FILMBASE & TG4 ANNOUNCE LASAIR DEADLINE: MONDAY 19th NOV 2007

[Jason Butler]

It's all gone as gaeilge round here at the minute.

Filmbase and TG4 are delighted to announce details of the 4th round of Lasair, the highly successful award scheme for short films made in the Irish language. This year, up to 6 films will be produced and there is a doubling of the funding available to €120,000.

This year’s doubling of the funding per project to €20,000 per film is an indication of the commitment that TG4 has given to encouraging the production of high quality short films. It is hoped that the higher cash awards will further improve diversity, range and production values of the films produced under the scheme.

Applications are open to drama, animation and other fictional works in Irish or bilingual to be shot on DVCam and finished for TV broadcast. Applications must be accompanied by an application form which can be downloaded from www.filmbase.ie/awards or from www.tg4.ie. Full guidelines on the Lasair scheme are also available on both websites. The deadline for application to this round of Lasair is 5pm, Monday 19th of November.

The aim of Lasair is to encourage emerging filmmakers to express their creativity through the development of imaginative short films. Since it was launched in 2001, it has led to the production of 17 Irish language short films in a range of genres. Films made through the scheme include James Finlan’s black and white film noir spoof Éireville, Declan de Barra’s animation An Fiach Dubh and Colm Bairéad’s poignant drama Mac an Athar. Audiences will be familiar with the 2003 hit Yu Ming is Ainm Dom which was also made under the scheme. This short, directed by Daniel O’Hara, has screened worldwide and has scooped numerous awards at festivals including the Aspen Shortsfest (2004), Galway Film Fleadh (2003) and the Celtic Film and Television Festival (2004).

Director O’Hara has acknowledged that “the Lasair scheme gave me my first opportunity to direct drama with Yu Ming Is Ainm Dom and it was an important stepping stone to TV drama work like The Clinic and Paddywhackery. Without the Filmbase schemes it would be very difficult for young crews to raise the budget to make a short film. It's an invaluable learning experience, as well as a chance to show what you can do.”

Further Information / Breis Eolais:
Clare Creely
Project & Administration Officer, Filmbase
www.filmbase.ie

Mary Ellen Ní Chualáin
Eagraí Coimisiúnaithe, TG4
www.tg4.ie

For more information please contact Clare Creely at Filmbase on 01 881 5116 or 01 679 6716 or by email at admin@filmbase.ie.

[John Murphy]

Anybody enter this?

Apparently they received over 50 scripts. I thought there might be more considering the budget on offer.

[Cyber Soze]

Yep,

Got two scripts in. Heard numbers of entries were exceedingly/worringly low late last week but there was the usual late flurry.

For most people sans Gaelic (I know 'sans' is French - just shaking it up), it takes a bit of organisation to enter the Irish language schemes especially allowing time for translation but it's well worth doing.

For folk who think they're excluded, bear in mind TG4 have a great sense of humour about themselves and the language. Hence great shorts like Daniel O Hara's (who is I think absolutely not a native speaker - open to correction on that)

It don't have to be Peig hurling potatoes at Black and Tans to a Clannad soundtrack. (Though I'd pay to see that...)

[smiling sadly]

Originally Posted by Cyber Soze

Yep,

Got two scripts in. Heard numbers of entries were exceedingly/worringly low late last week but there was the usual late flurry.

For most people sans Gaelic (I know 'sans' is French - just shaking it up), it takes a bit of organisation to enter the Irish language schemes especially allowing time for translation but it's well worth doing.

For folk who think they're excluded, bear in mind TG4 have a great sense of humour about themselves and the language. Hence great shorts like Daniel O Hara's (who is I think absolutely not a native speaker - open to correction on that)

It don't have to be Peig hurling potatoes at Black and Tans to a Clannad soundtrack. (Though I'd pay to see that...)

Swot.

I got one in as well, here's hoping. The odds seem better than the filmbase award.

[Cyber Soze]

Oh my output pales into insignificance compared to some.

I know someone who is single handedly responsible for 10% of the entries. That's right. Read those and weep.

[smiling sadly]

Originally Posted by Cyber Soze

Oh my output pales into insignificance compared to some.

I know someone who is single handedly responsible for 10% of the entries. That's right. Read those and weep.

Zoinks!!!

No limit on applications then!

[smiling sadly]

Got a confirmation yesterday, they say the shortlist will be out by tuesday

[Jason Butler]

That'd be a nice Christmas present.