In Pictures: Laois Screen Networking event and launch of the Laois Short Film Bursary 2023

The inaugural event for filmmakers, writers, producers, actors, and the variety of roles in screen production took place at the Dunamaise Arts Centre on Sunday October 23.

Key speakers included, Portarlington native Carla Mooney, co-founder and executive producer of award winning production company, Cardel, and award winning film producer and cultural consultant, Arthur Lappin, who resides outside of Abbeyleix.

In addition, animator, illustrator, producer and Portarlington resident, David Butler; producer, writer, production manager and Portlaoise native Leeona Duff; and RTÉ Shortscreen programmer and Portarlington resident, Séamus Duggan, attended as discussion panel speakers.

This event was supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme in partnership with Laois County Council Arts Office, and in partnership with Dunamaise Arts Centre and Laois Media Network.

At the event Laois Arts Officer and Creative Ireland Coordinator Muireann Ní Chonaill said: “On behalf of Laois’s Culture & Creativity team – Creative Ireland Laois, I am delighted to welcome you to the inaugural Laois Screen Networking event and to our expert speakers who are well known in the screen sector locally and nationally.

“Unfortunately, our guest speaker film officer Lynn Daly from Dublin City Council Film is unable to attend due to illness.

“The event includes a range of activities such as speed networking, the launch of Laois’s Short Film Bursary 2023 with the expert support and vision of film producer, Arthur Lappin.

“It also contains information on Laois’s location scouting initiative from producer Leeona Duff (Up on Blue Bridge Productions) who is currently location scouting with her colleague Katherine Foyle in the county – photographing and documenting potential location sites available in Laois for film, TV, and advertising opportunities.”

As part of the event, three short films made in Laois by Laois filmmakers were screened including ‘Waiting’ by Isabelle Blanche; ‘Useless Dog’ by Ken Wardrop, and ‘Vegetable’ by Michéal Fleming.

Academy award winning film producer, Arthur Lappin launched the Short Film Bursary 2023 and said: “The Laois Short Film Bursary is a wonderful opportunity for filmmakers in Laois. The bursary enables the creative team of director, producer and writer to tell extraordinary and universal stories via film.

“Past winning films of the bursary include ‘Superhuman’ by director/writer Michéal Fleming and producer Michael David McKernan in 2021 with ‘Superhuman’ selected for Galway’s Film Fleadh.

“The 2022 winning film ‘The Light Within’ by director Denis McArdle and producer David Butler begins filming at Roundwood House and locations in Rosenallis such as the Quakers Meeting House and cemetery early in November.”

The bursary award is funded by Laois County Council and Creative Ireland and aims to foster talent, creativity and activity in filmmaking in County Laois.

A grant of €10,000 is awarded to a filmmaker towards the cost of production of a short drama or documentary film of 10-12 mins duration that is shot in Laois in 2023, and one of the core creative team (writer/director/producer) must be from or living in Laois.

More information on submitting an application for the 2023 bursary is available here. The deadline for submissions is 4pm on Friday, January 13, 2022.

If you are interested in accessing and/or providing film locations in Laois, contact the Arts Office at artsoff@laoiscoco.ie or 057 8664033 / 057 8664109.

If you are interested in finding our more about Laois and its screen and media network, go to their Facebook page here and become a member and attend upcoming networking events.

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