Dundalk IT students recognised at Dublin International Film Festival

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) film and animation graduates have been recognised for their creative outputs at the First Frame event at the Dublin International Film Festival.

Two productions by film students were named as winners, with Art on Art winning across three categories, including Best Documentary, Best Editing and Best Overall Film from the student jury.

Art on Art follows the journeys of Black Irish artists Samuel Pierre, F3miii, and the duo Negro Impacto, exploring how their experiences have shaped their music and ambitions.

Through their stories, the film highlights resilience, representation, and the importance of empowering young Black people in Ireland to express themselves boldly and pursue their passions without fear. The crew includes Niall O'Shea, Elizabeth Ibiyemi, Jack McBride, Tadhg Seery-White and Cathal Mallon.

Director Elizabeth Ibiyemi said “Getting three awards from the Student Jury at First Frame was amazing! It means so much that my peers are seeing the impact and message we were trying to spread through our short doc. The experience was so eye opening and having people watch your work and uplift it is a reminder that your audience exists and is rooting for you!”

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Ode to Noise was named as Best Experimental Film. The film delves into the world of harsh noise—both as sound and as philosophy. It unfolds as an ode, a passage of love, and an intimate exploration of the genre through the guiding principles of Submission, Expression, and Rejection.

Pat McCarthy, a recent graduate of the M.Sc. in Computing in Computer Animation Production also won Best Animated Film at the awards for his animation short, Caught, which was part of his research considering how 3D animation can be used to reimagine the Salmon of Knowledge folktale.

Speaking about the award Pat said: 

“It felt surreal to be announced as the winner. There’s so much amazing student animation work being made in Ireland every year and the standard is so high, so to even be considered for the award amongst so many amazing other films is fantastic! Throughout history, folktales were only told orally, from person to person, which helped evolve the story. I think now in the digital landscape of our age, it is increasingly important to preserve folktales, and keep evolving them. By using modern storytelling techniques such as animation, further depth and immersion can be added to these old stories, helping new generations to connect with them.”

Now in its eighth year, The First Frame initiative brings together students from over 50 film courses, universities, and further education institutions from around Ireland to view a curated selection of student films in competition.

Prizes are awarded to the top films in each category - fiction, documentary, experimental, and animation - and the screenings provide excellent opportunities for course leaders and students alike to network with their peers as part of a national film event. Students are also given the opportunity to hear from industry professionals in workshops held alongside the screenings of their work.