Clones Film Festival
The Clones Film Festival is a film festival in Clones, Ireland. It was launched in 2001 and is steadily growing to be the biggest event of its type in the area. Organised by Lmb Entertainments, the festival was artistically directed by Larry and Gilly Fogg in 2001. Since then, the festival has been artistically directed by Thomas Zechner and Harry Cleary.
2008's festival wartistically directed by James Sheerin, Stephen Mc Kenna and Thomas Zechner.
One of the features of the Clones Film Festival is the Scanbitz Short Film Challenge. Filmmakers get the chance to script, prep, scout locations, cast, rehearse, film, edit and present a finished short film in just three days. The winning entry receives a coveted Francie Award.
The Francies 2007
The Francie Awards were first presented in 2007, when 5 films were screened to an audience of over 200 people. The Gulpins film crew walked away with the Audience Award for their film Moonman (a space romp). The jury of Kevin Allen, Colin McKeown, Vinny Cunningham (a late replacement for Alan Moloney, who had to return to base due to a family illness), Fergal McGrath, Thomas Zechner and Harry Cleary had earlier had the task of picking the first ever Francie winners. They also went with the audience and bestowed the crystal on The Gulpins, headed up by Orla Cullinane, Grainne Cullinane and James McKee.
Little Warrior Films, led by Martin Maguire and Thomas Seoige, were a close second with Senex, a 90 second treatment of the poem by John Betjeman.
Jackie Jarvis submitted a poignant tribute to her grandmother and grandfather called Pat McCaul which resonated all evening thoroughout the hall packed full with press, filmmakers and film buffs and interested locals.
Mary Keane's dance piece About Us Lies Heaven based on Eugene McCabe's writings.
Ciaran Deeney's June, a powerful and haunting Dogme style production, completed the evening's viewing.