Movie makers descend on Foyle for film festival

The streets of Londonderry will be alive with the sound of foreign accents during the next fortnight when movie makers from around the world descend on the city for the 17th Seagate Foyle Film Festival.

Directors, producers and actors from as far a field as Canada, USA, Mexico, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Ireland, will be vying for awards in the competition element of the festival.

The competition gives budding film makers the opportunity to showcase their talent before a jury of their peers and recognition through the winning of the various categories is keenly sought.

Competition will be intense in the various categories including Best Film, Stella Artois Best Irish and Stella Artois Best International Short Film, Best Documentary, and Best Animation.

This year the organisers of the Festival have decided to screen a selection of digital films. They will be shown in a special "Out of Competition" section, allowing the film makers to display their work alongside that of directors and producers working in the traditional film medium.

Festival director Shauna Kelpie said: "We never cease to be amazed at the number of entries we receive for the competition element of the Festival. They literally flood in from around the world and the task of the judges in finding category winners is an unenviable one.

“The standard of the work improves every year and previous winners have gone on to make a name for themselves in the mainstream cinema. That is why we regard the festival competition as one of the most important elements of the whole event".

This year Stella Artois, renowned for its quality film associations and events, has rolled out its activity to become involved in the Festival's Light in Motion Awards for the first time.

The premium continental lager will be bringing their cinematic heritage to the prestigious awards for Best Irish Short and Best International Short.

(MB/SP)