Past and future brought to life on film

Two short moviestelling stories light years apart have shared the honours at a schools’ film awards.

The space-age animation Power Out, by pupils of Carrigaline Educate Together NS in Co Cork, and Behy NS’s Battle of Ardnaree, re-enacting the 1586 episode in local Co Mayo history, shared the overall Aileen MacKeogh Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film-making at the FÍS Film Festival.

They were among 24 films to receive prizes for their work producing short movies at the ceremony in Dublin City University’s Helix theatre.

The event saw 900 primary pupils, their teachers and parents listen to RTÉ stars Sinead Kennedy and Eoghan McDermott announce the winners in a range of categories, including comedy, acting, animation, special effects, costume, cinematography, and historical adaptation. The high standard of entries resulted in 13 schools receiving a highly commended award.

However, the judges were particularly impressed with the special effects and use of graphics by the Carrigaline pupils, and with the Behy NS students’ research and historical recreation of the local battle.

FÍS is a Department of Education initiative, in collaboration with the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, whose second-year students run the film festival each year.

All of the entries were made by the children and their teachers, and was judged on imagination and creativity, originality of the story, costume design, film direction, and production, as well as sound, acting, and cinematography. The use of special techniques, such as animation or special effects, could also earn young film-makers extra points.

Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan, who presented the top awards, said the FÍS project celebrates the integration of technology in teaching and learning that takes place in Irish classrooms.

“It has succeeded in helping children to develop essential skills in moving-image literacy, communication and collaboration,” she said.

“It helps children develop additional skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, investigation and analysis — all while the children are having fun.”

IADT president Annie Doona said participation not only enhances the educational experience of primary students, who are learning by stealth and having a tremendous amount of fun, but it also enhances the experience for the institute’s film students involved in shooting the awards event as a live TV show.