The Mary Raftery Journalism Fund will mark 15 years since the original broadcast of the States of Fear documentaries at the Irish Film Institute
(IFI), on Saturday, 24th May.
The screening of the States of Feaseries of documentaries were produced by Mary Raftery and broadcast on RTE television in 1999. The documentaries are credited with bringing to light the suffering of children at church and state-run institutions, and were central in delivering a State apology to those who suffered. A Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was established in 2000.
The anniversary event – States of Fear – 15 Years On – is being supported by RTÉ and the IFI.
The programme for the event is as follows:
? 11.00: Screening of States of Fear: Disability
? 14.00 – 16.00: States of Fear: Industrial School System
This screening will be followed by a panel discussion, chaired by Áine Lawlor. It will examine the impact of States of Fear on those who participated in it, and on the nation who watched it. The panel participants will include Sally Mulready (Irish Women Survivors Network); Colm O’Gorman (Founder of One in Four and CEO of Amnesty); Patsy McGarry (The Irish Times) and Caitriona Crowe (National Archives of Ireland).
? 16.30: Symposium: “How will you tell my story?”
This will examine the relationship between investigative journalism and documentary / film-making. The panel will be chaired by Senator Fiach MacConghail and participants will include Paul Maguire (RTE Investigations Unit); Anna Rodgers (Film Maker); Sheila O’Connor (Patient Focus) and writer Roddy Doyle.
Programming details for the ‘States of Fear’ anniversary event are available from www.ifi.ie/statesoffear. Tickets for the full-day programme are €10, or €5 for individual screenings / events, and can be obtained from: IFI Box Office at 01 679 3477 / boxoffice@irishfilm.ie / www.ifi.ie/statesoffear