YOUNG FILM MAKERS STAR AT LIVELIFE AWARDS

A BRILLIANT celebration of young Kerry film-making talent had the Brandon Hotel abuzz on Wednesday as a number of well-known faces joined with the Donal Walsh Live Life Foundation to recognise the young stars.

The competition, which has been running for five years, involved over 3,000 people. That was between editing, writing, producers, acting and directing. The amazing event gave children, students and adults the opportunity to create a two-minute film under the theme ‘Take My Hand’.

The theme comes from the wellknown phrase ‘Live Life’.

The #LiveLife Film Competition Finals was held last Wednesday, and it saw a huge crowd get involved on the day. “The atmosphere was amazing.

“The Riptide Movement were there so everyone was very hyped up! I think presenter Sinead Kennedy was just as hyper as the audience. She was bouncing around with them, it was great,” Donal’s Mother Elma told The Kerryman.

The two-minute films underlined the message that nobody is ever alone, and help is there; they were shown on Wednesday to massive acclaim.

There were winners in three categories which were primary school, secondary school and adult. All categories saw equally amazing and inspiring short films. The winner of the Adult section was Kerry ETB’s Noel McElligott. the Primary school winner was fifth and sixth class students of Killarney’s Loughquittane National School.

Listowel’s very own Presentation Secondary Leaving Cert student Kaytlann Barry took to the stage to receive first prize for the secondary school category. Kaytlann credits everyone who was involved with the film but especially Chris Fitzgerald. “He’s the reason I started to make Films. His group Fís Na hÓige is amazing,” Kaytlann told The Kerryman.

Elma Walsh said the competition is now proving so successful as it grows year-onyear that they are considering a number of changes: “The competition gets bigger and bigger every year. Next year were thinking of changing the format as it is so big.” The Donal Walsh foundation wishes to thank everyone involved, from the students to judges to sponsors and KCFE Principal Mary Lucey. The Foundation has its first fundraiser in May to mark Donal’s fifth anniversary. AMass will be held in Knock on Friday May 11, before a cycle will be held after from Knock to Tralee.

Finbar Walsh presenting Kaytlann Barry (Presentation, Listowel) with the prize for the Overall Winner of the Secondary Schools category of the Donal Walsh LiveLife Foundation Film Award with some wellknown faces surrounding them - including Aidan...

Milltown students Shona Mangan, Anna O’Connor, Beth Hawly, Anna Griffin, Archie Galwey meet the slithery reptiles with their teacher Mark Hanly and Kerry County Council Filmmaker in Residence Mieke Van Mechelan

Noel McElligott (Listowel)Overall Winner of the Donal Walsh Live Life Foundation Film Award Adult category for his film on the theme ‘Take my Hand’. Presenting Noel with his prize is Finbar Walsh.

Finbar Walsh (Live Life Foundation) presenting Kallum Hussey (St Josephs NS Bouleenshere, Ballyheigie) with third prize in the Donal Walsh Live Life Foundation Film Awards in the Brandon Hotel,Tralee on Wednesday.