Next BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forums

Submissions are now open for the next two BAFTA ROCLIFFE NEW WRITING FORUMS taking place at:

• 2010 Nottingham Screenlit Festival on 27 April, 2010
• BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, London on 5 May, 2010

The closing date for submissions is 5pm on 8 March, 2010 Entries should be sent to Alex Cook, BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LN.

Due to the increasing popularity of this event, it has become necessary to charge a small script submission fee (£5.00) to enable the organisers to handle the volume of scripts submitted. BAFTA and Rocliffe are non profit organisations and funds raised will be used towards securing the future of this event format.

Further information on the application process is available on the web site.

IWC Open Day

On the 5th of Decemember, from 12pm until 10pm, the Irish Writers' Centre is holding an open day to publicise its new line-up of courses for 2010. Course organisers and tutors will be on hand to answers any questions and offer advice.

The Writer in Residence, Catherine Morris, will give a presentation on Alice Milligan - poet, dramatist and key figure of the Irish literary revival. All of which will be followed by a table quiz and raffle, starting at 6.30pm. There will be drinks and nibbles and wonderful prizes. Tables of 4 cost €16.

Irish at BAFTA Rocliffe Forum

IFTN reports that next week the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forum will spotlight the science fiction feature film The Colony, written by Irish screenwriter Aisling Corristine, with a workshop co-chaired by fellow Irishwoman, director Farah Abushwesha.

It will be workshopped in front of an industry audience at BAFTA in London on Monday, November 30th at 7.30pm.

The Colony will be part of a workshop alongside two other pieces and all three will be performed in the Princess Anne Theatre by actors cast by Laura Dickens CDG, and each be accompanied by music composed for each extract by Air-Edel. The event is rounded off by an informal networking session in the BAFTA bar where attendees will meet with the featured writers, directors, actors and other industry members.

Ticket information is available on the BAFTA web site.

iad-T in the Park

On Saturday November 28th, IADT and the Dún Laoghaire Arts Office are launching iad-T in the Park, a series of literary happenings taking place once a month at the Tea Rooms in the People's Park, Dún Laoghaire.

Writers, readers and booklovers of all ages are invited to drop in and join Mia Gallagher, writer-in-residence at the IADT, for an exciting mix of literature, cakes and super-strength espresso. Tea-drinkers are also catered for!

Whether it's poetry that takes your fancy or crime fiction that keeps you turning those pages, iad-T in the Park offers you the chance to share your work in public, chat with other writers, meet some of Ireland’s brightest literary talents – or just talk about the books you love reading.

The events are free of charge, open to all and will run from midday to 4pm.

A full list of all the events is available on the web site.

GTF Invites Scripts

The Galway Theatre Festival invites submissions of scripts for a series of rehearsed readings.

Plays should be previously unproduced, and not exceed 90 minutes. One Act plays are not accepted.

Successful scripts will be performed as rehearsed readings during the Galway Theatre Festival, a new venture by the Galway Arts Centre, which runs from October 22 - 25 at the Nuns Island Studio.

Please include a brief outline of writing and theatre experience along with the submission.

The deadline for scripts is September 17th 2009.

Send electronic copies to: galwaytheatrefestival@gmail.com, and hard copies should be labelled 'Galway Theatre Festival Script' and posted to Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominic St, Galway.

The Writing Room in Clonmel

Mia Gallagher is running The Writing Room, an event-based writing space, as part of the Junction Festival in Clonmel, starting Friday 3rd July and running until Sunday 12th. The venue is Angela's Café on Abbey Street.

In addition to dedicated Quiet Time for reading and writing every day, there'll be a space (Talking Shop) for people to gather and talk about writing-related subjects.

Some of the events lined up for The Writing Room include:

• Advice from screenwriter Mark Wale on 2pm, Tuesday 7th
• Playwright and stand-up Michelle Read will run an introductory workshop on playwriting at 2pm Friday 10th
• Open Mic evening on Friday 10th

There is more information about the entire list of events on the web site.

CBI Conference

Those writing for children should mark on their calendars the annual conference by Children's Books Ireland, which takes place from 16-17 May in the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin.

Tackling the pertinent theme of Challenge and Change in Children’s Books, this year’s speakers will bring a huge wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, promising an exciting weekend of discussion and debate.

On the home front, Ireland is well represented by the talents of Celine Kiernan (The Poison Throne), Andrew Whitson and Caitríona Hastings (An tSnáthaid Mhór), Orla Kenny & Mary Branley (Kids' Own) and Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl, Airman), who will close proceedings on Sunday in conversation with Robert Dunbar.

From the UK, CBI is delighted to welcome illustration expert Martin Salisbury (Play Pen), award-winning authors Patrick Ness (The Knife of Never Letting Go) and David Almond (Skellig, Jackdaw Summer), as well as writer and publisher Verna Wilkins (Tamarind Books), who will present this year’s Ibby Ireland session.

Making perhaps the longest commute ever in the history of CBI conference speakers will be the celebrated Australian author and illustrator Shaun Tan (The Arrival, Tales from Outer Suburbia) who makes his first visit to Ireland especially for the conference.

Dublin Writers Festival '09

The Dublin Writers Festival (June 2 - 7) has announced its programme, and its theme: the 'power of the word'.

Highlights of the 2009 Festival are:

A special live appearance by Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney who will be rounding off his 70th birthday celebrations - and the 80th birthday of publishing house Faber and Faber - by reading a personal selection of his poetry in the National Concert Hall.

Exclusive Irish visit by writer and broadcaster Simon Schama CBE who will be talking about his newest book based on his BBC series, The American Future, A History.

First-time visits to the Festival by Tipping the Velvet author Sarah Waters, and Fugitive Pieces author and Orange Prize winner, Canadian Anne Michaels.

Readings from first-time Irish novelists: music journalist Peter Murphy, former Investment banker Aifric Campbell and war correspondent Ed O'Loughlin.

A focus on crime writing and the murder mystery novel with readings from Suspicions of Mr Whicher author Kate Summerscale and one of the world's best selling crime writers Val McDermid.

A traditional Irish music performance to the poetry of Dermot Bolger - The Frost is All Over; poetry with Paula Meehan and Leanne O'Sullivan and an exploration of the term 'women's writing' with readings and discussion from writers Claire Kilroy, Julia O'Faolain and Christine Dwyer Hickey.

Also in the six-day festival will be readings from: Irish literary phenomenon Brendan Kennelly; humourist and Guardian critic Joe Queenan; genre-defying Geoff Dyer; My Left Foot co-writer Shane Connaughton; former lawyer MJ Hyland; Snow Geese author and relative of Ralph and Joseph, William Fiennes; Booker prize nominee and IMPAC award winner Colm Tóibín; and scriptwriter Steve Toltz.

Creative Writing Exhibition

The Temple Bar Cultural Trust has announced that the all new Creative Writing Exhibition will take place at the No Grants Gallery from May 1st - 15th at the Temple Bar Cultural Information Centre, 12 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.

This celebration, including all forms of writing such as poetry and lyrics, will showcase a range of works from both established and up-coming writers.

Each piece of work will be framed and on exhibition at our recession busting No Grants Gallery right here in Temple Bar, Dublin's Cultural Quarter! Writers will illustrate their writing with imagery guides which will accompany their work.

Lunchtime readings will also take place throughout the 2 weeks so log on to www.templebar.ie for more details soon. The exhibition will officially launch on Tuesday May 5th with an open-mic evening from 6 - 8pm offering everyone an opportunity to discuss the written word.

Speaking about the new Creative Writing Exhibition, Gallery curator Carol Eakins said "This exhibition is a celebration of verbal, visual and performance art and an opportunity to show the written word combined with an artistic eye and the spoken tongue to bring all creative writing to life. As a curator, artist and poet myself the creative writing exhibition is an opportunity for writers both professional and amateur to exhibit their work in an environment that shares their passion and enthusiasm for the arts."

April is Vampire Month

This year Dublin City Council has chosen to celebrate Bram Stoker's novel Dracula for its annual One City One Book festival.

There will be a variety of events going on in Dublin city for the month of April, and there is a good overview of them in The Irish Times.

Of particular interest to our members will be an outdoor screening on Sunday April 5th at 8.30pm of Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 film Bram Stoker's Dracula in Meeting House Square. The screening is free and not ticketed, but a coat and scarf are recommended.

On the weekend of 17-19 of April the IFI is hosting Bram Stoker's Dracula on Screen, which includes screenings of several adaptations of the novel, as well as a panel discussion, and a talk by Kim Newman on "Dracula as a Screen Character".

More Book Events

Today is World Book Day, an annual event promoting the enjoyment of books and reading. There are events and talks going on in libraries all over the country today.

Tomorrow sees the start of the Ennis Book Festival (March 6-8 2009).

The three-day programme of events, in association with Clare County Library includes John Boyne, author of "The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas"; Salley Vickers, best selling British novelist and author of "Miss Garnet’s Angel"; John Breen, author of "Alone It Stands"; Jennifer Johnston, Booker Prize nominated writer; Allan Guthrie, Scottish crime novelist; Mark O'Halloran, award winning writer and actor; journalist and broadcaster Kevin Myers and many more. The festival will be launched on Friday the 6th of March by novelist John Connolly and there will be a GIANT BOOK CLUB meeting to discuss his novel "The Book of Lost Things".

Dublin Book Festival 09

Organised by CLÉ - Irish Book Publishers' Association - the Dublin Book Festival will take place from Friday 6th - Sunday 8th March 2009 in Dublin's City Hall, Dame Street, Dublin 2.

There will be a variety of readings, forums, discussions, workshops, and seminars (in English and Irish) taking place during the weekend.

Library Week 2009

Library Ireland Week is running from 2-8 March 2009 in libraries throughout the country.

Check out your local library for a list of events that are taking place.

Belfast Book Festival

The first Belfast Book Festival (February 24 - March 1 2009) has announced its programme, which will include over 30 events at venues across the city, including the Linen Hall and Central libraries, and will be opened by Booker Prize winner John Banville.

The festival will feature readings, talks, open mics, discussions, films, and workshops on a variety of topics and themes about creative writing.

Belfast Book Festival director David Lewis said: 'The Belfast Book Festival is for everyone who reads and enjoys books, and we are delighted with the roll call of writers and artists who are set to feature in this, our inaugural year.

'We want to destroy any stuffy stereotypes. That's why Hot Press writer Peter Murphy, former NME editor Stuart Bailie and Ulster music legend Terri Hooley will be reading rock writing at the Oh Yeah Centre. And any budding poets out there will be given a rare opportunity to attend a masterclass with Claire KilroyCiaran Carson, director of the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry.'

Other unusual events include bilingual workshops for children in Irish and Ulster Scots with writer and illustrator Stephen Hall, a debate on historical fiction, a Dead Poets' Society with recordings of writers from beyond the grave and a tour of Bairds printers in Antrim.

Libraries and arts organisations across Northern Ireland, including the Linen Hall Library, CultureNorthernIreland.org, the Verbal Arts Centre and the Belfast Education and Library Board, have joined forces to create the new festival.

'By working together we can have a major impact next year and in the years to come,' Lewis added. 'The Belfast Book Festival will reflect Belfast's growing international reputation in the field of literature and our exuberant contemporary writing scene.'

Writers For Peace

On Tuesday the 20th of January, in St Anne's Church, Dawson St., Dublin 2, from 6.30pm - 8.30pm Poetry Ireland in association with Trócaire and Amnesty International have organised a public reading by some of Ireland's best writers in response to the situation in Gaza.

Each writer will read for 5 minutes at this non-partisan event, and confirmed readers include:

Anne Enright, Colm Toibin, Susan McKay, Hugo Hamilton, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, Evelyn Conlon, Lia Mills, Ronit Lentin, John F. Deane, Macdara Woods, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Peter Sirr, and Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill