Donegal Film at Regional Cultural Centre
One of the biggest showcases of locally produced films ever held in the North West will be launched this week in the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny.
The exhibition highlights 18 short films shot over the past two years as part of the IFI supported “Sharing Stories” project, a collaboration between the Regional Cultural Centre and the Nerve Centre in Derry.
The exhibition will be officially launched at 7pm on this Friday 11th November.
“We have a fantastic line up for the exhibition,” says RCC Director Shaun Hannigan.
“The project has produced films covering everything from Donegal emigration in the 1940s through to Loyalist pipe bands. The standard of work is superb. It provides a really rich insight into life in Donegal and Derry, both past and present, that should be of interest to everyone, young and old.”
Sharing Stories is a cross-border film project initiated in October 2009 with a particular focus on community, youth and minority groups. Among the films to be highlighted at the exhibition are “Brighter Days”, an animation by Letterkenny-native Daniel McGarrigle based on the biography of his grandfather Colm Melly, who emigrated to England in the 1940s and then returned to the North West to raise his family.
Bighter Days
“Pride” is a fly-on-the-wall documentary looking at the ‘Pride of the Orange and Blue’ Flute Band from Newbuildings, looking at a typical summer month in the life of its members as they prepare for the 12th of July celebrations.
“Rockhill Remembered” takes an inside look at the social and military history of the battalions stationed at Rockhill House in Letterkenny, while “Rondo Mondo” documents Cafe del Mundo, the hub of Derry’s thriving international community.
The exhibition launch on Friday will be followed by a major one-day seminar on 25th November. As part of this seminar the Regional Cultural Centre and the Nerve Centre have set a social media challenge called “Share My Story” to promote two films using only free social and digital media.
The seminar will also include presentations from Risteard O’Domhnaill, director of the highly-acclaimed documentary “The Pipe” about the Corrib gas pipeline, and Dr. Cathal McLaughlin of the University of Ulster’s film department. The official opening and wine reception will take this Friday and everyone is welcome. The “Sharing Stories” exhibition continues until January 28th, 2012. Opening times are Tuesday to Friday 11am to 5pm, Saturday 1pm to 5pm and admission is free. Details of the one-day seminar on 25th November will be announced shortly.
Sharing Stories is funded by the International Fund for Ireland.