This weekend will be an exciting time for some local film producers who have been selected to join a Film in Limerick Delegation to the Berlin International Film Festival. It’s the first time in over three years that Film in Limerick will have a delegation of Mid-West producers traveling to the legendary European Film Market.
Run in conjunction with Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, the delegation will support three local producers to attend one of the top international film markets in the world. Attended by over 8,300 international industry professionals, the EFM is where independent film producers find partners and finance to make their projects a reality.
The initiative by Innovate Limerick through Film in Limerick, will see local producers: Alanna MacNamee, Gregory Burrowes and Pius McGrath, make their way to Berlin to experience a working film market and to attend a host of industry training events.
Speaking about the upcoming trip, Paul Patton, Director of Further Education and Training at Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board said: “we are delighted to be partnering with Film in Limerick again to support these talented local producers who will have the opportunity to develop their careers and professionalise their practice through attending the European Film Market in Berlin and by taking part in industry training and events there.
The group already have a wealth of experience producing film projects. Alanna MacNamee, a producer and freelance journalist, is currently working with Tyrone Productions on a documentary project with Manchán Magan for RTÉ1, and she has several recent broadcast credits for both RTÉ and TG4. Alanna is also a graduate of Film in Limerick’s ‘Introduction to Creative Producing Programme’, run with Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board.
Pius McGrath, has been producing work for the stage internationally for over 10 years, and is currently developing his first feature film project with Irish and US creative partners.
Gregory Burrowes, with his company Carbonated Comet Productions based in Co. Clare has been a prolific producer of short films in recent years. His latest production ‘You’re Not Home”, an Engine Short Film Scheme production, has screened at numerous film festivals and will screen next month at the prestigious SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas. Gregory is also a nominee for the Discovery Award at this month’s Dublin Film Festival.
Commenting on the news, Regional Film Manager Paul C. Ryan said: “It’s brilliant to have to have the delegation back at EFM and to support more local producers as they develop their careers and their first feature projects. The key to a successful and sustainable independent film scene in the Mid-West is to invest in developing our creative producers here. They are the ones who will ultimately find and develop ideas and talent and help to drive new projects. This initiative, with the support of Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, will allow more of our producers to begin to work at an international level and to build their networks and knowledge.”
This weekend is set to be a busy time for the delegates who will also represent Mid-West filmmaking, at the annual Irish film reception in Berlin taking place at the Irish Embassy this weekend.
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