Fresh International FilmFestival offers a stellar line up of events in celebration of it 25th Anniversary

Fresh International Film Festival and Ireland's Young Filmmaker Awards Picture: Dermot Culhane

ALL has changed in the world of film festivals post-Covid-19, and Fresh International Film Festival (March 22-28) is going digital as it celebrates its 25thย anniversary of giving young filmmakers a platform to shine.

Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards 2021 will take place online with presenter and documentary filmmaker Stephen Byrne and comedian and social creative Justine Stafford hosting this yearโ€™s awards.

Jayneย Foley, founder and artistic director of Fresh Film said, โ€œIn honour of our 25th anniversary we are offering an amazing line up of programme events this year including an alumni showcase, screenings, workshops and masterclasses.

“While we can’t bring our community of young filmmakers together in one room right now, we can bring them together online. In the spirit of Fresh our online activities will connect, inspire and support young filmmakers.”

Advertisement

Justine said, “Being back hosting at Fresh Film, a festival that I once attended as a teen and had my films screened and awarded at is such an incredible honour. Iโ€™m so excited to see all the festival entries for 2021 and it is truly a privilege to be here hosting them!โ€

Stephen added, โ€œI’m delighted to be hosting Irelandโ€™s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards this year with Justine. In what has been such a difficult year for many it is incredibly inspiring to see all the filmmakers involved making incredible stories with all odds stacked against them. The future of film in Ireland is strong!โ€

Fresh International Film Festival 2021 takes place March 22 – 28 and features an alumni showcase and a week of film screenings, school workshops and young filmmaker masterclasses.

Theย Junior Finals of Youngย Filmmakerย of the Year will take place on Thursday, March 25 and the Seniors Finals the next day, Friday, March 26 via YouTube live stream.

Thanks to the Arts Council, Limerick City and County Council, Theย BAI and Screen Skills Ireland the Freshย International Film Festival amazing programme of activities is 2021 is free. This yearโ€™s virtual programme includes:

Monday, March 22 โ€“ย โ€˜Classic Freshโ€™, a screening as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations. This is the first of three Classic Fresh screenings featuring theย bestย short films from the Fresh archive.

The screenings run at 7 pm Monday, March 22, Tuesday, March 23 and Wednesday, March 24. All screenings on www.freshfilmfestival.com/programme.

Tuesday, March 23 โ€“ โ€˜The Image You Missedโ€™ Feature Screening from 10 am.ย  This multi award winning film explores history, identity, filmmaking and storytelling and would be a unique discussion piece for your classwork on โ€˜The Troublesโ€™. For information on how to access the film please contact[email protected].

The screening of theย Internationalย Youth Cinema Networkย awards winners films from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm at www.freshfilmfestival.com/programme.

Wednesday, March 24 โ€“ โ€˜Take 25โ€™, aย specialย programme about Fresh’s 25 years will be released via Fresh International Film Festivalโ€™s YouTube at 6.30 pm. Fresh Film Director Jayne Foley is joined by a host of graduate Fresh Filmmakers to reminisce and celebrate 25 years of Fresh. From early winners of The Irish School Video Competition to Irelandโ€™s Young Filmmakers of the Years!

Thursday, March 25ย โ€“ Screening the Juniorย finalist filmโ€™s and some International films via the festival website plus the announcementย of the Ireland’s Junior Young Filmmaker of the Year award winner via YouTube.

At 7PM tune in forย โ€˜Meet the Directorโ€™ with Dr Tony Tracy in conversation with Dรณnal Foreman, Director of โ€˜The Image you Missedโ€™, via Zoom. Bookingย via Eventbrite.

Friday, March 26ย ย โ€“ Screening the Senior finalistโ€™s films onย Friday, March 26 plus the announcementย of the Irelands Young Filmmaker of the Year Senior award winner via a YouTube live stream.

Saturday March 27 โ€“ โ€˜Young Filmmaker Masterclassesโ€™, with the Screen Composers Guild of Ireland, Hubbard Casting and Dominic Power. This day of film skills is for young teenage filmmakers and places can be booked via Eventbrite. You can book for the full day or for specific elements of the day.

For the full programme of events visitย www.freshfilmfestival.com/programme.

Advertisement