Filmmakers galore in Kilmore Quay
The 6th annual Wexford Documentary Film Festival drew a large gathering of directors, speakers and audiences to Kilmore Quay for a weekend of free film screenings, panel discussions and workshops.
A new addition to this year’s festival was an outreach programme which held screenings in St. Michael’s Theatre, New Ross, the Art Studio at Yola Hedge School and the Creative Hub at the Bullring Mall in Wexford, widening access to the programme of films submitted by documentary filmmakers from around the world.
A highlight of the outreach project was the screening of ‘ They Call Us Warriors’, an inspirational film about the Venezuelan women’s soccer team, which was shown in parthership with New Ross Town Football Club. Local filmmakers and film students were once again an important part of the festival with representatives from Gorey School of Art, Gorey Mediaskool, and Carlow I.T. Wexford Campus all taking part. The festival encourages local participation and was delighted with the response from filmmakers based in the county this year.
Ciara Horan, a Gorey School of Art student, received the award for best student short for her film ‘Maeve’. Three students from the Wexford Campus, Angie Young, Angela Sanina, and Una Murphy, won an award for ‘ The Journey’ which was deemed best student entry in the 3 Minute Film Challenge and a special Jury Award was presented to Els Dietvorst’s film, ‘I watched the white dogs of the dawn’, filmed in Kilmore Quay.
International filmmakers travelled to Kilmore Quay to attend the festival including Orban Wallace from the UK, Alexander Kleider, Barcelona, Can Yalman, Turkey, student filmamkers from Aberwystwyth University in Wales, and Jacob Podber from the USA.
Among the 10 awards presented were two Grand Jury prizes won by ‘Berlin Rebel High School’, directed by Alexander Kleider and ‘Another News Story’, directed by Orban Wallace; Best International Student Short, ‘On Air’ by Julia Pawlikowska (Aberwystwyth University); Spirit of the Festival Award, ‘ They Call us Warriors’, by Jenifer Socorro, Edwin Corona and David Alsonso; Best Irish Short, ‘A Light into Darkness’, by Shane Campbell; Best 3 Minute Film Challenge, ‘On Life’s Shore’, directed by Can Yalman and Best International 3 Minute Film Challenge, ‘Vishneva’, directed by Jacob Podber. The Documentary Film Festival is grateful for the support of all its sponsors and supporters.