Issue 130 – 360º Experience
Niamh Creely talks to Miriam Allen, the managing director of the Galway Film Fleadh, about how the festival does so much more than screen films.
Niamh Creely: When Film Ireland covered the first Fleadh, they headlined it as ‘Not just another film festival – a Film Fleadh.’ How do you think the Galway Fleadh differs to other film festivals?
Miriam Allen: For all festivals in Ireland, the desire to bring quality cinema not ordinarily seen by audiences is, I have no doubt, the same. Where I suppose we differ most is in emphasis. Rather than just being another clone of festivals that were already there, we decided from the beginning that we would focus on Irish film in all its forms: animation, shorts, documentary and features alongside quality cinema from around the world.
The Fleadh was set up in 1989, during the 6-year closure of the Irish Film Board. The festival was described as ‘a rallying call to constructive protest … to inspire the actions necessary to shift the powers that be.’ Do you still see the Fleadh as having this role?
The filmic landscape was very different 21 years ago but there were still films being made. The problem was there was no platform for them to be seen by audiences. The Fleadh provided that platform and also the space for filmmakers to meet, debate, exchange, screen and scream. In 1989, there was no talk of a ‘film industry’. The filmmakers around then were not in the ‘business’ of film, which is probably why the Film Board was shut down then. The landscape is so different now and the Film Board is vital to and for the film industry. The role of the Board has evolved over the last number of years. It’s not just a cash machine but a proactive agency that assists all the way along the development/production process and, indeed, the even now more difficult distribution process. I for one hope that the Board continues to flourish and is allowed to build on all the good work that they have done over the last 15 years or so. There are some very good people on the Board and their passion and advocacy for film cannot be denied. I would hate to think that all this hard work would be thrown away for the sake of a few bob.
The full article is printed in Film Ireland 130.
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