Offaly made documentary selected for film festival in Donegal
'Closed For Lunch' selected for the Disappear Here Film Festival in picturesque Ballyliffin
OFFALY-made documentary 'Closed For Lunch' has been selected for the Disappear Here Film Festival, taking place in picturesque Ballyliffin, Donegal this October.
This short film tells the personal stories behind Offaly’s peat industry through the lens of lunchtime, featuring interviews with different generations of those closely involved with the industry, together with archive footage of the factories through the ages.
It was produced by Offaly’s Mixed Bag Media as part of FilmOffaly’s Documentary Mentorship Scheme and was supported by the EU’s Just Transition Fund.
The scheme saw a group of five local filmmakers receive training in documentary skills from IFTA-nominated filmmaker Garret Daly. After the workshops with Garret, the filmmakers worked together to produce 'Closed For Lunch' themselves, taking on all the production roles and earning their first professional production credit.
The film is a highly personal piece of Offaly history and received a packed premiere earlier this year at Esker Arts, Tullamore.
“The Film Offaly Documentary Mentorship Scheme was a fantastic opportunity for us to upskill and connect with other aspiring filmmakers.” said the film’s co-director Helen Keenan.
The filmmakers enjoyed their experience on 'Closed For Lunch' so much that they have already made their second film together – a short documentary titled Just For The Record, which looks at the development of the Midlands music scene from the showband years through to the streaming age.
“The reaction to 'Closed For Lunch' from the local community has been humbling, and we’re overjoyed that the film will find an audience further afield,” said FilmOffaly’s Darren Lee. “Disappear Here is in its tenth year and they pride themselves on supporting emerging filmmakers and sparking conversation. It’s the perfect place for the film.”
'Closed For Lunch' is being shown as part of the short documentaries programme at Ballyliffin Hotel on 17th October at 4pm. Further booking information can be found at www.disappearherefilmfest.com .