Irish documentary wins place at Venice Film Festival

Irish documentary ‘The Last Storyteller?’ broadcast on RTÉ and TG4 earlier this year, has been accepted into the prestigious 59th Venice Film Festival.
The festival, which is one of the largest and most important in Europe, runs from August 29 to September 8 2002.
The project was co-produced by Derry based Besom Productions and Edinburgh based Asylum Pictures and was directed by Desmond Bell who is originally from Derry. It will be screened as part of the New Territories category at the festival on the August 30 and 31.
`The Last Storyteller?’ was jointly funded by RTÉ, TG4, with the assistance of Bord Scannán na hÉireann /The Irish Film Board and supported by The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Director Desmond Bell has already drawn upon Seán Ó hEochaidh’s vast experience of folklore in the making of his award winning film for RTÉ – ‘Rotha Mór an Tsaoil.’
RTÉ Head of Television Production, Clare Duignan, said: "After Rotha Mór an Tsaoil we suggested a full programme on the life of Seán Ó hEochaidh to Desmond Bell. We funded the development of the project and we are delighted that we were joined by TG4, Bórd Scannán na hÉireann and The Arts Council of Northern Ireland in the making of this fine documentary. Its selection for screening at the Venice Film Festival is an enormous honour and RTÉ congratulates Des Bell, producer Margo Harkin and all associated with the production."
(GB)