Top Irish Film 'Shorts' For Cork Festival

A number of award-winning Irish filmmakers will present their new short films as part of the Oscailt premiere at the Cork Film Festival on 20 October.
Peter Foott returns to the Cork Film festival with his new short 'An Creatur'. Peter's previous short film 'The Carpenter' and 'His Clumsy Wife' was a huge success, having screened at over 50 festivals and winning nine awards including a prestigious Special Mention at the Venice Film Festival and the Best Comedy Award at the LA International Short Film Festival. An Creatur, produced by Cormac Fox and Daniel McCrea with Vico Films and written and directed by Foott, spans the first 15 years of Conor Buckley's life. The short tells of a childhood prank which leaves Conor paralysed by guilt; forcing him to correct his own mistake the only way he knows how.
Sonya Gildea's new film BUA will also screen as part of the presentation. Written and directed by Gildea, BUA also won 'The Best Short Screenplay Columbine Award'at the Moondance International Festival, and The Best Short Screenplay Bronze Award at the International Screenwriter's Awards USA.
BUA tells of a young girl's fierce will to survive. She drives herself on, her horse beneath er, until she must set him free and in so doing, free herself from her troubled past. The short film stars Mick Lally, Jemma Harris and Marcus Lamb in the main roles. In 2004, Sonya received an IFTA nomination for her short film Bodyblow. BUA is produced by Kirsten Sheridan for Blindside Films.
Other films in the Oscailt programme include 'Rolla Saor' which is directed by Cathal Watters who has over 10 years experience directing documentaries and dramas. Produced by Rachel Lysaght for Fastnet Films and written by Brendan Griffin, Rolla Saor tells the story of Marc and Ruth, who find a new found interest in photographing each other after a chance photograph Marc takes of Ruth on the beach.
Rachel Lysaght recently produced other award winning shorts including 3Minute 4Play and Joyriders which won the IFTA for Best Short Film and Best Actress at Festival du Court Métrage, Bruxelles 2007 and Best First Irish Short at the Galway Film Fleadh 2006. Joyriders also received Special Jury Mention Huesca Festival Internacional de Cine de Huesca and Special Jury Mention Belfast Film Festival 2007.
'An Teanga' is the directorial debut of Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhride, an Irish language writer who also wrote this short film. Produced by Ciaran O Cofaigh for ROSG and starring Keith McErlean and Macdara O Fatharta, An Teanga is an absurd tale in which a lowly office clerk loses his tongue and is forced to confront the establishment when he can't talk and they won't listen.
The Oscailt scheme which aims to encourage original talent in all areas of Irish language short filmmaking is funded by Bord Scannan na hEireann/the Irish Film Board and TG4.
The four Oscailt short films will screen in the Kino Cinema, Washington Street at 4pm on 20 October.
(DS)