For the last few years the Bleeding Pig Film Festival has a passion for bringing independent film to the local community. The main focus is on Irish short film, with the odd international twist thrown in also. Since starting on 2016, the Bleeding Pig Film Festival has showcased some of the best talent in the local Fingal area to, as well as more well known and award winning films, sharing a diverse, creative voice with the audience. Through Q&As and the intimacy provided by its traditional setting of Keeling’s in Donabate, it aims to bridge the gap between filmmaker and film fan in the fair city of film. Next month, the festival returns, with a prominent Irish feature added to the ranks of its shorts.
The Bleeding Pig Film Festival returns for its fourth edition from Monday 9th to Wednesday 11th September in Keeling’s of Donabate and this year it wraps up its two nights of impressive short films with a screening of Irish feature film Float Like a Butterfly on the third night. Doors open each night at 7.30pm and the short screenings will be followed by Q&A sessions with the film-makers. The best film of the festival will be voted for by the audience, winning the Audience Award and €500 rental voucher from local sponsors Film Equipment Hire Ireland.
Released earlier this year, Float Like A Butterfly is a powerful and timely story of a girl’s fight for freedom and belonging. This unmissable multi award-winning Irish film shot in West Cork is about championing the underdog and features stellar performances from an outstanding cast, including rising star Hazel Doupe. Regulars of the festival may spot that Hazel starred in last year’s feature Michael Inside. Also starring are Dara Devaney, Johnny Collins and Hilda Fay.
Float Like a Butterfly is written and directed by Carmel Winters, an award winning Irish film-maker and playwright who won the FIPRESCI Discovery award Award for the film at the Toronto International Film Festival this year, as well as the Audience Award at the Cork International Film Festival and Director’s Choice Award at the Irish Film Festival, Boston.
The festival launches with an Opening Night reception (invite only) at 6.45pm on Monday 9h September. Highlights of Monday night include award-winning documentary The Vasectomy Doctor by Paul Webster. The subject of the film is the fascinating life of Dr. Andrew Rynne, the first man to perform vasectomies in Ireland challenging the Irish laws governing sexuality.
As with previous years, Tuesday night an F-rated programme with all films either written and/or directed by women. Mia Mullarkey, whose short documentary Throwline won the Audience Award at last year’s festival, returns with her hard-hitting documentary Mother&Baby which offers a harrowing but cathartic insight into the despicable issue of Mother and Baby homes in Ireland.
Local Focus: Swords resident director Ian-Hunt Duffy returns this year with another thriller Low Tide. His award-winning film Gridlock was a close second in 2018 for the Audience Award.
“We had a great turnout for our film ‘Gridlock’ on the night, and Emma hosted a lively and engaging Q&A afterwards, so it was a great opportunity for film-makers to share and talk about their work in front of an enthusiastic audience. I’m delighted to be back again for my second year screening at the Bleeding Pig Film Festival with my new film ‘Low Tide’”
The Family Way a hilarious comedy drama written by Roisin Kearney and directed by Nuno Bernardo, stars Ciara Callaghan from Swords, an actress known for her many years in Fair City, RTE’s Striking Out and a number of BBC productions. Tuna is an animation from IADT graduate Cliona Noonan from Malahide.
Other highlights of the festival include two films in the Irish language, F-rated documentary Grá agus Eagla and comedy/drama Ronnachaí Buí. For the Love of Mary is a delightful short from the USA about a 97 year old runner.
Get more info on the festival from their website HERE.
The Bleeding Pig Film Festival is also on Facebook and Twitter.