Film
Fresh Film announce partnership with Omniplex Cinema Group
Fresh Film announce partnership with Omniplex Cinema Group for 2024 Fresh International Film Festival. Pictured at the launch at Omniplex Cinema Limerick were, Ava Ross Young Filmmaker and Max Hendrickson Winner of Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Award 2023. Picture: Alan Place
Fresh Film announces an exciting new partnership with Omniplex Cinema Group for 2024 Fresh International Film Festival and Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards
This will be the 28th edition of the Fresh International Film Festival, which runs from April 15th – 21st, 2024. At the heart of festival week is Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards (IYFTYs), globally regarded as one of the world’s leading annual film events for young people, which recognises exceptional filmmaking by creators aged 7 to 18, from Ireland and across the world.
This new partnership will see regional screenings take place in key Omniplex locations across Ireland in March, with Fresh International Film Festival and Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards taking place at Omniplex Cinema in Limerick in April.
‘Generation Fresh’, a morning of Fresh films, screening at selected Omniplex Cinemas across Ireland, will take place on Sunday, April 21. This will be an exciting new collaborative initiative to bring the superb work of young Irish filmmakers to the big screen. This event, generously facilitated and supported by Omniplex Cinemas, will be an incredible opportunity for a number of young Irish filmmakers to screen their work to the public and for film fans to enjoy a fascinating selection of short films made by young people for Fresh Film. Details of this nationwide screening event will be announced shortly.
Jayne Foley, Artistic Director of Fresh Film said “We are delighted with this exciting new partnership with Omniplex Cinema Group. Together, we aim to empower young filmmakers, fostering creativity and providing a platform for their work. As an independent, island-wide Irish-owned and operated cinema group, Omniplex are the perfect partner for Fresh Film, and we are grateful for their investment and support in nurturing Ireland’s future film talent-pool and for enabling young filmmakers to engage with cinema audiences across Ireland.”
As Ireland’s leading young people’s film organisation, Fresh Film is central to nurturing the passion and skills of all young filmmakers on the island of Ireland. Fresh Film works to provide opportunities for young people to pursue a career in film, feeding Ireland’s world-renowned film industry with fresh new talent.
Fresh Film also fosters a lifelong love of Irish film through direct engagement with primary and secondary schools, and hundreds of youth clubs, film clubs, community centres and resource organisations throughout the year. A vast number of submissions come from young international filmmakers across the world, with a special international category recognising this incredible work.
Previous Fresh Film award winners and participants include Oscar-nominated director Vincent Lambe (Detainment), All-American High School Film Festival, New York ‘Best Director’ Seán Treacy, acclaimed Irish filmmaker Dónal Foreman, BBC presenter and author Nick Sheridan, IFTA nominated director Conor McMahon (Let The Wrong One In), comedian and TV personality Justine Stafford and countless others.
Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards are one of the world’s most prestigious awards for young people, depicting stories of children and young people globally, told in their own words. Awards on the night include Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Screenplay and many more, as well as specialist awards including the Radharc Trust Award for documentaries, the RTÉ 60 Second Award, and the RTÉ Factual Award, along with the much-coveted peer-to-peer Audience Award. Further new Irish screen industry-supported awards will be announced shortly.
Fresh International Film Festival, and the IYFTYs, encourage young people to explore filmmaking as a career, facilitating opportunities to learn the craft of visual storytelling and helping young people to understand the collaborative filmmaking process from first draft to final frame. Fresh works to drive awareness for the sustainable career opportunities that exist both in front of and behind the camera, inspiring and strengthening Ireland’s future film, television and creative talent pool.
The Regional Finals of Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year will take place in March. The short films selected for the IYFTYs in April will be announced on 20th March.
Fresh Film, Fresh International Film Festival and Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards are made possible with the support, investment and partnership of The Arts Council of Ireland, RTÉ, Screen Ireland, Omniplex Cinema Group, Limerick City and County Council, Coimisiún na Meán, Limerick & Clare Education & Training Board, Screen Producers Ireland, The Radharc Trust, Animation Ireland, Bow Street Academy and RTÉ Supporting the Arts.
Find out more about Fresh Film Festival
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