A new film festival is being brought to the Boyne this summer. From 12-13th August, the Boyne Valley Film Festival will highlight talented filmmakers from the ford. Bursaries are on offer also for filmmakers during this burgeoning festival.
Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Boyne Valley, Droichead Arts Centre and film maker Frank W. Kelly have announced that later this summer, Drogheda will have a new film festival in the inaugural Boyne Valley International Film Festival. Curated by acclaimed filmmaker and Boyne Valley native Frank W. Kelly and Collette Farrell, Droichead Arts Centre Director, this two day event will feature some of the best short films from around the country, and the world, with a special focus on films made in the Louth region.
The Festival will also shine a light on the work of talented writer, director and producer Roisin Kearney, screening a selection of her shorts: Run, No Dogs, The Family Way, We Have Each Other and Paddy.
The history and natural beauty of the Boyne Valley lend themselves perfectly to the medium of film. With this in mind, the Festival will screen a selection of shorts made in the region by filmmakers including Darren Thornton, JJ Harrington, Martin O’Donoghue, Colm Sexton and Joe Rooney, Leah Rossiter, and Bill Murphy and Frank W. Kelly, and will also screen films by young emerging film makers.
Other Irish film talent showcased at the Festival will include Kelly Campbell, Mark O’Halloran, Rioghnach Ní Ghrioghair, Naomi Sheridan, Myles O’Reilly, Caroline Grace Cassidy, Tristan Heanue, Niall McKay, Nessa Rafter, Imogen Murphy & Kate Gilmore, as well as a selection of international shorts, a workshop on how to make a short film, Q&A’s with film makers, and a panel discussion on the importance of inclusion in filmmaking, hosted by LMFM’s Sinead Brassil.
The festival are also inviting film makers to pitch a short film idea by email, no longer than 2 pages, by the 5th August. Three film makers will be shortlisted, awarded a small bursary of €500, and invited to pitch to a panel during the festival. One lucky film maker will be chosen, and further awarded a bursary of €2,500 to write the script, plus a studio space for 6 months in Droichead Arts Centre, Barlow House.
“Combining filmmaker Q&A’s, panel discussions, and workshops, we will also highlight the work of an up and coming filmmaker in our Filmmaker in Focus. We want to create an environment for filmmakers and audiences to connect, and celebrate film in the inaugural year in the historical medieval town of Drogheda.”
Festival curator Frank W. Kelly
“We are delighted to finally launch BVIFF, this has been in the planning for a while, but was interrupted due to Covid. We have such a range of film talent in this region, combined with the heritage and history and we can’t wait to showcase it all during the Festival.”
Droichead Director, Collette Farrell
Film fans up for the fest can receive access to the entire weekend programme including film screenings, panel discussion, Q&A’s and workshop all for €15 with the BVIFF 2022 Season Ticket, available here.
Funded by the Arts Council, Meath County Council Arts Office, Louth County Council and in partnership with LOVE Drogheda BIDS.