Young Mayo film makers shortlisted for national finals

A MAYO national school's short movie on a Clew Bay boating disaster has been shortlisted among the finalists of the FÍS Film Awards.

The sixth class pupils of Scoil Phadraig National School in Westport are among the finalists for this year’s FÍS Film Awards for their short movie, 'The Clew Bay Drowning 1894'. In its 19th year, the awards ceremony takes place at the Helix, Dublin on February 12 and will be hosted by RTÉ’s Sinéad Kennedy.

The annual event honours the filmmaking achievements of Irish primary school students and their teachers across multiple categories, with the distinguished Film of the Year award taking centre stage. Awards are presented for student contributions in directing, acting, design, music, and a wide range of film genres, including comedy, drama, horror, science fiction and films in Irish among others.

Through the FÍS Film Project, students are encouraged to develop their teamwork and collaboration skills, while also being provided with filmmaking tools and equipment to foster creativity and innovation in the safe environment of their school.

Scoil Phádraig Westport is one of 24 national schools from across Ireland who have been nominated for the film awards which are aimed to inspire and celebrate the creativity of the next generation of cinematic visionaries.

The Clew Bay Drowning took place on June 14, 1894 when a hooker carrying 126 passengers from Achill capsized close to Westport Quay and resulted in the drowning of 32 people. The passengers had been travelling to Westport to take a larger boat to Scotland where they were to pick potatoes for the summer season.

READ: Calls for Mayo Greenway community to be accommodated in planning process

At the time the recently constructed railway line from Westport to Achill had not been operational but it was agreed that a train would take the victims of the drowning, as well as the survivors, all the way from Westport to Achill the following morning.

This fulfilled the first part of a bleak prediction made in the seventeenth century by the north Mayo based prophet ‘Red’ Brian Carabine, who said: “Carriages on wheels with smoke and fire will come to Achill and the first and last carriages will carry dead bodies”.

The FÍS Film Awards event will be filmed, broadcast, and produced by third-level students from IADT’s National Film School, offering them valuable professional experience in the industry to further develop their skills.

Speaking about this year’s finalists, Christina Reynolds, Creative Manager at the Institute of Art, Design & Technology said:

“With so many entries and such a high level of talent involved this year, it was extremely difficult to choose our finalists. It’s truly inspiring to witness the incredible creativity and innovation coming from young aspiring filmmakers who are guided by their teachers across the country. This year’s contest saw several entries that provided a creative twist on stories of historical significance. The awards highlight not just the talent of the students but also the power of collaboration and the role that technology and innovation play in shaping their storytelling. We look forward to this year’s awards which look to be bigger than ever before.”