Podcast: Still Voices Film Festival – Something Dark and Wicked Horror

We are thrilled to once again be partnering with Still Voices Film Festival to bring you a series of podcasts with artists featured at the international film festival located in the heart of Ireland. Still Voices Film Festival runs from November 9th – 13th 2022. Take a look at the programme here.

In this Horror special podcast, Paul Farren talks to Marie Clare Cushinan & Ryan O’Neill and Derek Ugochukwu about their films screening at the festival.

Film Ireland Podcast · Still Voices Film Festival – Something Dark and Wicked Horror

Changeling (DIR: Marie Clare Cushinan, Ryan O’Neill WRI: Marie Clare Cushinan )

Ireland-1879. Margaret and Tomas have just begun their lives together with their infant son Oisin, as the threat of a second famine looms heavy over the land. Margaret is left isolated and alone with the inconsolable Oisin as Tomas sets off to sell his Poitín.

On his journey, Tomas gets a glimpse into the harrowing realities beyond their doorstep while Margaret’s mental state deteriorates at home. Things are not what they seem when Tomas arrives back. The family must fight to overcome their fears and superstitions.

You’re Not Home (DIR/WRI: Derek Ugochukwu)

Ikenna is a fifteen-year-old asylum seeker living at a direct provision centre on the outskirts of Limerick where an ominous mould has inexplicably surfaced in the room he shares with his older brother, Chima. Navigating the much controversial challenges of poor treatment familiar to refugees in such centres, these brothers choose not to report it for fear of being labelled as trouble-makers or facing the threat of deportation by their centre’s Management Officer. However, after Ikenna witnesses a series of disturbing events, he is prompted to request new accommodation; a demand that would only reveal something much more sinister.

Meet the Filmmakers

Marie Clare Cushinan & Ryan O’Neill

Marie Clare Cushinan & Ryan O’Neill, collectively known as Je Suis Le Cat productions have been making self funded projects since 2013. They are Belfast, Northern Ireland based.

Derek Ugochukwu

Derek Ugochukwu is a writer/director and performer, who graduated with a Master’s degree in Screenwriting for Film & Television from the National Film School, IADT in 2019. His written short film, ‘To All My Darlings’ inspired by his Nigerian-Irish was shortlisted for the BAFTA Awards. It also won the Audience Award for best short film at the 2021 Dublin International Film Festival.

Making his directorial debut, ‘You’re Not Home’  was awarded funding by the Limerick ENGINE scheme to support up-and-coming writers, directors and producers in the MidWest of Ireland.

Derek’s feature script  ‘Consequences’ is currently in development with Screen Ireland.

Paul Farren

Paul is a filmmaker — he has produced and directed films, commercials, some plays and a music video or three. As a filmmaker and facilitator he has worked with many groups all over Ireland teaching filmmaking through making films; each encounter has resulted in original work from the various groups.

His film work includes ‘where the sea used to be’ which won the Best Feature at the inaugural Fingal Film Festival in 2012 and a Van Gogh Award for Best First Time Feature Director at the 2012 Amsterdam Film Festival.

He is an interview and feature writer with Film Ireland and contributor to their podcast. He is currently working on several feature scripts and co-writing a book on the films of acclaimed filmmaker Walter Hill for McFarland Books.

Paul was the Screen8 Filmmaker in Residence as part of the The Digital Hub and the Dublin International Film Festival programme.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulfarrencv/