Inaugural Ennistymon film festival issues callout for short film submissions

An exciting new festival in north Clare aims to celebrate local and national talent, foster creative expression, and bring the community together through the art of film.

This summer will see the launch of Ennistymon’s inaugural community film festival, A Pot of Films Festival, set to take place on Saturday August 24.

The A Pot of Films Festival will feature a diverse range of workshops during the day followed by an evening of short films spanning various genres, culminating with the screening of award winning feature film and director’s Q&A.

After 2023’s successful film screening event which took place in Pot Duggans, event organisers Aoibheann Boyle and Jo Barker saw the great appetite for films and filmmaking in the local area.

The evening saw films by local filmmakers screened alongside a teaser to a local feature film. The evening finished with music from local musicians who had appeared in one of the short films leaving a palpable interest from the audience for
more events in the area.

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“There are a myriad of talented filmmakers in the area of North Clare”, filmmaker and co-founder of both Black Bark Films and A Pot of Films Festival Jo Barker said.

"We would like to nurture this talent and inspire a new generation of filmmakers while also creating a space for
people within the industry to connect.”

“The Burren and North Clare has always been regarded as a hub for creativity with its stunning landscape rich in heritage and history”, added Aoibheann.

"it feels right to further ignite the creativity of the local community and have a festival they can all come together for”.

Call for Entries 

There is currently an open callout for submissions for short films to be featured in the festival which is free to enter. Filmmakers of all experience levels are encouraged to participate.

This is a fantastic opportunity to have your work seen by a broad audience, including industry professionals, fellow filmmakers, and cinema enthusiasts.

Submission Guidelines:
● Film Length: Maximum of 30 minutes, including credits
● File Compression: H.264
● Eligibility:
○ Must have at least one Irish core team member (writer, producer, director or
cinematographer)
○ Can be of any genre
○ Foreign language films must have English subtitles

● Format: Digital submissions only. Accepted formats include MP4 and MOV.
● Deadline: All submissions must be received by July 15, 2024.

Selected films will be evaluated by a panel of judges and will be announced in July. The closing date for submissions has been extended from the 1st July to the 15th of July. Submissions can be made to apotoffilmsfestival@gmail.com

A Pot Films Festival is dedicated to promoting the art of filmmaking and providing a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work.

"Our mission is to support and celebrate the creative spirit of our community through film, fostering an environment of collaboration, inspiration, and cultural enrichment," the statement from Jo and Aoibheann continued.

"We want to bring communities together to watch, discuss and feel inspired by their local storytelling talent. Join us this August for a weekend of outstanding films, engaging discussions, and community celebration!"