News
Festival celebrated all aspects of film making
By Michelle Crean
Aine Morarty, Amy Huberman and Sophie Shrestha at Kerry Film Festival over the weekend.
Sarah Connellan, Joanne Hagerty and Grace O'Donnell.
Aine Morarty, Amy Huberman and Sophie Shrestha at Kerry Film Festival over the weekend.
Sarah Connellan, Joanne Hagerty and Grace O'Donnell.
Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) presented over 30 events in Killarney and Dingle and the team - who announced award winners over the weekend - were overwhelmed with the level of interest and support they received.
Over four days there was huge number of attendees at screenings, events and KIFF industry talks as well as via the phenomenal support the festival received from local businesses, hoteliers, sponsors and supporters.
KIFF 2022 received the largest number of film submissions to date which resulted in a dynamic programme that attracted audiences, filmmakers, industry talent and film enthusiasts from near and far. The festival was delighted to host a selection of sold-out screenings across the four days of the festival, including the powerful and moving opening film 'Tarrac'.
"This was by far our biggest festival to date, and we are so grateful to the Kerry and Irish film community for coming out in droves to support the festival," Programme Director, Eibh Collins, said. "We look forward to seeing everyone back next year for KIFF 2023, from October 19 – 22."
HIGHLIGHT
A highlight of KIFF 2022 was the presentation of the Maureen O'Hara Award to this year’s recipient, actress and writer, Amy Huberman which took place at Randles Hotel Killarney on Saturday. The presentation of the award was followed by a very special event ‘In Conversation with Amy Huberman’ which was hosted by the CEO of the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA), Áine Moriarty. Amy brought her usual charm, wit and intelligence to the interview and the audience were treated to a truly memorable evening of chat, film and fun.
The IFTA Networking Event in association with Screen Kerry took place at The Plaza Hotel Killarney on Friday. Hosted by IFTA CEO and KIFF Board member, Áine Moriarty, the event highlighted the new opportunities for Kerry and the film work undertaken with the support of Screen Kerry and Kerry County Council. Guests from the world of film and television, as well as a variety of Kerry businesspeople, attended the event to highlight film business opportunities. Siobhán O’Sullivan, Kerry ETB Film Development Officer, gave a vibrant presentation outlining the current film productions shooting in Kerry and the key elements on building the screen sector throughout the county.
"It has been wonderful to see ‘Tarrac’ and ‘Joyride’ released to the big screen," Siobhán said.
"Both films were shot on location in Kerry and prove the potential that exists to attract many more film productions to the county."
Additionally, Locations Manager and KIFF Board member, Karl King, who worked on projects such as 'Joyride' and 'The Crown', also gave an informative presentation on the benefits and opportunities presented by Kerry as a filming location.
AWARDS
The KIFF 2022 awards ceremony took place on Sunday in The Great Southern Hotel, Killarney. The ceremony celebrated all aspects of film making and the awards were presented to a number of outstanding film makers, directors, script writers and producers. Basil Sheerin, Kerry Airport Ireland, presented the Taking Flight Award, celebrating emerging talent in film, sponsored by Kerry Airport, to this year’s worthy recipient Laura O’Shea and the Best of Kerry Award went to Jessica Courtney Leen who wrote, directed, and acted in her remarkable short film ‘Not My Sister’.
This year’s Trua Award went to Film Producer and Programmer, Mira Oyetoro who curated an original program of Ukrainian films titled ‘BE BRAVE LIKE UKRAINE’. After the awards ceremony Pat Shortt showcased his directorial debut via his short film, ‘Warts & All’ at the screening cinema room at The Great Southern Killarney. This was followed by a Q&A with Pat Shortt and producer Lee Crowley.
WINNERS
1. KIFF 2022 Maureen O’Hara Award – Amy Huberman
2. BEST OF KERRY - Not My Sister. Director, Jessica Courtney Leen
3. BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORT - WanderLand, Director, Nicole Pott
4. BEST ANIMATION - Before Her Body Left, Director Yuxin Yang
5. BEST STUDENT SHORT - Sucking Diesel, Director Sam McGrath
6. BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - Don't Go Where I Can't Find You, score by, Benedict Schlepper-Connolly and Garett Sholdice, known as Ergodos
7. BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE - And Still I Sing, Director Fazila Amiri
8. BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT - My Name Is Joseph, Director Sean Murray
9. BEST IRISH NARRATIVE SHORT - Burn It All, Director, Jack Hickey
10. BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE - Lakelands. Directors, Robert Higgins and Patrick McGiveny
11. SCREENWRITING AWARD - At the Foot of a Mountain, At the Edge of the World - Eoin Joseph Duncum. Special Recommendation, Sleeper by Gavin McClenaghan
12. TRUA AWARD - Film Producer and Programmer, Mira Oyetoro
13. TAKING FLIGHT, RISING TALENT AWARD, supported by Kerry Airport - Laura O’Shea
News
Developing St Finan’s “cost prohibitive” – Council
Converting the idle St Finan’s hospital into social housing is cost-prohibitive according to Kerry County council officials. The historic building has been lying idle since it closed in September 2012. […]
Converting the idle St Finan’s hospital into social housing is cost-prohibitive according to Kerry County council officials.
The historic building has been lying idle since it closed in September 2012.
The hospital and adjoining lands are up for sale by the Health Service Executive (HSE) since then.
So far no realistic offer has been made on the site despite suggestions that it could be used for social housing, a catering college and a hotel.
Each year the building, which was built in the 1850s, falls into further disrepair.
There were fresh calls again this week as local councillors called for some sort of action to redevelop the site that is fast becoming an eyesore.
At last Friday’s Killarney Municipal District meeting councillors called for action at the site .
Mayor Brendan Cronin wants the building’s protected status to be removed or at least reduced to speed up potential development work which ties in with Cllr Marie Moloney’s idea that the old hospital could be converted into apartments or flats.
Cllr John O’Donoghue wants the HSE to find a way to hand over the property to Kerry County Council either by way of reduced payment or an intra-government agency ownership change.
A Kerry County Council official told the meeting that any works to potentially convert the old hospital into social housing “would be cost prohibitive.”
News
Eight month wait for a driving test in Killarney
A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney The current wait list for a test in Killarney sits at […]
A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney
The current wait list for a test in Killarney sits at eight months.
Cllr John O’Donoghue raised the issue at Monday’s full meeting of Kerry County Council.
He proposed that driving instructors should be employed to carry out the final test to reduce the current backlog.
At Monday’s meeting he asked that hat Kerry County Council would write to the Minister for Transport to ask him to consider giving driving instructors temporary powers to issue a temporary Driving Licence/Certificate of Competence to those on the waiting list for tests.
“The wait is currently far too long and the system is in danger of becoming completely overwhelmed,” he said.
“The huge waiting list for young drivers is well documented at this stage. In a case I am familiar with, a young person passed their theory test in January 2022 and he immediately applied for his mandatory 12 driving lessons. When these were completed, he applied for his driving test on the 2nd of December 2022. Some weeks ago, he still had not received an application to apply for his driving test. This wait is placing him and his family under considerable extra cost and stress which is completely unacceptable.”
In the course of his research into the matter Cllr O’Donoghue discovered that the next available date for a driving test in Killarney is May 25, 2024, while Tralee is June 3 2024.
“Bear in mind, these are only the dates on which you receive an invitation to book your test, the test itself will then be an estimated three to five weeks later.
“This is an appalling situation and one which needs to be rectified as a matter of urgency. I am proposing that driving instructors, which presumably are fully trained up on the rules of the road, be granted temporary powers to be allowed to issue temporary driving licences to young people. When the waiting list time has been reduced, I would still propose that these people sit the test as usual, but the current pressure needs to be alleviated as soon as possible. There is precedent as I believe that in the 1970s, a cohort in this country were issued driving licences without having sat a test as the wait time for the test was too long.”
Developing St Finan’s “cost prohibitive” – Council
Converting the idle St Finan’s hospital into social housing is cost-prohibitive according to Kerry County council officials. The historic building...
Eight month wait for a driving test in Killarney
A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney The...
Ballymac charity vintage run on October 1
The Ballymac Vintage Club is hosting a classic car, tractor and Honda 50 run on October 1. The run will...
Dr Crokes’ Cronin nominated for All Star award
Dr Crokes’ Kayleigh Cronin is one of 13 Kerry players to be nominated for a TG4 Ladies Football All Star...
Lissivigeen School awarded ‘Active Flag’
The pupils and teachers of Lissivigeen National School celebrated the awarding of their very first Active Flag last week. The...
Almost impossible to look beyond East Kerry but Dingle are best placed to challenge
Adam Moynihan breaks down the groups and likely contenders in the 2023 Kerry Senior Football Championship Group 1: East Kerry,...
Kerry’s old dogs ready for Tyrone challenge in All-Ireland final
Adam Moynihan chats to Kerry Masters goalkeeper Tony Lyons ahead of the over 40 All-Ireland football final Hi Tony. Thanks...
Worthy Kerry organisations to benefit from Ross Golf Club charity days
Two very worthy local causes are set to benefit from the upcoming Ross Golf Club Charity Days, which will take...
Wide open Kerry Club Championships reach knockout stage
by Eamonn Fitzgerald The group phase of the very competitive Kerry Club Championships were completed last weekend and the draw...
The Big Interview: Darragh Long explains how the Kerry ladies are shifting our perceptions of women in sport
In this exclusive interview, our sports editor Adam Moynihan chats to joint Kerry ladies manager Darragh Long Darragh, you’ve had...
-
Sport7 days ago
Kerry’s old dogs ready for Tyrone challenge in All-Ireland final
-
News6 days agoOver 80 women car enthusiasts attend classic car show
-
Sport7 days ago
Almost impossible to look beyond East Kerry but Dingle are best placed to challenge
-
News6 days agoMusical society ready to hit the high notes
