Big festival success for Rathfarnham film students

TWO Dublin Institute of Technology students, Hanna McGlynn and Mark Corcoran from Rathfarnham, are hoping to make their mark on the world of cinema after helping to organise the recent successful DIT Best in Irish Film, Film Festival.

Both students alongside fellow Southsiders Gillian Morrissey (Mount Merrion), Loren McNerney Quigley (Rathmines) and Florence Bradish (Rathgar) who are all studying a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Film & Broadcasting, helped to coordinate the two-week film festival that involved guest talks and Q&As from some of the the greats in the Irish film industry.

The festival hosted screenings of the best of Irish film, such as last year’s big-hit releases ‘The Young Offenders’ and ‘Queen of Ireland’.

There were also Q&As with guest speakers including  Peter Foott, Rory O’Neill (AKA Panti Bliss), DIT graduate and editor Úna Ní Dhonghaile and John Butler (Handsome Devil) along with many more names from the Irish film industry. 

The finale in the festival was the screening of ‘Sing Street’ which was the ideal conclusion as the film is set so close to the home of DIT Aungier Street.

Aiden Gillen, who is best known for portraying Petyr ‘Littlefinger’ Baelish in the HBO series Game of Thrones, gave an introduction to the film which was followed by a Q&A with stars Mark McKenna, Karl Rice and casting director Louise Keily.

Hanna McGlynn, chairperson of the DIT Film Society, and Film Festival Coordinator, said: “This was a great event to celebrate the talent we have here in our home country.

“Everyone worked so hard to create a successful and inspiring two week film festival.

“It was a great way to showcase talent while encouraging future interest in the film industry.

“The Sing Street screening was a great way to conclude the festival.

“We are excited to wish Hanna and Mark as well as Gillian, Lorena and Florence all the best of luck in the film industry.

“We really hope they follow in the footsteps of these great filmmakers who attended the DIT Film Festival.”

For more information about the DIT Film Society and to keep up to date with other events visit www.facebook.com/DITFilmSociety/ or follow on Twitter @DITFilmSoc.