as PR manager for the Fingal Film Festival, has this to say about his new venture:
As a filmmaker myself, I noticed how accessible mobile phones were. The phone provides an open playing field for filmmakers at all levels. No longer is expensive technology a barrier to creativity. The mobile phone has expanded the scope and freedom for what filmmakers can do. Mobile devices offer all the tools a filmmaker needs right there in the palm of your hand. The festivals mission is to encourage the next generation of filmmakers to share their stories and to provide them with a platform to present these stories to a wider audience”
The Dublin Smartphone Film Festival will announce its venue in the coming weeks.
Submissions can be made via Film Freeway
You can find out more information on their website and you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
