Pictures: Fastnet Film Festival to focus on horror-themes 

The Fastnet Film Festival, taking place in Schull from May 22 to 26, launched its programme at the Cinematographers’ Party in the Crane Lane Theatre last week.

In the absence of a cinema, the festival will see films screened across several alternative venues including on Cape Clear, in the village hall, in a local hotel, café viewing and in numerous local pubs and restaurants in town.

The event is renowned for its A-list participants, and this year’s list includes actors Paul Mescal, James Nesbitt, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Peter Coonan, and Olivia Caffrey.

Festival Chair Tom McCarthy, and writer-director Gerard Stembridge, addressed 200 filmmakers from across Ireland in attendance at the launch, revealing that this year, the festival will shine a spotlight on horror.

Horror-themed presentations will include Evil Dead Rise by director Lee Cronin, Double Blind by screenwriter Darach McGarrigle, The Little Stranger by director Lenny Abrahamson, and Mr Stembridge will also lead a horror symposium.

Overall, the event will feature over 200 short films, 18 feature-length screenings, local interest films, outdoor cinema events, and a world cinema programme with contributions from 40 countries including Scotland, Iran, Poland, Japan, Germany, India, Sardinia, and Portugal.

Highlights include screenings of That They May Face The Rising Sun, One Night in Millstreet, and the festival premiere of Ransom ’79.

Rebel Wife, presented by director Williams Rossa Cole, about his great-grandmother Mary Jane Irwin O’Donovan Rossa of Clonakilty, one of the most active revolutionary women of her time, will also be screened.

Along with the actors who will be in attendance, producers Ed Guiney and David Puttnam, directors Paddy Breathnach, Emer Reynolds, and Lenny Abrahamson, and composers Bruno Coulais, Linda and Irene Buckley will also be in Schull for the festival.

Phil Lynott’s former wife Caroline and his daughters Sarah and Cathleen, will attend a Q&A after a screening of the film based on Phil’s life, Songs for While I’m Away, directed by Emer Reynolds.

Other sessions taking place include a scriptwriting masterclass with Paul Laverty, and an editing masterclass with Nathan Nugent, alongside expert panels on documentary filmmaking, production and much more.

There will also be a range of fringe events across Schull, including exhibitions, an Irish language day on Cape Clear, a movie quiz hosted by Oscar-winning duo Tom Berkeley and Ross White, and family entertainment.

Tickets are priced from €7 and are available from Eventbrite. See www.fastnetfilmfestival.com.

The organisers thanked the village of Schull “for providing an idyllic setting for what is now an internationally acclaimed film festival and for the outstanding encouragement and enthusiasm of the entire community toward this event.”

They added that the 2024 festival would not be possible without the support of William and Judith Bollinger, RTÉ Supporting the Arts, Cork County Council, The Arts Council, Benny & Cliona McCabe, The Crespo Foundation, Screen Ireland, W. Michael Satke, Denis and Mary Ryan, Peter and Sabine Kelly, Creative Technology, Right Price Tiles, IMRO, SCGI, and huge private support from friends and local businesses.