Fisín competition stays on course

THE Fisín short film competition will go ahead this Saturday despite the current coronavirus lockdown, according to director Tor Cotton.

The competition was orginally scheduled to run on the weekend of Feile na Bealtaine but following the cancellation of the summer arts festival due to the coronavirus lockdown, Físín organisers decided to proceed with the competition using video conferencing technology to host the live pitches that are central to the competition.

Entrants have expressed their gratitude for the competition going ahead, according to Tor, who said one contestant commented: “now I have something positive to focus on this week”.

On Saturday morning each of the six finalists will make a pitch for their idea to receive the award and funding. Apart from artistic merit, the judges will seek a project that can made within the budget and equipment available. The resulting film will be premiered in 2021.

The names of the six finalists and the titles for their projects are: Niamh Bryson, ‘Scoil’; Katie McNeice, ‘Focail’; Lisa Ní Laoire, ‘Nan’; Ivan Cush, ‘Ceann de na Buachaillí’; Glenn Gannon, ‘Bua na Cainte’; Daniel Butler, ‘Na Cuairteoirí’.

The Competition will use the online video conferenicng platfrom Zoom and the entrants will be joining from around the country and as far away as Hamburg.

Meanwhile, Béirín Beag Buí 2, last year’s winning idea from Niamh Lawlor, is waiting for a post Covid-19 launch and has already been sold to RTE for broadcast next Christmas.