Last week, the Film Ireland team were delighted to partner with DBS School of Arts in hosting a busy event at the DEAN Arts Studios in Dublin 2, marking the launch of the Film Ireland Digital Archive Project. The evening was a resounding success, bringing together our friends, film students, film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and supporters to celebrate the origins of the former print film publication.
“We are overwhelmed by the wonderful turnout at the launch event and immensely grateful for the support of everyone who joined us,” shared the present Film Ireland Editor Steven Galvin, whose guidance transitioned Film Ireland from print to its current digital incarnation.
The event, held on Thursday, April 18th, showcased an exhibition of iconic Film Ireland cover art, taking attendees on a journey through the publication’s evolution since its inception as Film Base News in 1987. Hosted in collaboration with DBS School of Arts and the PARC24 research conference, the occasion celebrated the rich history and invaluable contributions of Film Ireland to the Irish film landscape.
Conor Murphy, Lecturer in Film & Creative Media at DBS, is spearheading the Digital Archive Project and emphasised its importance in preserving Irish cultural heritage: “We are thrilled to be driving this initiative, which not only commemorates the legacy of Film Ireland but also ensures its accessibility to future generations of filmmakers, film lovers and researchers,” remarked Murphy.
Associate Editor Gemma Creagh shared her gratitude for the positive support of the film community, whose contributions have been instrumental in shaping Film Ireland’s legacy. “The outpouring of support for the Digital Archive Project was so appreciated. It’s our honour as the present “keepers of the flame” to celebrate the rich history of the print Film Ireland magazine, which in turn documents the wonderful evolution of the Irish film industry over the year.”
The Film Ireland Digital Archive Project aims to digitise the complete collection of 147 physical print issues of Film Ireland, encompassing over 12,000 pages of invaluable industry insights. Through an Open Access model, under a Creative Commons agreement, the archive will be accessible to students, researchers, and the general public, fostering a deeper understanding of Ireland’s cinematic heritage.
The exhibition provided a glimpse into the early years of Film Ireland, highlighting key themes such as funding, industry structure, representation, and diversity. As Ireland’s film sector continues to evolve, the Digital Archive Project will serve as a vital resource for exploring the history of its growth and development.
The Film Ireland team extends our heartfelt thanks to Conor Murphy and the DBS School of Arts, as well as our partners Screen Ireland and Coimisiún na Meán, for their generous support in 2024. We are excited to be partnering with the Dublin International Film Festival, Cork International Film Festival, Galway Film Fleadh, Irish Film Institute and access>CINEMA, under the support of the Arts Council this year.
The event would not have been possible without the generous support of DBS Chairman Andrew Conlon-Trant, as well as the immense cooperation of Kate Farnon at the DEAN Arts Studios, whose venue provided the perfect backdrop for this momentous occasion.
For more information about the Film Ireland Digital Archive Project and upcoming events, subscribe to the Film Ireland Newsletter here.
Listen back to the RIPE podcast which talks about this scheme here.
