All has changed in the world of film festivals post-Covid-19, and Fresh International Film Festival went digital as it celebrated its 25th anniversary of giving young filmmakers a platform to shine.

Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Senior Awards 2021 took place online Friday, March 26 via Fresh International Film Festival’s YouTube channel. This year, the competition received over 1,200 entries with presenter and documentary filmmaker Stephen Byrne and comedian and social creative Justine Stafford hosting this year’s online awards.

Two young female Wexford filmmakers were recipients of awards at this year’s Festival.  

Aoife Rees, aged 17 from Killinick, Co. Wexford came 3^rd place with her film ‘A Guide To The End of The World’. Inspired by the current state of the world, the film is a comedy and takes a more upbeat approach to the pandemic.

Aoife said,

“I just found it so bizarre how everyone was going through the same thing! I saw loads of films being made about how depressing it was and how easy it was to just go along with the idea of lockdown being a bad thing. In the film my character Jamie has an optimistic mindset about being the only one left on earth because I didn’t want to add to the abundance of negative films on COVID. The reason my film is set around the end of the world was because that’s how everything felt at the time. I couldn’t see anyone or do anything significant because of the lockdown, which to me, resonated with the End of The World.”

The character Jamie also gives three words of advice near the end,

“Be yourself when people are alive, Tell the people around you how much you appreciate them and do whatever makes you happy!” I included this because I think it’s easy in times like these to really forget that life is for living and dwelling on things to get better won’t speed things up. Basically, to just enjoy the time you have because at the end of the day, you really don’t know how long you’ve got left.”

Muirinn Carty, aged 17, from Wexford Town took home a Highly Commended for Directing award for her film ‘Tactiturn’, an intimate, simple portrait of a young reticent girl who’s life is quiet and boring until a new friend comes along and impacts her life in so many unexpected ways. A beautiful friendship blossoms with a mutual understanding of their contrasting personalities.

Muirinn said,

“Making this film was intoxicating for me and I learnt an immense amount about myself and the processes of filmmaking. I made this movie with the desire to keep it simple and focus on effectively telling a story through the camera, like the cinematography, setting and colour. Spending months writing this tale working on storyboards and shot lists was essential for me in making this movie. Our unfortunate, abrupt stop to shooting due to the national lockdown ultimately made the movie better. Throughout lockdown I learned so much about cinematography and lighting and other filmmakers that gave to ‘Taciturn’ later. The idea that I had nesting in my mind transcended into real life. An exhilarating experience to say the least. I am so grateful for the help of my enthusiastic friends Hannah Kirby, Josh Walsh Isabel McCarthy, Nik Ziemelis, Daragh Schokman, my mam Paula Malone Carty, Josh O’Brien, Rebecca Kirwan and their talent and patience in the making of ‘Taciturn’. It was most certainly a team effort. Their fun loving presence and eagerness made the process much more enjoyable. Slowly watching the film form was the most thrilling experience of all.”

About entering the Festival Muirinn added,

“it was an inspiring, joyous, heartwarming journey. I find this Festival extremely important for young filmmakers as it gives us these inclusive opportunities and further inspires future movie makers. Fresh International Film Festival is an amazing, encouraging support to young filmmakers and I am so grateful for this award.”

17-year-old Ella Nethercott from Dublin took home the title of Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2021 for her short film ‘Learning to Dance Like a Bird’, about a young girl struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder who is taken out of her comfort zone when she meets a boy who helps her to let go.

Speaking about her win, Ella said,

“It was an absolute honor to win Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year. I’m extremely proud of myself and of how much I have grown throughout this process. It has been a huge honour to participate in the Fresh Film Festival over the last two years and I’m so grateful for the platform they gave me to express myself and meet like-minded people. I had such a genuinely incredible time making the film but to then receive recognition on top of that just made the experience all the more unforgettable.”

In addition, a number of specialist awards were presented for the Seniors including the Cartoon Saloon Animation Award, the RTE 60 Second Short Film Award and the RTE Factual Award, in addition to the International awards.

Jayne Foley, Founder and Artistic Director of Fresh Film said,

“This is our 25th adventure in film. The films that we receive every year have ensured that the Festival stays Fresh. Many films entered this year are a glimpse into how young people in Ireland are dealing with the challenges of the pandemic. Films are a powerful form of expression and an effective way to educate, create awareness, improve understanding and encourage action. This year’s Festival introduced the world to a new generation of young film innovators and is a document of their history.”

“I want to congratulate all our winners. It’s fantastic to see two of our overall winners are girls this year. It’s always fantastic to see young women leading the way.”