Dundalk IT host annual film showcase and awards ceremony

The annual DkIT Film Showcase of work from 3rd & 4th year students on the BA (Hons) in Film & Television Production in the Department of Creative Arts, Media & Music took place recently in the IMC in Dundalk

The event began with the presentation of two new industry-supported awards.  The Samson Films Best Short Film Award was presented to the best short film made on the year-long Film Project module in 3rd year.  The winner of the inaugural Samson Films Best Short Film Award was the film One Moment, the winning crew consisted of Cillian McGahon, Rafaella Crepaldi, Jordan Akachukwu Nnaji, Danielle Halligan, Jonah Cawthorne and Grame Burns 

The new Dearbhla Walsh Best Major Project Award was presented to the best TV drama/documentary made on the year-long Major Project module in 4th year and the winner of this inaugural award was the documentary Walking the Labyrinth, the crew included Jessica Doherty, Kim Stewart, Conor Farrelly, Sarah Olatunbosun and Megan Hughes. 

Winners of both these new awards also received copies of DaVinci Resolve Studio (value €2,000) which was awarded by Wendy Baugh, the Education Relationship Manager for EMEA from Blackmagic Design. Wendy flew in from the UK to attend the recent screenings. DkIT is the only Irish member of the Blackmagic Design Education Partner Program.

The award ceremony was followed by a screening of the 4 short films created by this year's 3rd years as part of their year-long Film Project module which were the films Biddy, Saoirse, Brother and Echo.

The evening closed with a screening of the 3 short TV dramas made by 4th years as part of their year-long Major Project module which included the drama’s Borrowed Time, My Life with Brian and Lies of Envy.

In both years, students conceive and write scripts for short films/TV dramas and throughout the year, work in groups following an industry-standard production process.  During development and pre-production this includes weekly production meetings, fundraising, sourcing & organising locations, casting, sourcing props, dressing, costumes, script readings, creating risk assessments, scheduling shoots, etc.   

Shoots took place across the region in February and March and since then students have been engaged with picture and audio post-production with continuous feedback from their lecturers Sarah McCann, Eamonn Crudden, Lorcan Dunne, Marina Hughes, Kevin Cunnane and Richie Price, in order to compete their projects for screening at the showcase.