Upcoming film festival has "one of our best ever line-ups"

The Still Voices Film Festival has launched its programme for this year's event, which takes place next month and will include film screenings in Athlone and Mullingar in addition to those in its Ballymahon base.

The festival began in 2014 and has grown in stature in the intervening years.

Short films are at the core of the festival, and director Ronan O'Toole said upcoming event, taking place from November 9-13, boasted a short film programme that was among its best to date.

"Our short film programme is genuinely one of the best we’ve ever had, and once again we’re delighted to achieve a 50/50 split of male and female directors," he said, as the 2022 festival was launched on Friday last.

Still Voices receives funding support from both Longford and Westmeath county councils, and this year's schedule includes screenings at the TUS Athlone campus and the Mullingar Arts Centre.

Ballymahon is the town most closely associated with the festival, and screenings will be held in its library, as well as in the courtyard of Skelly's pub, and in St Catherine's, Church of Ireland.

Elsewhere in Longford, the Shawbrook Residential dance centre in Legan, and the Backstage Theatre in Longford town, are to be used as festival venues.

In his introduction to the upcoming event, Mr O'Toole noted that screening times this year had been moved to the afternoon and evenings "to ensure as many people see these fantastic films as possible".

The festival's short film competition showcases "a variety of films, including fiction, non-fiction, animation, student, Irish language and experimental." Two new categories - dance and horror - have also been added this year.

"The promotion of local talent is always at the forefront of our programming and this year, we have something very exciting," Mr O'Toole stated.

"We are delighted to screen Longford directors Patrick McGivney and Robert Higgins’s haunting and affecting film, Lakelands. The directing duo have successfully transitioned their storytelling skills from short to feature length film and hosting this homecoming screening in the Backstage Theatre is truly special.

"We also have a fully-stacked programme of panels and workshops, including cinematography and producing panels as well as the always popular children's animation workshop."

Other attractions this year include a new short film, Lost Colony by the Ballymahon artist and writer Adrian Duncan, and a unique 90th-anniversary screening of the 1932 horror film Vampyr, directed by Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyer, with a live score provided by Still Voices co-founder David Colohan.

"This is just a taste of what’s on offer from November 9 - 13 and we hope you enjoy this year’s selection of films, panels and guests," said Mr O'Toole.

More details, and the full festival schedule, are available at: stillvoicesfilmfestival.com