It’s the taking part that counts

Cork’s Underground Short Film Festival gives emerging talents a chance to show their work in public, says Colette Sheridan

THE artistic director of Cork’s Dare Media Underground Short Film Festival, Darren O’Mahony, is confident that there is room for his initiative, now in its second year. In 2011, 700 people, including film makers, attended the festival where all 70 films submitted were screened.

This year’s festival (Aug 10-18) will screen 110 shorts, whittled down from 200 entries. Despite the popularity of the long established Cork International Film Festival, as well as the Fastnet Short Film Festival in Schull, O’Mahony says a growing filmmaking scene in Cork means there are opportunities for a festival like his to attract up-and-coming talents.