Digital Shorts 09

N.IRELAND DIGITAL SHORTS SCHEME

The selection for the UK Film Council / N.Ireland Screen 'Digital Shorts' has now taken place and the succesful applicants have been informed. The development part of the scheme kicked off on Saturday 24th January and has continued through until the beginning of May, and four films have now been selected to get full production financing :

Sundays : Writer/Director 'Alanna Riddell'

Little Giant : Co-Writer/Co-Director 'Andy & Ryan Tohill'

Tom's Dinner : Writer 'Mark Jordan'; Director 'Michael Lennox'

Davy Jones : Writer/Director 'Richard Parkin'

Robert Wright, Mik Duffy, Liam Lavery & Morgan Ryan should be proud of the standard that their projects reached in development and we congratulate them on their commitment to the Digital Shorts scheme and their films.

Hopper : Writer/Director 'Mik Duffy' will be made through N.Ireland Screen's Lottery Fund in association with Redray Films.

Life, Death & Suffer Story : Redray Films is also working with 'Anna Fitzsimons' for the 4Mations Animated Digital Shorts Scheme building on Anna's success as a fine artist, printmaker & animator.

Deviate 2008

N.IRELAND DIGITAL SHORTS SCHEME

CHAINS

A day in the life of Joanne, a little girl obsessed with Houdini and perfecting the ultimate escape.

SYNOPSIS

Joanne is an eight year old with one driving passion in life – to perfect the ultimate Houdini-esk trick. A bright and imaginative loner struggling to come to terms with a neglectful and uninterested mother, Joanne’s every waking moment is consumed with practising escapology at any opportunity. Despite the fact that her escape attempts are frequently unsuccessful, Joanne is confident that given a little time and constant training she will be able to perform a daring attempt that would make even Houdini proud.

Alanna Riddell wrote & directed this film. Amber O'Doherty starred as Joanne, and pulled off a great performance, with all of the children taking part coming from one amateur drama group in Derry, run by Sandra Biddle. Quite amazing work she is doing as they all had a professional attitude and genuine passion for acting, even though they ranged between 7 and 9 years of age.

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LONELY HEARTS INTERRUPTED

Beth's morose outlook on her newly-divorced life is interrupted by a blackout that forces an introduction to her slightly 'off-centred' next door neighbour.

SYNOPSIS

As Beth deals with the soul-destroying pain of her recent marriage breakdown, she finds herself drawn to her next door neighbour Herb, a slightly balmy old man who lives with his taxidermy-stuffed best friend: his dog Benny. An unlikely friendship begins to take root between them, however with fresh heartbreak comes reactive behaviour and Beth inadvertently severs one of the most honest connections she had found in recent years.

Tanya Andrews wrote & directed the short film LONELY HEARTS INTERRUPTED, with Eileen McCloskey & Paddy Scully taking the lead roles.

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HAPPY AS LARRY

When Larry is officially named the Happiest Man in the World, he has no idea the effect that fame will have on his life.

SYNOPSIS

When a five year search for the happiest person on earth thrusts Larry from Belfast into the spotlight, he becomes the planet’s newest superstar. His face is splashed across newspapers, magazines and cheesy merchandise, and soon millions of people are measuring their happiness in relation to his, to see if they can become as happy as Larry. But fame brings new temptations: soon Larry’s job, love and life are under threat. As the media reports every move and mistake he makes, he struggles to stop things spiralling out of control. Is there a happy ending for the world’s happiest man?

Dave Kinghan wrote Happy As Larry, and Brian Philip Davis directed. Ruari Tohill & Bronagh Taggart played the lead roles, with other local actors such as Emma Little, Alan Gildea, Geoff Gatt, Helen Lara Murphy & Richard Parkin lending their clout to create a fantasticly cinematic film.

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RIP & THE PREACHER

A street preacher is challenged to put his faith to the ultimate test by an angry young atheist.

SYNOPSIS

Furious after listening to the priest at his dad’s funeral spouting the usual rhetoric and half truths about the deceased, Rip storms off for a drink with his mate. On route to the bar he is confronted by a zealous street preacher who pushes Rip to the brink. The preachers faith is put to the ultimate test.

Mark Jordan wrote RIP & THE PREACHER, from a mixture of similar experience and skilled writing, whilst Michael Lennox directed what is an intense short film from start to finish. Fantastic performances from Gerard McSorley, Jonathan Harden & Paul Kennedy, along with great effort from the crew, and some hardcore child-wrangling have provided a stunning piece of film.

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