Guth Gafa 2017
Pictured are some of the finalists and judges for the Next Generation competition at the 2016 Guth Gafa International Documentary Film Festival

#GuthGafa17: Submissions open for the Guth Gafa International Documentary Film Festival 2017

The Guth Gafa International Documentary Film Festival is now inviting submissions in three different categories for this year’s festival which takes place at Headfort School, Kells, Co Meath from August 4th to 7th.

Irish filmmakers are invited to submit feature-length Irish documentaries on any human rights, social action and environmental issue subjects, completed since January 2016 and that have not yet been broadcast.

Final year film students are invited to submit short documentaries –not longer than 15 minutes – on themes in the areas of human rights and social and environment issues.

Next Generation is a competitive programme, which will screen a number of shortlisted outstanding films from Irish film/media students currently attending an undergraduate or postgraduate film/media studies course in either the Republic of Ireland and/or Northern Ireland.

Submissions from recent graduates (i.e., within the last year), who made their films while still in college, will also be considered.

The prize for the winning entry will be a mentoring and shooting package, sponsored by Irish film industry companies.

Finally, Guth Gafa has introduced a new short form Irish documentary competition this year.  The Short Lens competition is open to all Irish resident (and Irish living abroad) filmmakers who are invited to submit new work not longer than 20 minutes, completed after 1st August 2016, which explore themes in the area of human rights, social and environmental issues. The winner will receive mentorship on their next film project from development to production, over the next twelve months, by esteemed filmmakers connected to the Guth Gafa festival.

All submissions are completely free and can be made online on the festival’s website www.guthgafa.com.

We are delighted to continue to showcase great Irish documentary films as well as the work of student filmmakers. With the introduction of the Short Lens competition, our aim is to recognise the importance of the short form documentary for telling important stories.
David Rane – Festival Director

The deadline for all submissions is midnight, Monday 29 May.