KFF issues call for Entries to the 11th Annual Kerry Film Festival

Kerry Film Festival - Things to do in Kerry

Dave Fanning; Kerry Filmmaker, Gerard Barrett; Rebecca Miller and James Christopher at the 2009 Kerry Film Festival

The Kerry Film Festival (KFF), which is celebrating eleven years of bringing film to the people of Kerry, has issued a call for entries for the Kerry Film Festival 2010, which runs from October 30th to November 6th.

"The Kerry Film Festival is committed to playing a leading role in providing a forum for emerging talent in film," said Jason O' Mahony, Director of the Kerry Film Festival. "This dedication is evidenced by both the quality of the films screened and the quality of adjudicators that select the winning films. Awards are given in a number of categories including Best Short Film, Best Irish Short, Best International Short, Best Documentary Short and Best Animated Short."

All prizes including Best Director will be selected by a jury of internationally renowned film professionals. Past adjudicators of the Kerry Film Festival Short Film Competition have included such luminaries as Jeremy Irons and Michael Fassbender in 2009, Liam Neeson in 2008 and Gabriel Byrne in 2007.

When asked what makes KFF special O' Mahony said, "I think having so many of the filmmakers on hand to speak about their films and their creative journey ensures a rewarding film festival experience for both the filmmaker and the audience. One of the advantages of KFF, I suppose, is that it's such an intimate little festival but the quality of the films and quality of the adjudicators consistently punches above its weight."

While the main focus of the festival will continue to be on shorts, this year sees an extension of the programme. "Last year was our most successful Festival so far," said O' Mahony. "We screened more films to more people in more venues that ever before and this year we're hoping to top that!" The 2009 edition of KFF saw 6,119 people attend screenings in more than twenty venues throughout Kerry.

The 2010 edition of KFF will also see more Education screenings, more active retired screenings and a larger workshop programme.

Entries should be sent to Kerry Film Festival, Unit 1, The Windmill Complex, Blennerville, Tralee, Co. Kerry by 1 August. Application forms are available online.