GENERATION Fleadh to bring film culture to young people

A film festival in Galway City for young people will promote film culture through screenings of German, Spanish, French and Irish language films this month.

GENERATION Fleadh, running from 13 to 16 November, will include narrative and documentaries alongside short films made by young people for young people.

It will also host the Irish premieres of feature films that have recently premiered at Cannes, Tribeca, Berlin and Venice.

Screening the best in new international films for young people aged 12 to 24 years with afternoon and evening screenings, the festival provides a platform for them to meet like-minded people, celebrating film culture in Galway.

The Irish premiere of Tribeca favourite, DEAD GIRLS DANCING presents a German coming of age story of a road trip that turns into a nightmare as they navigate life after school, cast member Luna Jordan will attend.

In the Irish Premiere of SONNE UND BETON, director, David Wnendt takes us through the harsh realities of life in a Berlin suburb following a group of boys as they try and find different ways to make money but find themselves in deep trouble instead.

Fresh from international success at Cannes is the Irish premiere of Zihan Geng’s first feature film, A SONG SUNG BLUE (Xiao Bai Chuan) where we watch 15-year-old Liu Xian have a summer of new experiences when her mother leaves her with her father for the summer holidays.

Closing GENERATION Fleadh is the Irish premiere of GASOLINE RAINBOW, from the Ross Brothers, following five young people on a road trip, looking for a party at the end of the world, described by ScreenDaily as “… a vivid travelogue whose freewheeling spirit emulates the film’s improvisational making.”

Other Irish premieres include, FIRST SNOW OF SUMMER, a bittersweet romance that premiered at Göteborg, the Spanish language film, A SCHOOL IN CERRO HEUSO telling the story of Ema’s parents who are searching for a safe school space for their daughter, who has been diagnosed on the autism spectrum, the environmental interest film, HOLLOW TREE which tells the interconnected stories of three young women coming of age during a time of rapid climate change and HEROES which features a group of young migrant men fighting for a better future.

Closer to home there will be three Irish language feature film screenings of Ó BHÉAL, TARRAC and CRÍOTHE RADACHACHA and director Tadhg O’Sullivan’s cinematic ode TO THE MOON will mesmerise young audiences through this moving documentary.

Teaching the craft of film making and having hands on workshops is key to the GENERATION programme of events and workshops in sound production, Sound To Screen with Screen Audio Ireland, Ceardlann Scríobhneoireachta le Seán Breathnach, Short Documentary Film Screening/Workshop with David McDonagh are among the workshops that young people can participate in.

GEN Beyond is the festival outreach programme and this year will host, film screenings and workshops in Tuam, a presentation of the VR animation, As an nGnách, a fully immersive, 360-degree digital experience on the island of Inis Oírr alongside an evening of Irish language films.

GEN Beyond will take young people on a tour of television studios at Fibín Media and TG4  where they will have practical experience and see Behind the Scenes of working TV studios.

GENERATION Fleadh will take part in the Young Audience Film Day on November 5 with the European Film Academy (EFA) with film criticism discussion, a film screening and director Q&A all facilitated in real time with young audiences across Europe.

TAR ISTEACH is the new audience engagement plan from GENERATION Fleadh as part of our ‘Re-Imaging JFF’ strategy and will provide opportunities for young people to participate in their national film culture.

Visit galwayfilmfleadh.com to book tickets for these films or to enquire about workshops/events.