by Rose Rushe
THIS year the second Richard Harris International Film Festival secured a unique tie-in with Newport Beach Film Festival, California. Of the ten applicant short films (‘shorts’) screened on Saturday October 25 at No. 69 O’Connell Street, one was to make the platform for show at this renowned industry festival attended by thousands annually.
Creative director of RHIFF, Eleanor McSherry, reports that Mark Holland’s film, ‘I’ve been a Sweeper’ (http://vimeo.com/86308517) was chosen by the Newport Beach Film Festival judges.
“It will be screened as part of the Irish Shorts Section of the Newport Beach Film Festival at the end of April 2015,” Elenaor explains. “I would like to thank all the filmmakers who entered our Competition, we were overwhelmed by the response.
“Richard Harris would have loved the fact that a festival in his name was giving opportunities to other Irish filmmakers. I would also like to thank the team at Newport Beach for making this competition happen. We hope to see you all in 2015!”
The exposure and possibilities opened out to Limerick based and other film makers through this cannot be underestimated. At the media launch for the RHIFF in Thomond Park in early October, film maker Stephen Hall thanked the committee for the incentive and opportunity created by them.
Richard’s sons Jared and Jamie, Jared’s wife Allegra and Richard’s niece Ella attended the October Shorts event which was the first public showing for many of works submitted.
