The 2024 FÍS Film Awards have announced that students from Dublin have made the shortlist for this year’s competition.
The renowned contest which is now in its 18th year, will feature a host of short movies created by primary school children and their teachers across Ireland.
This year’s event, hosted by RTE’s Sinead Kennedy (pictured above) is set to take place in the Helix, Dublin on the 21st of February.
With over 1,500 pupils involved, the FÍS Film Awards aims to inspire a new generation of budding filmmakers from within the classroom
The premise of the FÍS project is to introduce and lead pupils, often as young as 6 and 7 years of age through every step of the filmmaking process.
By doing so, children are offered a unique opportunity to develop their creative skills outside of a traditional classroom setting.
Aspiring moviemakers are encouraged to test their communication and collaborative skills, essential components for personal growth and learning.
Additionally, pupils are given hands-on experience with a variety of filmmaking tools and equipment, bolstering their digital skills and increasing their confidence with new technologies.
The FÍS project is in line with the Government’s digital strategy for schools, an action plan for integrating digital technologies into teaching and learning assessments in the classroom.
The schools and movie(s) from Dublin who are shortlisted for this year’s event include:
Carysfort National School for ‘Fixing Fairytales’, Gardiner Street Primary School for ‘St. Brigid’, Ladyswell NS for ‘I’m Late, I’m Late’, Scoil an Chroí Ró Naofa Íosa for ‘A Glitch Away From Reality’,
From one cohort of students to another, the award ceremony will be filmed and broadcast by third-level students from the IADT’s National Film School, MA in Broadcast Production for Radio & TV to provide them with hands-on professional and practical experience as they seek to further their skills.
In addition, post-production of the awards is produced by students on IADT’s BA in Film & TV programme.
This year’s FÍS Awards Ceremony will recognise a wide range of achievements across 20 unique categories.
Celebrating all aspects of the filmmaking process, it will include awards for acting, costume design, originality, and storytelling among others.
The wide range of accolades on offer aim to highlight the many different components pupils and teachers must consider when acting as movie directors, producers and screenwriters.
Members of the public can join in by watching the 18th Annual FÍS Film Awards live through fisfilmproject.ie.
Commenting on the shortlist for this year’s FÍS Film Awards, Christina Reynolds, FÍS Creative Manager, Institute of Art, Design & Technology added:
“As we prepare for this year’s FÍS Film Awards ceremony, where the next generation of movie makers will be recognized across 20 diverse categories, we are heartened by how the FÍS Film Project continues to inspire young minds through the magic of filmmaking. Alongside nurturing creativity in primary students, the FÍS Film Project offers invaluable, hands- on learning experiences for the students of IADT’s National Film School. We are
excited to celebrate the blending of education, technology and creativity through this project, as it continues to empower students to become directors, producers and screenwriters of their own narratives.”
The full shortlist of movies and schools below.
| School Name | County | FILM NAME / TITLE | CLASS(S) INVOLVED |
| Carysfort National School | Dublin | Fixing Fairytales | Senior Infants |
| Cappawhite National School | Tipperary | Bloody Sunday 1920 | Mixed: 5th and 6th but extras used from all other classes in school |
| Wandesforde National School | Kilkenny | The Home Front | Mixed: 4th, 5th & 6th |
| St Peter’s NS Dungourney | Cork | Dungourney Spills The Tea | 5th Class |
| Gaelscoil Riabhach | Galway | Luas na Fuaime – Speed of Sound | Mixed: 4th & 5th |
| Gardiner Street Primary School | Dublin | St. Brigid | 6th Class |
| Ladyswell NS | Dublin | I’m Late, I’m Late | 4th Class |
| Scoil Éanna | Galway | No Man’s Land | 5th Class |
| Carrig National School | Offaly | Now and Then | Mixed: 4th, 5th & 6th |
| Cregmore National School | Galway | Oceans of the World | 5th Class |
| Scoil an Chroí Ró Naofa Íosa | Dublin (West) | A Glitch Away From Reality | 6th Class |
| Scoil Bhride, New Inn National School | Galway | How Setanta Became Known as Cú Chulainn | Mixed: 5th and 6th |
| Scoil Cholmcille, Letterkenny | Donegal | The Award | Mixed: 4th & 5th |
| Scoil Mhuire gan Smál Newinn | Tipperary | Hedge Schools | 5th Class |
| Scoil Naomh Eirc | Kerry | Voyage of a Saint | 5th Class |
| Scoil San Phroinsias | Galway | All About Energy | Senior Infants |
| Scoil San Phroinsias | Galway | A Tale of Two Squirrels | 6th Class |
| St. Fiacc’s National School | Laois | Podorozh (Journey) | 6th Class |
| St. Stephen’s De La Salle BNS | Waterford | The Nightmare Scenario | 3rd Class |
| St. Paul’s Primary School | Meath | The Magic Pencil | 4th Class |