Lights, camera, action

Two Bridgetown film-makers have scooped second prize at Ireland’s Junior Young Filmmakers of the Year competition, organised as part of the Fresh Film Festival, Ireland’s major youth film festival.

Trinity and Eden Minehan were presented with their award by TG4 television presenter, Micheál Ó’Ciaraidh at Fresh Film Festival.

More than 40 short films, made by primary children from around Ireland, were screened at the festival in the Odeon Cinema in Limerick City.

From the spooky to the fantastical, animation to factual, the Minehan brothers faced off stiff competition to scoop first place with Oscar and the Gdoifs, a fun, high-energy film about a lost puppy.

Trinity, aged 11 years, and Eden, aged nine, have been entering Fresh Film Festival with their short films for the past three years. The brothers attend Bridgetown National School and got their whole school involved in this year’s film production.

Festival director, Jayne Foley said, over the past 20 years of the Fresh Film Festival, young Clare people have consistently submitted high-quality and visually beautiful films. “This year, we are once again impressed by the creativity and quality of these young film-makers,” she said.

Limerick-based Fresh Film Festival encourages young people to make films by hosting an annual international film festival for young people, presenting Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards Junior and Senior, acting as an advocate for young filmmakers and promoting their work worldwide.

Dan Danaher