CHILDREN Gortskehy NS students win film award

Job well done for Gortskehy NS students


Ciara Moynihan

Fifth-and sixth-class students from Gortskehy National School in Annfield, Hollymount, were among the winners at Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards at this year’s Fresh Film Festival. Actor Louis Lovett was in attendance to present the awards to the winners at a glittering ceremony in Limerick last Wednesday, March 28.
This year’s festival theme was ‘Made In Ireland’, and a record 400 entries were received. The Gortskehy NS students were Highly Commended for Visual Style in the Junior Category (7 to 12 year olds) for their film ‘Job Done’. Based on a short story by Patrick Hession and James Frizzell, the plot centres on a tiger kidnapping.
Patrick Hession and Diane Tierney turned in great performances as the balaclava-wearing raiders, while Orla Beddows, Toni Burns, Mollie Giggins and Nicola Hession were convincing as the terrorised family members, tied up in their own front room. Rachel Hession shone as a little girl hiding under the stairs. The film is a thriller laden with suspense – will the raiders discover the girl, and what would they do with her if they do? The eerie music and cinematography add to the mood.
Behind-the-scenes expertise was provided by camera operators James Frizzell and Justin Commins, and costume and props people Amy Frizzell, Rebecca Flanagan, Marie Mulhern, Thomas Higgins, Conal Beddows and Enda Hession. ‘Job Done’ was skillfully directed by James Frizzell – could he be another James Cameron in the making?
For the last 16 years, Fresh Film Festival has celebrated young filmmakers aged 18 and under. The festival has showcased their work and celebrated their achievements.
The filmmakers submit movies they have made themselves and have the opportunity to see their work on the big screen as the movies are screened at four locations in heats around Ireland. Many winners of the competition have gone on to successful careers in the film industry, and each year the awards uncover a wealth of new filmmaking talent.

For more information on the Fresh Film Festival, visit www.freshfilmfestival.net. This is not the first award that ‘Job Done’ has received – last year it was named Best Horror Film at the Fís Film Festival awards, attended by President Michael D Higgins.