Brief Encounters:
Women in Film and Television (WFT) Ireland Shorts Program
Available SUNDAY, March 21, at 12:00 PM ET
The Irish Film Institute and Women in Film and Television Ireland (WFTI) present an inspiring program of work by women filmmakers, all WFTI members. While these films couldn’t differ more in style, scope, genre and theme, they all have one thing in common: they are directed and created by the Irish film industry’s most talented up-and-coming female creatives.
Co-presented by the Irish Film Institute (IFI), Women in Film and Television Ireland (WFTI) and Women in Film and Video New England (WFTNE)
Irish Film Festival Boston is pleased to team up with the IFI and WFTI to provide a window on this work. WFTI is a voluntary, members-led organization run by film and TV professionals, representing the creative, business, educational and technical divisions of the Irish audio-visual sector. The films screening as part of this event are:
Break Us
2019/Ireland (9 minutes)
Director: Rioghnach Ní Ghrioghair
Mark and Sophie plan to rob a post office but as things go awry, they each discover what they are really made of.
Match
2019/Ireland
Director: Laura O’Shea and Tony Doyle
Two strangers ‘match’ online and meet for a casual ride - of a Monday, no less. What they both expected is quickly turned on its head, as they both face their separate issues together over the course of one night.
Pat
2019/Ireland
Director: Emma Wall / 2019
Set in 1978, Pat tells the story of a lonely music lover who keeps in touch with her son in New York through the only phone box in the village
Life, Boat, Home
2019/Ireland
Director: Beta Bajgart
This short documentary follows Lisa Levins, the lifeboat navigator from Clogherhead in Ireland on a rescue operation on the sea. Lisa is a widow who lost her husband to cancer and her passion is saving other people's lives. She is a single mom raising a little boy, conceived through IVF after his dad passed away. Lisa has a full time job and she is on 24/7 call duty for RNLI Lifeboat Station. In the documentary she speaks frankly about the family tragedy and about her role in a very male dominated environment.
The Grass Ceiling
2020/Ireland (20 minutes)
Director: Iseult Howlett
In Iseult Howlett's directorial debut, three successful female athletes explore how being physically courageous, unapologetically competitive and deeply passionate in team sport can unlock a freedom to really occupy your own skin. The Grass Ceiling is based on Eimear Ryan’s essay 'The Fear of Winning'.
Saving Grace
2019/Ireland (14 minutes)
Director: Siobhán Kavanagh
After Grace's husband dies, their once thriving music venue becomes silent and now only frequented by her best friend Jess and her loyal customer Jim. They are forced out of this rut when they face losing one of the trio.
Welcome to a Bright White Limbo
2019/Ireland (11 minutes)
Director: Cara Holmes / 2019
Combining documentary and dance performance, this visually arresting film dives into the mind and creative process of Oona Doherty's award winning dance show 'Hope Hunt.'
Grace Alone
2019/Ireland (8 minutes)
Director: Doreen Kennedy
Grace Alone follows the story of Grace, across 24 hours in Dublin. At the start of the film, Grace is leaving hospital, we don’t know the circumstances of why she was there. She has very few positions with her. During the day, she makes phone calls to find help, unsuccessfully. It is a story of how anyone can become homeless. The film has no dialog, the only sound is from the streetscape sound of the city.
Grace Alone was filmed, edited and screened in a single weekend as part of Film Network Ireland’s 2020 Vision initiative to raise awareness of homelessness and fundraise for the Peter McVerry Trust. The film was made with cast and crew of 2, Director, Doreen Kennedy and Actress Clare Monnelly.
Procession
2018/Ireland (6 minutes)
Director: Jeda de Brí
A community of bedraggled misfits gather to mourn one of their own the only way they know how — an eccentric folk music funeral.