Neeson to choose winner as Kerry film fest reels them in
The star of Michael Collins and Schindler’s List will choose the best overall film at the November event.
Screenings take place at eight locations around the county.
The organisers are hoping the busy Neeson will come to Kerry for the festival, which has a top prize of €5,000 for the best director category.
Other adjudicators include John Carney, director of Once, Kirsten Sheridan, an Oscar-nominated Irish writer and director, Vanessa Roth, who won an Oscar last year for her documentary, Freeheld, and Suzie Templeton, an Oscar winner for Peter and the Wolf.
More than 400 films have been submitted to the festival this year — up significantly on the number submitted last year and more than double the number submitted in previous years.
“Both the quantity and quality of the films has been rising every year,” said the festival’s artistic director Jason O’Mahony.
“We’re delighted that the quality of adjudicators has kept pace with the growing importance of the festival.
“We’re thankful to all our adjudicators for agreeing to judge the short films. Every member of the adjudication panel is at the very forefront of their chosen profession.”
Main feature of the festival is a short film competition which focuses on young filmmakers.
Past adjudicators of the short film competition include Mike Leigh, Jim Sheridan, Neil Jordan and Gabriel Byrne.
During the week-long event which starts on November 1, there will be screenings in Tralee, Listowel, Dingle, Valentia, Killarney, Kenmare, Waterville and Caherciveen.
