February 5, 2012

Tribute to Michael Dwyer

It is with great sadness that I heard of the death of The Irish Times’ film correspondent, Michael Dwyer.

Photo courtesy of The Irish Times

Photo courtesy of The Irish Times

The warm comments posted throughout the blogosphere demonstrate the popularity of his film reviews, which elevated the appreciation of film in Ireland.

Michael was more than a film critic, though. His passion for film motivated him to become actively involved in ensuring that Irish audiences got to see arthouse films through his work with the Federation of Irish Film Societies, the Dublin Film Festival and its successor the Dublin International Film Festival. Through these, he was also instrumental in bringing international filmmakers to Ireland to share their expertise and experience with us.

He was also instrumental in furthering and promoting the careers of Irish filmmakers and he publicly supported political initiatives which strengthened the Irish film industry.

Tributes to him can be posted here

Michael was a man of integrity and influence, of personality and passion. May he rest in peace.

Newspaper Article ‘Drogheda Director Tipped For Top’

The name Fiona Ashe may soon be mentioned in the same revered tones that movie-fans used to utter the names of directors Jim Sheridan and Neil Jordan.

Indeed, the Drogheda woman’s short film ‘Shades of Gray’, which she shot in New York City, was described by Oscar-nominated Sheridan as ‘very good….very well directed”.

Murder Scene

Now, award-winning Fiona, who lives in Roschoill, is not only enjoying great success with her medieval comedy ‘Rapunzel – The Blonde Years’, filmed at Barmeath Castle in Co Louth, but is attached to direct the movie adaptation of Wall Street Journal bestseller ‘The Go-Giver’ by Bob Burg and John David Mann.

‘It’s a hugely exciting time, and from having always wanted to direct films or be involved in television in some way, it’s great to be realising my ambitions, and with such amazing writers,’ the former Sacred Heart girl says.

‘Rapunzel – The Blonde Years has already secured distribution and has screened at the Galway Film Fleadh, Dublin’s Darklight Film Festival, the 11/22 Comedy Shorts Film Festival in Austria and the Notting Hill festival, which toured London, Rome, Chicago and Cannes.Rapunzel asleep lo-res

‘It is due to screen at the International Film Festival Ireland in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, and the Silk City Fest in Connecticut, USA shortly, and it has had an amazing 50,000 hits on Youtube so far.’

A graduate of Dublin City University where she received an Honours Degree in Communications Studies, Fiona also graduated from the New York Film Academy with a Diploma in Advanced Film Directing.

Her digital short film, ‘I Love You Suzie’, received its world premiere at the Boston Irish Film Festival 2007 and the following year she completed ‘Save Tara Valley’, about a human aerial art project on the Hill of Tara opposing the construction of the M3 motorway through the historic Tara Valley. The film features Irish Hollywood star, Stuart Townsend.Stuart still 1 full

‘A real highpoint came in February 2003 when I was selected for the first ever Berlinale Talent Campus – a winter film academy which brought 500 filmmakers from 61 countries together on the fringes of the prestigious Berlin Film Festival,’ she says.

Fiona’s latest project sees her adapting the book ‘The Go-Giver’ by Bob Burg and John David Mann for screen, as well as taking on the task of directing this hugely popular tale.Go-Giver-bookcover-thumb

‘I’ve always been a fan of the book, so it is amazing to have been selected to direct it,’ she says

More details on Fiona’s films and her marketing and communications company can be found on www.FionaAshe.com

'Rapunzel – The Blonde Years' to screen at Austrian festival

Orlaith Doherty in 'Rapunzel - The Blonde Years'

Orlaith Doherty in 'Rapunzel - The Blonde Years'

NEWS

I’m pleased to announce that my short film Rapunzel – The Blonde Years‘ has been selected to screen at the 11/22 International Comedy Short Film Festival in Austria in June.  The film was written and produced by Trish Groves and commissioned by the Irish Film Board under its innovative Virtual Cinema scheme.  It has already been screened at the Galway Film Fleadh and Darklight Film Festivals – both in Ireland, and also in the WOW (World of Women) Film Festival in Australia.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The name Eleven-Twentytwo refers to the two categories of the Festival, which are carried out as two independent competitions:
- Category 11: for all films up to max. 11:59 min. of total runtime
- Category 22: for all films from 12 up to max. 22 min. of total runtime

The winner of each category will receive the 11/22 trophy and EUR 1,122 cash prize.

The public screenings of the films selected by the jury will take place in Vienna’s oldest comedy-theatre Kulisse on four evenings. On the last day of the Festival there will be a gala including a screening of the nominated films and the announcement of the winners.

The Festival 2009 will take place from June 16th to June 20th.

email: director@fionaashe.com
website: http://www.fionaashe.com