With the evenings getting shorter and the weather getting colder it’s just the right time to take a look back at Ashbourne Film Festival which had its inaugural festival on June 20th at the Vue Cinema!
To open the festival there were screenings of short films by students from the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art and Design. Showcasing up and coming film makers is such an important part and aim for our festival here in Ashbourne and we are very excited to see what 2024 brings with our first short film competition. Lynda Deveney is a lecturer in the film,art and creative department of the IADT and put forward shorts from three very talented students. Salem Chukwuezi, Nicole Ochichenko and Susannah Appleby.
Following that there were premieres of two Irish short films. The first ‘Dawn at Gouganne Barra’, a film by Kurt Rosenberg, a Portland Oregon native who made the trip over to be with us. A beautiful short film which featured the music of Kurt which was orchestrated by Jake Morgan and recorded in Windmill Lane Studios with the WPME orchestra.
The second film, ‘The Pageturner’ by Ashbourne native (not so far to travel!) Siúbhán Ní Ghríofa was written and directed by Siúbhán and shot in Galway and Ratotah. The film has gone on to receive awards for best director at the New York Movie Awards, best short film at the London Movie Awards, best female director at the Philadelphia Film festival.
The wonderful composer Natasa Paulberg was our guest speaker and gave a brilliant insight into her career as composer for screen and television and also led the discussion with filmmakers Kurt Rosenberg, Jake Morgan and Siúbhán Ní Ghríofa on their films.
Bob Corkey and Brighid Breathnach, both producers/editors/directors for film and tv also gave us some wonderful insight into their jobs in the industry with some great advice for budding film makers.
Some live film music played by the Dublin String Quartet in the foyer with some refreshments served brought us to our feature film, ‘Cinema Paradiso’ which closed the festival. A brilliant day and night was had and a huge thanks to our audience! Looking forward to AFF24, details and updates will be on the website.
