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Film Festival Fever hits RehabCare Dún Laoghaire this week as they host the inaugural Shorts Film Festival as part of Social Inclusion Week run by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. Months of scripting, filming and editing have paid off and fifteen thought-provoking short films made by a range of social and community groups from the local area will be shown during the festival which aims to promote filmmaking as an accessible art form.
The Shorts Film Festival was created from the shared vision of two local disability services, RehabCare Dún Laoghaire and Lakelands Carmona Services, to promote filmmaking as an accessible art form and to celebrate social-inclusion, ability, multiculturalism and diversity. Fifteen films will be shown during the festival, submitted from 11 different organisations. The films vary in style from comedy to documentary covering a range of themes such as social issues, people with disabilities and diversity.
The Happy Gift Shop and Boats on a Brightening Stream, both made by people who attend the RehabCare Dún Laoghaire resource centre will be officially launched at the festival. Both films have been successfully shortlisted for the Digital Media Screenings at the Oska Bright International Short Film and Digital Media Festival 2011 in Brighton, England in November.
Francine Winters, Community Services Manager, RehabCare in Dún Laoghaire said, ‘Shorts Film Festival really showcases the creative abilities of our service users. The films illustrate what they do with their lives and who they are as individuals. This project opens so many doors to the wider community by allowing people from different backgrounds the opportunity to expresses themselves through a common medium. We hope to grow the festival over the coming years to include more local services and the local community’.
Rachel Treanor, who uses the RehabCare in Dún Laoghaire and puppeteer/ writer, The Happy Gift Shop said, ‘I’m so excited about the festival. I can’t wait for my family and friends to see the films we made. I learned how to operate the shadow puppets and about filming. It was hard work but I loved every minute of it!’
Bhevana Gungadin-Byrne, Instructor, Lakelands Day Centre, run by Carmona Services said, ‘We want this film festival, which is part of Social Inclusion Week, to raise awareness in the community around the various projects that have been achieved through hard work. The festival shows clearly how filmmaking promotes self expression, dedication and interaction amongst one and all. As a result, our service users were able to experience unique interpersonal skills which strengthened their ability to choose for themselves and plan for the future with the help and support of their family and friends.’
Liam Ryan attends Lakelands Day Centre and was involved in the production of an animation entitled PC Planner at Your Service. ‘Our animation teaches us about what person-centred planning is all about and why it’s important to choose our own goals in life. I hope that our film will help everyone who sees it to plan for and achieve their dreams.’
Film screenings will take place in RehabCare, Clarence House, Clarence Street, Dun Laoghaire 10th-14th October from 10am-3pm. Admission is free.
