Still Voices Film Festival opens with screening for over 60s in Mullingar Arts Centre
Still Voices Film Festival in partnership with Creative Ireland has announced the full programme for this year’s special fifth-anniversary hybrid festival.
While still based in Ballymahon – birthplace of the writer Oliver Goldsmith – as the festival has grown, it is now utilising larger venues across Westmeath, Longford, and Roscommon.
This year’s festival has a packed programme of events and a superb line-up of short films available both in-person and online over the festival weekend.
Kicking off the festival on Thursday, November 4, at 11am in Mullingar Arts Centre, is a new initiative ‘Creative Ageing’, which aims to deliver art for all age groups.
Curator Adrian Duncan Sr has chosen ‘Cinema Paradiso’ for a more senior audience.
On opening night film, Cavan-based ‘Redemption of a Rogue’ screens in the Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule on November 4 at 9pm.
To celebrate the fifth anniversary, Still Voices welcome director Terence Davies for a screening of his 1988 masterpiece ‘Distant Voices, Still Lives’ (after which the festival took its name). This in-person event is on November 5 at 8pm in the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone, and will be followed by a conversation between Davies and film critic John Maguire.
On November 6 at 4.30pm, Davies will participate in a directing masterclass with Irish filmmaker Pat Collins at the Backstage Theatre, Longford. This event is in partnership with Screen Skills Ireland and is open to professionals and non-professionals.
Davies will also receive the inaugural ‘Still Voices Visionary Award’ for his contribution to the art of cinema.
Family-friendly screenings and a children’s animation workshop also return as well as industry panels for established and budding artists.
On November 6 at noon in Dead Centre Brewery, Athlone, casting director Priscilla John (The Fifth Element, Captain America: The First Avenger, Logan) and actor Antonio Aakeel (Tomb Raider, Dublin Murders, Granada Nights) will discuss casting from both viewpoints.
On November 7 in Ballymahon Library at 12.45pm, there is a unique opportunity to hear from Longford artists, Michael Keegan-Dolan, Karen McGann, and John Connell on what it’s like to pursue a career in the arts. Longford author Dani Gill will moderate the event.
Tickets go on sale, October 22nd from our Box Office in Ballymahon Library and Online.
For more information see www.stillvoicesfilmfestival.com.
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