Young filmmakers set to shine at junior Oscars ceremony

The glitterati of young movie makers will be out in strength this week as Munster schools make up almost half of the 24 in the running for Ireland’s junior Oscars.

The shortlisted films at the event in Dublin City University’s Helix theatre include 10 from Cork, Kerry, and Tipperary primary schools, with three each from Dublin and Mayo. Among the categories at the FÍS Film Festival on Wednesday are special effects, historical adaptation, best costumes, comedy, acting, and storytelling.

But the big prize is the Aileen MacKeogh Award for Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking, which was scooped last year by pupils of St Patrick’s Boys’ National School in Portarlington.

The event is a collaboration between the Department of Education’s Professional Development Service for Teachers and the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) in Dún Laoghaire.

More than 100 school entries were received for this year’s festival, from which the 24 shortlisted titles were selected.

Among them are five from Cork schools: Cappabue National School, Kealkil; Scoil Barra, Ballincollig; Scoil Mhaoilíosa, Upton; St Peter’s National School, Dungourney; and Scoil Chaitigheirn, Eyeries. They are joined by three Killarney schools — Lauragh NS, Fossa NS and Scoil Réalt na Mara — and St Michael’s NS in Sneem, also in Co Kerry, along with Scoil Eoin Naofa in Roscrea, Co Tipperary.

The festival also gives students of IADT a chance to experience event management as they run the show at The Helix.

“We provide support and resources for teachers who want to encourage creativity through filmmaking in primary schools. This also develops a love for film at an early age and encourages a pipeline from primary education through to our institute, which specialises in creativity and innovation in the digital age,” said Linda O’Sullivan, creative manager of FÍS at IADT.

Schools were allowed to submit films on subjects of their choice, produced by children and their teachers.