The Fastnet Film Festival, now in its 9th year, will run from Wednesday the 24th to Sunday the 28th of May in the seaside village of Schull in West Cork. Today they added a number of masterclasses and more to the lineup.
“Stories in your Pocket – Telling Tales with Mobile Technology” a masterclass with Neil Leyden Head of RTÉ.ie.
Neil in conversation with John Kelleher will discuss the democratising of content creation – How film and documentary makers are creating content via their smartphones and how this is empowering a whole new generation of content creators.
Neil Leyden, formerly a Senior Product Manager at Independent News & Media, a former lecturer at Trinity College Dublin and DCU, as well as a board member of the BAI and the IIA, is now Head of RTÉ.ie, overseeing the performance of Ireland’s number one media website. With over 5.5 million unique browsers a month, RTÉ.ie is the premier online destination for news, sport and entertainment content for people in Ireland and for Irish audiences abroad.
Neil will give examples of how easy it is to make a documentary or create a podcast on your smartphone. He will outline the basic steps to create, upload and build an audience online. He will discuss what he’s doing at RTÉ to encourage this content and how audiences can engage and tell their own stories.
Shapeshifters Character Design Workshop with Rory Conway of Cartoon Saloon
Animator Rory Conway will offer special instruction for participants, helping them discover how simple shapes can create complex characters! Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Please bring a laptop. This is a 90-minute workshop, minimum age 6 years. Bookings at info@fastnetfilmfestival.com
Animation Masterclass also with Rory Conway
Rory will give an introduction to Cartoon Saloon with a sneak peek from their upcoming feature film, “The Breadwinner” and talk about how to pursue a career as a layout artist and animated film maker.
Animation is a unique blend of creative imagination and technical ability and can take a lifetime to master. Kilkenny-based Cartoon Saloon is a twice Academy Award® and BAFTA nominated animation studio. In 2010 the studio’s first feature film, The Secret of Kells, was nominated for an Academy Award® and in 2015 follow-up feature, Song of the Sea, won a second Oscar® Nomination. http://www.cartoonsaloon.ie
World renowned Irish Novelist and stalwart friend of Fastnet, Pat McCabe has committed to taking part in the festival in Schull in May.
Best known for his dark novels set in contemporary Ireland, his work never makes for comfortable reading, powerfully revealing unspoken thoughts and emotions. His books include The Butcher Boy and Breakfast on Pluto, both shortlisted for the Booker Prize and filmed by Neil Jordan. He has written a children’s book, The Adventures of Shay Mouse, and numerous radio plays. Other novels include Emerald Germs of Ireland and Winterwood, named the 2007 Hughes & Hughes, Irish Novel of the Year.
His dark comedy ‘The Big Yum Yum’ was commissioned by Corcadorca and produced in 2013. Pat described it as ‘A sad, complex song of the universe investigated over a plate of yum yum cáca milis’. This was his first work written specifically for the stage, a new departure for the acclaimed Irish writer whose previous plays were adapted from his novels. A renowned reader of his own work, audiences can look forward to an entertaining afternoon in his company during the festival.
Over 5 days at the end of May each year, FFF endeavours to screen every film submitted for competition, and the workshops provide high-quality hands-on experiences for filmmakers, concentrating on the craft of film, sharing of ideas where industry professionals and students share the same space. There is fun for all, with free family entertainment, from filmmaking, craft and drama workshops, to storytelling and kids cinema club, live music, parties, workshops and roundtable discussions with industry experts.
For further festival information please check out www.fastnetfilmfestival.com.