The film festivals putting the northwest on the map

By Rebecca Crockett

IF you’ve ever felt distant from the shining lights of Hollywood, this week might bring you closer than you’ve ever been before. Not one but two film festivals are taking place, and both are bringing the best the north-west has to offer.

Caroline Harvey, a writer and director based in Bundoran, is just one of the stars putting Donegal on the map. Caroline is this year’s curator for the Donegal Bay Film Festival, and two of her films, ‘The Crucible’ and ‘I’m Grand” are being featured at this year’s Disappear Here Film Festival.

Speaking with Donegal News just before Donegal Bay Film Festival’s opening night, Caroline talked about her hope for the film industry to fall in love with the county as much as she has.

Caroline said: “I feel like with Donegal in particular and the West, I think people have realized what it has to offer cinema wise, and what we have on our doorstep.”

Donegal Bay Film Festival is only in its second year but already is becoming a fan favourite with an almost sold-out run of drama and documentary short films.

It closes tonight but don’t worry if you still haven’t gotten your cinephile fix, Disappear Here Film Festival kicks off between October 4th to 6th in the Ballyliffen Hotel.

Now in its seventh edition, Disappear Here boasts a packed schedule with 15 world premieres, 80 short films, 5 feature films, and 17 documentaries. This year the festival also has some impressive talks lined up including Q&As with Rich Peppiatt, director of Irish-language smash-hit ‘Kneecap’ and Paul Kennedy, director of the opening film ‘Dead Man’s Money’.

Both programmes are proof, not only of the wide array of stories that can be told about Donegal but also of how it’s possible to create amazing films outside of cultural hubs in cities.

Caroline said: “With Disappear Here Film Festival and our film festival, it not only shows off the landscape and what Irish people have to offer. But it’s also showing the scale of writing, and overall filmmaking we have. Also, that it’s not just in Dublin, in a concentrated area.

“There’s an exciting thing starting to happen now, where it’s become possible to work in this industry and still be, you know, in the northwest. So, I definitely think that this is going to start building momentum, and I think it’s only going to get better.”

But how can you change an entire industry from an often-ignored place like Donegal? According to the founder and creative director of the Disappear Here festival, Michael McLaughlin, it’s about letting people know you’re here.

Michael said: “Disappear Here Film Festival is not just about showcasing films; it’s about creating a space for local filmmakers and audiences to connect, share ideas, and celebrate the power of storytelling.

“This year, we are especially proud to provide a platform via our now-established partnership with Changemakers Donegal to bring so many wonderful local stories with international resonance to our home county.”

This partnership resulted in the short documentary bursary, which Caroline is the inaugural winner of. She explained how important the bursary will become for future filmmakers.

She said: “It’s brilliant because that’s another option now for Donegal-based voices to show the stories and share the stories that are cultivated and inspired by Donegal.

“Funding is what filmmakers need, and there’s only so much going around. So the fact that they are, you know, helping cultivate, Donegal voices and to get them out there, that’s really incredible. And we need more of that.”

Donegal is many things. It’s a beacon of natural beauty, a culinary hotspot, and home to many vibrant small towns. A hub of filmmaking talent might be added to that list very soon.

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