A short film put together by young Kerry filmmakers - which was directed by a Killarney teen - will be screened at the First Cut Youth Film Festival next month. 

Dylan Shortt from Killarney directed 'Airbag' while cinematography and post-production was done by Patrick O’Connor-Mason from Kenmare.

The crew is made up of a group of young people from Killarney, Rachel Griffin, Luke O'Sullivan, Kalem Llyod, and Eoin O'Reilly, and it tackles the difficult subject of teenage drinking.

Shot in and around Killarney, and with the support of Kenmare Family Resource Centre and the Killarney Court Hotel, it tells a gripping story.

The film was selected to be screened in-person at the festival in Youghal on March 12. Online screenings will take place the following day.

Filmmaker in Residence, Mieke Vanmechelen, helped the teens put the production together. 

“This group is very unique and incredibly ambitious, they managed to form a strong connection, which withstood the challenges of the pandemic," Mieke said.

"I have no doubt that many of them will go on to become significant players in the film industry in the future."

​​​​​​​SUPPORT

Supporting and guiding young people, Mieke also works with many schools around the county. Her partnership with Saint Brendan’s College continues as she lends her support to their Young Social Innovators (YSI) campaign, ‘One Punch Can Kill’, tackling the subject of male violence.

Come April, Mieke will be lending a hand to students at the Presentation Secondary School Killarney, who are planning a mountain rescue documentary, again, a student-led project, dealing with serious issues and subjects that matter to young people, their families, and the wider community.

Mieke is currently developing an exciting showcase of films for and made by young people with Kerry International Film Festival Director Eibh Collins.

“Eibh and I have worked together in the past, and with her broad expertise in programming and my on-the-ground experience we hope to deliver a lovely programme that is both for and about young people this summer."

DOCUMENTARY

New and upcoming plans are also in progress for the Kerry Film Forum, with a film screening planned to take place this April. The screening features a short film called 'Like a Mouse', an experimental documentary following Dr Hodd's discovery of a tiny fern, Stenogrammitis myosuroides. It explores the concept of natural conservation and the pressures of an unstable, globalised ecology. Made during the summer of 2021 the film was directed by Michael Holly and Mieke Vanmechelen, it has been picked up internationally and will be screened at the Achill Island Film Festival in May.

Alongside all these projects, Mieke is also in the process of directing a documentary in Kerry and West Cork. The film will look at the life of hill farmers and the project is being supported by the Arts Council of Ireland.