Films at the Fleadh – In the Bell’s Shadow

We continue our series of posts on the films at 2015 Galway Film Fleadh, taking a look at Mary Wycherley’s dialogue free In the Bell’s Shadow. The film screens Saturday July 11th, at 4.15pm in the Town Hall Studio.

The work is a cinematic collaboration between two Irish artists, contemporary dance pioneer Joan Davis and screendance director Mary Wycherley.The film is set to an original score from Jürgen Simpson, featuring the Irish Chamber Orchestra, and seeks to offer audiences a sensual and poetic exploration and celebration of Davis’ work.

In The Bell’s Shadow features dancers of international calibre – Davis, Mary Nunan, Henry Montes, Maggie Harvey and Simon Whitehead, as well as vocalist and musician Nicholas Twilley. The film was shot in locations across Co Wicklow – the Miner’s Village in Glendalough, Greystones’ North Beach, Killruddery House and Gardens, and at Davis’ home at Gorse Hill.

The film received its premiere in Cork last month at the Firkin Crane, before screening at the Corona Fastnet Short Film Festival in Schull. It will screen in the at the 3rd International Dance and Somatic Practices Conference C-DaRE, Centre for Dance and Research at Coventry University on July 11th, and again in the US, at the American Dance Festival’s 20th International Screendance Festival at the Nasher Museum of Art, Durham, North Carolina, with a screening July 12th.

In The Bell’s Shadow is supported by The Arts Council, Music Network, The Firkin Crane, and the Digital Media & Arts Research Centre.The film screens Saturday July 11th, at 4.15pm in the Town Hall Studio. Director Mary Wycherley will attend the screening.