IFB Awards

Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) has announced the latest teams selected for the third round of Signatures and Reality Bites projects.

Signatures is a short film scheme for the making of live-action fiction films that act as a proving-ground for Irish creative talents. It is an opportunity for producers, directors and writers to work in a professional environment that will allow them to further their experience.

We received 108 applications and following a very competitive selection process the following five teams of filmmakers have been awarded funding for their project.

• "Pentecost", to be written and directed by Peter McDonald and produced by Eimear O'Kane for EMU Productions.
• "This Is A Test", to be written by Eoin Rogers, directed by Ruairí Robinson and produced by Nick Ryan for Image Now Films.
• "The Christening", to be written and directed by Oonagh Kearney and produced by Rachel Lysaght for Underground Films.
• "Shoe", to be written and directed by Nick Kelly and produced by Seamus Byrne for Zanita Films.
• "Crossing Salween", to be written and directed by Brian O'Malley and produced by Gary Moore.

The Reality Bites scheme aims to encourage experimentation and a fresh approach to short non-fiction filmmaking, focusing on the use of the documentary form.

Over 40 applications were submitted for this scheme and the successful four projects are as follows.

• "Collaboration Horizontale", to be written and directed by Ciaran Cassidy and produced by Morgan Bushe for Fastnet Films.
• "Blue Rinse", to be written and directed by Matt Leigh and produced by Nodlag Houlihan.
• "Needle Exchange", to be written and directed by Colm Quinn and produced by Andrew Freedman for Venom Films.
• "How Can I Play With What I Cannot Hear?", to be written and directed by Hilary Fennell and produced by Martha O'Neill.

The Signatures and Reality Bites shorts will be premiere at the Cork Film Festival.