Filmbase is delighted to present a selection
of Irish language short films as part of the
JDIFF 2008, which includes a number of
shorts made through the Lasair scheme.
This scheme, administered by Filmbase
and funded by TG4, aims to encourage
emerging filmmakers to express their
creativity through the development of
imaginative Irish language (or bilingual)
short films.
Since it was launched in 2001,
it has led to the production of 17 short films
in a range of genres. Films made through
the Lasair scheme and included in this
programme are James Finlan’s black and
white film noir spoof Éireville, Declan de
Barra’s animation An Fiach Dubh and Colm
Bairéad’s poignant drama Mac an Athar.
Also screening is Neasa Hardiman’s short
Olive, a coming of age film that looks at
a young girl exploring her sexuality and
An Cruthaitheoir (meaning ‘the inventor’)
which investigates a family under strain.
Also included is the 2003 hit Yu Ming is
Ainm Dom. This short, directed by Daniel
O’Hara, has screened worldwide and has
scooped numerous awards at festivals
including the Aspen Shortsfest (2004),
Galway Film Fleadh (2003) and the Celtic
Film and Television Festival (2004).
Finally, An Bonnán Buí, made through the
Filmbase/RTÉ Short Film Award scheme,
is also included. This beautiful short
animation is based on the poem by Cathal
Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna
1 An Cruthaitheoir
Damon Silvester
2002 / 13mins
2 éirevile
James Finlan
2001 / 24mins
3 An Fiach Dubh
Declan de Barra
2003 / 4mins
4 Olive
Neasa Hardiman
2002 / 11mins
5 Mac an Athar
Colm Bairead
2005 / 21mins
6 Yu Ming is Ainm Dom
Daniel O’Hara
2003 / 13mins
7 An Bonnán Buí
Maria Murray, Padraig O’Neill,
Edith Pieperhoff
1995 / 5mins
