The Savannah Film Festival has chosen to highlight Ireland this year in the World Shorts Programme, which runs as part of the festival from October 25th to November 1st.
Six Irish short films will have two screenings during the festival, which is now in its 17th year and receives more than 40,000 attendees. The six films are: Gravedigger’s Tour by Stephen Ryan, Our Unfenced Country by Niamh Heery, A Day for the Fire by Maurice O’Callaghan, Boogaloo and Graham by Michael Lennox, Breakfast Wine by Ian Fitzgibbon and The Portrait by Chris Forster. All six films have had award success at Irish and International festivals.
A first for Ireland to have such a strong presence at the Savannah Film Festival, Niamh Heery, director of Our Unfenced Country, remarked “It is really exciting to be selected for such a prestigious film festival as Savannah. The strength of the Irish programme reflects a filmmaking community that is committed to telling great stories from Ireland on screen. All involved are incredibly proud to be included.”
Georgia boasts a very strong Irish connection. The state holds an annual Irish cultural festival and has a dedicated centre for Irish Study at Georgia Southern University. Speaking about the World Shorts: Ireland programme, Paul Gleeson, Consul General of Ireland in Georgia, said “We’re delighted Irish film is being showcased this year at the prestigious Savannah Film Festival. The city has a remarkable Irish heritage and it is hard to think of a better location for this feast of superbly produced and innovative short films from some of our most exciting new film-makers.”
The World Shorts: Ireland programme will be shown on Tuesday Oct. 28, 11:30 a.m. in Savannah’s historic Lucas Theatre and on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2:30 p.m. in the Trustees Theater, Savannah. Tickets and information can be found online. An Irish film reception will be held during the week, all are welcome to attend.
Stephen Ryan, Director of Gravedigger’s Tour will be in attendance at the festival.
