Lasair Short Film Awards Information Session
Filmbase and TG4 announce Information Session for Lasair Short Film Awards
Filmbase and TG4 are organizing an information session for filmmakers interested in applying to the Lasair short film award scheme. Lasair, now in its 5th round, is Filmbase and TG4's scheme for supporting filmmakers to produce short films in the Irish language. Funding of €10,000 with a matching value of equipment and services will be made available to 6 filmmaking teams to produce their short films with a premiere slot at the Corona Cork Film Festival in November 2012 followed by primetime broadcast on TG4. This year the theme for applications is Gael Gáire and while this may be interpreted quite broadly, scripts that are comic, uplifting and positive or take an unusual and quirky view of life are strongly encouraged.
The lunchtime session will be held at Filmbase on December 15th from 1 to 2.30pm and is intended to inform prospective applicants about the scheme. Speakers will include Proinsias Ní Ghráinne, Commissioning Editor for TG4, Alan Fitzpatrick, Director of Filmbase along with writer/director Daniel O'Hara and actor/comedian Paddy Courtney. Daniel and Paddy's Lasair, Yu Ming is Ainm Dom, was one of the standout successes of the scheme winning over 40 international awards. Daniel and Paddy will discuss their experience of making the film through the scheme, and the effect a successful short film has had on boosting their professional careers. There will also be a screening of a selection of films produced under recent rounds of Lasair.
Proinsias Ní Ghráinne from TG4 states "Lasair is designed to attract new writing and directing talent who many not already be working in Irish language fiction. We really hope to get some funny and uplifting stories through this year's scheme. The information session will give the nuts and bolts of what is involved in making a short film in Irish".
Alan Fitzpatrick from Filmbase adds "This scheme is an incredible support for filmmakers with good stories to tell. Since completing Yu Ming Daniel has gone on to direct for Skins, Being Human and Inspector George Gently while Paddy has just finished work on Shameless for Channel 4 in the UK. Their success with Yu Ming directly contributed to creating those opportunities."
Lasair accepts applications from student as well as professional filmmakers. The application deadline has been extended to Friday 27th January. Anyone interested in attending the information session should contact events@filmbase.ie to reserve their place.
More details on the scheme can be found at http://filmbase.ie/awards/lasair5.php or http://www.tg4.ie/ie/production/lasair.html
Yu Ming Is Ainm Dom can be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/filmbase
Published on: 7 December, 2011
