Fleadh Hat Trick

What a Fleadh!!! Just when you think it can't get any better.... The standard of films this year was the best I've seen yet. I attended 5 features, 2 panels, 36 shorts, 4 parties, and 1 very special awards ceremony! 

I could not be happier/prouder/more grateful to play roles in 2 absolutely stunning films LILY and SANCTUARY, which took home the Awards for Best Short Drama, and Best First Feature respectively. 

I think the magic of both films lies in how deeply they make you feel and care, yet how effortlessly funny they both were at the same time. That's a delicate balance to achieve but when you get it right, you can feel it in the auditorium and it's so wonderful to be a part of that. Sincerest congratulations to both directors Graham Cantwell and Len Collin, Sanctuary writer Christian O'Reilly and all the cast and crew on both films, working with talented, sound people on great scripts is all you can ask for....

Massive thank you to everyone from the Fleadh - staff, volunteers, filmmakers and audiences for a superlative year and my personal thanks to the Galway Film Centre who awarded my micro-short BODY OF CHRIST 2nd place in the One Minute Film Festival at the Fleadh. 

One Minute Movie Madness!

You know that old adage....
Never work with children or animals
Well some of us just can't help ourselves. (They're just too cute! And funny!) 

Not too long ago I saw this tantalising callout for submissions from the Galway Film Centre for 1 minute shorts for the 2nd edition of the One Minute Film Festival they held last year as part of the Galway Film Fleadh. Such a smash hit it was, they were going again.

Now anyone that knows me, knows my favourite week of the year is the 2nd week of July aka The Galway Film Fleadh. As an actress I am honoured to be part of this year's closing film of the festival, Len Collin's groundbreaking feature SANCTUARY, and equally proud to be a cast member in Graham Cantwell's LGBT drama LILY, but I had a grá on me to direct another short film so when I saw that callout, well.... it called to me.

Cue a very spontaneous and intense eight day pre-production-to-submission turnaround on short film number 3! I got the film submitted mere hours before the final deadline last Thursday, and low and behold to my absolute delight, it got selected to screen!

So, what's it all about? It's a one minute micro short (76 seconds + 5 secs credits to be precise) called Body of Christ starring Sophia (aged 4), Caden (5) and Olivia (8)....plus 2 cats and a dog. It's a comedy needless to say! It was filmed in one day on location in Portumna, Co. Galway. 

BODY OF CHRIST

A look through the imagination of a child at the 'magic' of the Eucharist.

Screening Details: One Minute Film Festival at the 28th Galway Film Fleadh, Town Hall Studio 4.30pm Sunday 10th July 2016. Bookings 

As I write, the screening is already sold out, though they've been known to lay on second screenings when that happens. UPDATE - Yes they have scheduled a second screening so book now! 

I must say a huge thank you to the amazing Joe Conlan who scored this for me, and Graham Cantwell for cinematography. I can't wait to see the other shorts next Sunday!

Here is the full list of selected films http://www.galwayfilmcentre.ie/2016/07/01/one-minute-film-festival-at-galway-film-fleadh/

#GalwayCityofFilm

NOCTURNE PASSAGE Round Up

Well once again I've let time lapse between blog updates so allow me to do a quick roundup of some highlights for NOCTURNE PASSAGE, including screenings, nominations, awards and interviews!

"With a radical take on narrative, excellent cinematography and elegant storytelling, Nocturne Passage is an emotionally penetrating journey to the darkest corners of the human mind." - Cinéwomen, May 2016

Here's an interview I did with Cinéwomen Europe about ‪Nocturne Passage, published recently https://issuu.com/wacconnect/docs/cin_wom_iss0016_art_cinema_dance_-/46

Earlier this year in March, Nocturne Passage screened in Dublin as part of the Filmbase "Movies with the Masters" Screening night where it won the Jury Prize for Best Actress!

Nocturne Passage also picked up two Award Nominations in the categories of Best Actress (Susan Loughnane) and Best Editing (Graham Cantwell) at the 6th Underground Cinema Awards held in Dublin in November 2015, following a successful screening as part of Underground Cinema held in May that year.
You can read the full list of nominees for the Awards reported here by Scannain. 

The film was also very well received at two sold out screenings at the Irish Film Festa. Here I am enjoying the lovely reception they held after the event at the Villa Borghese in Rome. Incredible hospitality and such a beautiful city!

Nocturne Passage - More Festival News!

I am very excited to attend the 7th Edition of the Irish Film Festa in Rome later this month for a screening of NOCTURNE PASSAGE, which is one of 10 live action short films in competition at the festival.
www.irishfilmfesta.org/english/short-films-selection-2014/

The film will screen before the main feature at the Casa del Cinema, Rome at 6.20pm on Friday 28th March. I'm so delighted to be attending the festival alongside such guests as Kate O'Toole, Bob Quinn and Lelia Doolan to name but a few! www.irishfilmfesta.org/english/guests-7th-edition/

Casa Del Cinema, Rome

Here's a short interview with the Galway Advertiser I gave recently about the film, ahead of its Galway Premiere. www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/62208/amy-joyce-hastings-rising-galway-actress

Nocturne Passage - The Festival Journey Begins

I've never been much of a blogger so I've let a year lapse without comment (!) But what an exciting time it's been...

After a few months further post production, I submitted NOCTURNE PASSAGE to The 25th Galway Film Fleadh in July, and I was absolutely delighted to receive word it was selected to premiere there. I couldn't have asked for a better occasion, and the reception it got was so rewarding.

Here's a couple of cheeky pix from the festival...

Myself and Nocturne Passage's cinematographer Graham Cantwell, and (below) with composer Stefan French after the screening

The Shorts Programme

'Nocturne Passage' Suite

For months now I have been raving about the amazing score Stefan French Music has composed for NOCTURNE PASSAGE. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed the process of scoring a film, something I had never done before and I'm fully aware I was as lucky as can be to land this young composer for my short. 

He has put together a 4 minute Suite featuring some of the themes from the score.........have a listen, it's a thing of beauty!

http://soundcloud.com/stefanfrench/nocturne-passage-suite

NOCTURNE PASSAGE Teaser Trailer

Here's a very short teaser for 'Nocturne Passage' which we released on Halloween 2012 (the teaser that is, the film itself is 98% ready, just a couple more cues to be composed and a touch more sound design).

Anyway I was very excited to get this teaser cut together and hope you horror fans enjoy it, and share it round. F*ck Xmas, tis definitely the season for things which go bump in the night!

Written and directed by Amy-Joyce Hastings, the film stars Susan Loughnane (Love/Hate, Britain's Next Top Model) alongside Ciara Bailey (St. Dracula 3D, Food Guide to Love).