My feature documentary about the one and only Aindrias de Staic imaginatively titled ‘Shtax’ is to be screened next week in London as part of a special showcase of Irish talent at the shortwave cinema close to Tower Bridge. It is being run in conjunction with the quite wonderful Underground Cinema.
Setup in 2009 Underground Cinema is the brainchild of Dave Byrne and has the aim of promoting emerging talent in the Irish Film Industry through screenings and get together. Since its inception it has proved to be a wonderful resource especially for short film makers, offering them both a platform to screen their films and a forum for film makers of all levels to get together and talk about their work and of course to network. They have screened well over 100 short films in under 18 months and even had a gala awards night handing out gongs and indeed recognition to films that otherwise might have slipped off the radar (one of the award winners that night was Henry & Sunny directed by my mate Fergal Rock find out more about it here).
I met Dave at one of UC Screenings, I was there to see Maureen O’Connell’s short ‘Girls’ and I told Dave about Shtax and he told me to send it into him. He liked the film and I was thrilled when he said he would screen it in London on St. Patrick’s Day, which I think is very apt as so much of the film is about the Irish abroad.
There is a full line of short films playing before ‘Shtax’ including Mick Lally’s final performance in Kevin Glynn’s ‘Cairdeas’ and Domhnaill Gleeson’s short ‘Noreen’. you can see the full line-up here
I am really looking forward to this screening, now is anyone interested in coming to London next week?
John Murphy 