Once-Off Award 09

The Arts Council Once-off Project Award is looking for applicants from the following categories:

• Architecture
• Arts participation
• Dance
• Film
• Music
• Visual arts

The focus of the award is on audiences and engagement.

The primary purpose of this award is to support ambitious, high-quality, stand-alone initiatives that specifically deliver a presentation to or an engagement with an audience or public. The award prioritises projects which have the potential to reach new audiences or participants, or which create new opportunities or contexts for engaging with one of the relevant artforms.

Applications can only be accepted for once-off initiatives. This means projects must be clearly distinguished from any other ongoing programmes; they must also be self-contained and finite in nature.

Information on how to apply is on the website and the deadline for submissions is 12 February 2009.

Writers Guild Awards 09

The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) announced the winners of the 2009 Writers Guild Awards last weekend:

Film

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Milk, Written by Dustin Lance Black, Focus Features

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Slumdog Millionaire, Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy, Based on the Novel Q & A by Vikas Swarup, Fox Searchlight Pictures

DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY

Waltz with Bashir, Written by Ari Folman, Sony Pictures Classic

Television

DRAMATIC SERIES

Mad Men, Written by Lisa Albert, Jane Anderson, Rick Cleveland, Kater Gordon, David Isaacs, Andre Jacquemetton, Maria Jacquemetton, Marti Noxon, Robin Veith, Matthew Weiner; AMC

COMEDY SERIES

30 Rock, Written by Jack Burditt, Kay Cannon, Robert Carlock, Tina Fey, Donald Glover, Andrew Guest, Matt Hubbard, Jon Pollack, John Riggi, Tami Sagher, Ron Weiner; NBC

NEW SERIES

In Treatment, Written by Rodrigo Garcia, Bryan Goluboff, Davey Holmes, William Merritt Johnson, Amy Lippman, Sarah Treem; HBO

EPISODIC DRAMA – any length – one airing time

"Pilot" (Breaking Bad), Written by Vince Gilligan; AMC

EPISODIC COMEDY – any length – one airing time

"Succession" (30 Rock), Written by Andrew Guest & John Riggi; NBC

LONG FORM – ORIGINAL – over one hour – one or two parts, one or two airing times

Recount, Written by Danny Strong; HBO

LONG FORM – ADAPTATION – over one hour – one or two parts, one or two airing times

John Adams, "Episode 1, Join or Die," Teleplay by Kirk Ellis, Based on the book by David McCullough; "Episode 2, Independence," Teleplay by Kirk Ellis, Based on the book by David McCullough; HBO

ANIMATION – any length – one airing time

"Apocalypse Cow" (The Simpsons), Written by Jeff Westbrook; Fox

COMEDY/VARIETY – (INCLUDING TALK) SERIES

Saturday Night Live, Head Writers Seth Meyers, Andrew Steele, Paula Pell, Writers Doug Abeles, James Anderson, Alex Baze, Jessica Conrad, James Downey, Charlie Grandy, Steve Higgins, Colin Jost, Erik Kenward, Rob Klein, John Lutz, Seth Meyers, Lorne Michaels, John Mulaney, Paula Pell, Simon Rich, Marika Sawyer, Akiva Schaffer, Robert Smigel, John Solomon, Emily Spivey, Andrew Steele, Kent Sublette, Jorma Taccone, Bryan Tucker, Additional Sketches by Robert Carlock; NBC

COMEDY/VARIETY – MUSIC, AWARDS, TRIBUTES – SPECIALS

2008 Film Independent Spirit Awards, Written by Billy Kimball, Aaron Lee, Jennifer Celotta, Rainn Wilson; IFC/AMC

DAYTIME SERIALS

As the World Turns, Written by Jean Passanante, Leah Laiman, Courtney Simon, Lisa Connor, David A. Levinson, Peter Brash, Richard Culliton, Susan Dansby, Cheryl Davis, Leslie Nipkow; CBS

CHILDREN'S EPISODIC & SPECIALS

"Elmo's Christmas Countdown" (Sesame Workshop), Written by Joey Mazzarino; ABC

CHILDREN’S SCRIPT – LONG FORM OR SPECIAL

"Polar Bears" (The Naked Brothers Band), Written by Polly Draper; Nickelodeon

DOCUMENTARY – CURRENT EVENTS

"Bush's War: Part One" (Frontline), Written by Michael Kirk; PBS

DOCUMENTARY – OTHER THAN CURRENT EVENTS

"Secrets of the Parthenon" (NOVA), Written by Gary Glassman; PBS

NEWS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BULLETIN, OR BREAKING REPORT

ABC Weekend News, Written by Joel Siegel, Karen Mooney, David Muir; ABC

NEWS – ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY

"Yankee Stadium and the New Gilded Age" (Bill Moyers Journal), Writers Bill Moyers & Michael Winship; PBS

Radio

DOCUMENTARY

Black History Month, Written by Anthony J. McHugh; CBS

NEWS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED OR BREAKING

World News This Week, Written by Marianne J. Pryor; ABC

NEWS – ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY

Tributes, Written by Gail Lee; CBS

Promotional Writing

ON-AIR PROMOTION (RADIO OR TELEVISION)

Jericho: Two-Minute Drills, Written by Eric Jacobson; CBS

TELEVISION GRAPHIC ANIMATION

"Medical Animations" (CBS Evening News), David Rosen; CBS

Videogame

VIDEOGAME WRITING

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Writers Haden Blackman, Shawn Pitman, John Stafford and Cameron Suey, LucasArts

New Joint Initiative

Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board has reported on a Danish-Irish-Scottish initiative to develop eight new films.

Scotland's Sigma Films, Denmark's Zentropa and Ireland's Subotica Entertainment are forming a partnership under the banner of Advance Party II to develop eight new films from some of the most exciting filmmaking talent emerging from the UK and Ireland.

The writer/directors taking part in Advance Party II which is backed by Scottish Screen, the Irish Film Board, Zentropa and the UK Film Council's Development Fund are Paul Wright, Enda Hughes (Northern Ireland), Rory Bresnihan, Ciaran Foy (Ireland) Steph Green (Ireland/ U.S.A) Adrian McDowall (Scotland), Esther May Campbell and Daniel Mulloy (England).

Tristan Orpen Lynch, Producer, Subotica Entertanment said 'There is a highly creative, dynamic and diverse mix of talent on board this ground breaking project and it is the only first time director scheme of its kind in the world'.

Gillian Berrie of Sigma Films says, "The combination of these talented filmmakers and the intriguing and challenging constraints of the Advance Party project is creating an environment for eight memorable and ground-breaking debut features."

Advance Party II (APII) builds on the success of Andrea Arnold's RED ROAD, and Morag McKinnon's forthcoming DONKEYS, which were produced under the innovative conditions of Advance Party I. Taking a lead from the competitive, creative community of the Dogme movement (which spawned films such as FESTEN and THE IDIOTS), Advance Party I imposed new rules on its filmmakers. These primarily concerned the use of a pool of pre-determined characters, which had to be played by the same actors in all the films.

A new set of rules are central to the structure of APII, and will be given to the filmmakers in a workshop at the Berlin Film Festival on 7 February. The rules will reflect the creative challenges of Advance Party I and Dogme, but will also incorporate the filmmakers' tastes and wishes, tailored to both their strengths and their weaknesses.

Zentropa's Peter Aalbaek says, "We are very interested in the establishing collaboration between Ireland, Scotland and Scandinavia because we feel there is a mental solidarity between these countries. Advance Party is a great step in that direction"

The filmmakers will take part in a week-long series of workshops during the festival focussing on creating the 'Advance Party community' and the business elements of filmmaking. They will be working with visiting directors, writers and actors as well as lawyers, sales agents, distributors and development gurus, with the aim of arming the eight filmmakers with as much information and inspiration as possible.

The selected filmmakers have a wealth of experience in making distinctive and successful short films and between them have won more than 100 awards, and two are nominated for Oscar® and BAFTA awards.

BAFTA 09

The Winners of the British Academy Film Awards in 2009 were announced last night, and a full list of all the winners is available from the web site.

The two pertinent categories for our members:

Best Original Screenplay:
In Bruges – Martin McDonagh

The other nominees:
Burn After Reading – Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Changeling – Joe Michael Straczynski
I've Loved You So Long – Philippe Claudel
Milk – Dustin Lance Black

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Slumdog Millionaire – Simon Beaufoy; based on the novel by Vikas Swarup

The other nominees:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Eric Roth; based on the short story by F Scott Fitzgerald
Frost/Nixon – Peter Morgan; based on the play by Peter Morgan
The Reader – David Hare; based on the novel by Bernhard Schlink
Revolutionary Road – Justin Haythe; based on the novel by Richard Yates

Shakespeare 13

The Guardian reports that the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has established a Shakespeare Hall of Fame, to celebrate Shakespeare's status as one of the world's most read and performed authors.

Those honoured in the Hall of Fame are performers, directors and artists inspired by the playwright, and those who championed his work.

The first twelve members have been chosen:

• Ben Jonson
• David Garrick
• Charles Dickens
• Ellen Terry
• Laurence Olivier
• Judi Dench
• Kenneth Branagh
• Patrick Stewart
• Leonardo DiCaprio
• Akira Kurosawa
• Sam Wanamaker
• Paul Robeson

In a special poll Guardian readers are being asked to vote, from a selection of ten candidates, for the thirteenth member of the Hall of Fame (the number of actors traditionally required for a Shakespearean production).

Go, and pick your player.

Wexford Awards 09

Wexford County Council's Arts Department is accepting applications from artists resident in County Wexford for the 2009 Artist Bursary Award Scheme.

Six Artform Awards, valued at €5,000 each, are available in for the following disciplines: Dance, Music, Visual Arts, Literature, Drama & Theatre studies, Film.

Wexford City Council is also offering two Education / Training Awards valued at €5,000 each open to artists practicing in any artform.

The deadline for submissions is 5 pm, Thursday, 26th February, 2009.

Niko Gets Stars

The Finish Film Foundation reports on the winners of the Finnish Oscars, known as the Jussi Awards.

The Best Script Award went to Hannu Tuomainen & Marteinn Thorisson for the children's animated feature Niko & The Way to the Stars. It also won the prestigious Best Film Award. The film was co-directed by Michael Hegner and Kari Juusonen, and co-produced by Magma Films in Galway and Anima Vitae in Finland.

Screenwriter Marteinn has been living and working in Galway for 12 years.

Windsor Fringe 09

The BBC Writersroom reports that the The Windsor Fringe Marriott Drama Writing Award is now open for entries: unpublished one-act plays under thirty minutes in length from amateur playwrights.

Three winning scripts will be selected for performance in October during the 2009 Windsor Fringe Festival, and the overall winner will receive a £500 cash prize.

The deadline for submissions is 5th March 2009, and information on how to apply is on the web site.

Olivier Short-List 09

The Guardian reports on the nominations for this year's Laurence Olivier Awards for theatrical achievement in London.

A full list of the nominees is on the web site, but here are categories of particular interest to our membership:

Best new play

• August: Osage County by Tracy Letts at the Lyttelton
• Black Watch by Gregory Burke at the Barbican
• The Pitmen Painters by Lee Hall at the Cottesloe
• That Face by Polly Stenham at the Duke Of York's

Best new comedy

• Fat Pig by Neil LaBute at the Comedy
• The Female of the Species by Joanna Murray-Smith at the Vaudeville
• God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton, at the Gielgud

Best new musical

• Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe at the Prince Edward
• Zorro, book and lyrics by Stephen Clark, music by The Gipsy Kings, original story by Stephen Clark and Helen Edmundson, music co-composed and adapted by John Cameron at the Garrick

Ireland & Hungary Deal

Screen Daily reports that representatives of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board and the Hungarian Motion Picture Public Foundation will sign a co-production agreement in Berlin on Sunday, February 8, which is designed to foster co-productions between the two territories.

Hungarian Film Commissioner Erszebet Toth announced the agreement February 2 at Hungarian Film Week in Budapest.

Toth emphasized that the reciprocity is in terms of proportion of the budget, not absolute dollar amounts.

For example, a co-production in which 80% of the budget comes from the Irish side would be answered by a co-production in which 80% of the budget comes from the Hungarian side.

The agreement further stipulates that not more than 30% of the budget of such co-productions can come from third parties.

Script Analysis in Galway

The Galway Film Centre is offering a Script Reading and Analysis Course taught by Paula Mulroe, former head of development at the Film Board and senior script editor on The Clinic.

This course is aimed at interested graduates or practitioners in the industry who want to learn how scripts are evaluated professionally by funding organisations and production companies. It will help to give participants a strong insight into why certain scripts are chosen for funding over others. It could also act as a building block towards becoming a script editor.

The course takes place over 4 sessions (4 Saturdays), with the aim of each session being to provide the participants with sufficient knowledge to be able to write reports and analyse screenplays for professional organisations and companies.

In each session, participants will learn about a particular area for analysis by reading scripts and also watching individual films. Each week, they will be asked to write a report on a script taking on board the professional criteria outlined above and will be given feedback on their reports.

The course will take place at the Galway Film Centre on each Saturday from February 28th - March 28th (no class St Patrick's Weekend). Places are limited so early booking is advised. For details on how to apply visit the web site.

Fighting Words

A wonderful new writing centre, called Fighting Words, has been established by Roddy Doyle and Sean Love to help students of all ages develop their writing skills and explore their love of writing.

It was inspired by 826 Valencia in San Francisco, and is located on Behan Square, Russell Street, Dublin 1, close to Croke Park.

The centre provides story-telling field trips for primary school groups, creative writing workshops for secondary students, and seminars, workshops and tutoring for adults. All tutoring is free.

A number of evening courses will be launched soon, including: "Writing out of your skin" taught by Colum McCann, Introduction to writing fiction taught by Roddy Doyle, Memoir writing taught by Lia Mills, and Filmscript writing taught by Gerard Stembridge.

Fighting Words is also looking for volunteers with skills that involve teaching, writing, and/or language, as well as people who are familiar with software and design.

If you are interested in any of the courses or volunteering, please visit the web site.

GFC Awards 09

The Galway Film Centre Short Script Awards are open to emerging filmmakers with original scripts under 15 minutes that display a strong cinematic vision and a fresh Irish perspective.

Three awards will be allocated from a total production fund of €28,500, which includes use of the facilities at the Galway Film Centre.

The 2009 deadline is 5pm Friday 27th February. Applicants must be members, and information on entry forms is available on the web site.

Listowel Competition 2009

The Listowel Writers' Week (May 27 - May 31) has announced the details of its array of writing competitions, all of which have a deadline of 27 February 2009.

Of particular interest to our members is:

The Eamon Keane Full Length Play
Plays submitted should be for stage presentation only and should not have previously been staged. One act plays are not eligible. Plays can be submitted only once for this competition. The entry fee is €20. The Prize is €1,000, and the adjudicator is Christian O'Reilly.

Details on how are apply are available on the web site.

Busy Awards Weekend

There were a slew of other awards were handed out over the weekend:

The regional 2008 British film critics' awards, called the Richard Attenborough Film Awards, were announced, and the Best Screenwriter went to Irishman Martin McDonagh for In Bruges, along with four wins - including Best Film and Best Director - to Slumdog Millionaire.

The 2008 Directors Guild of America Outstanding Directorial Achievement Awards were awarded in numerous categories for film and television, including Best Feature Film, which went to Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire.

The 36th Annual Annie Award (2008), which recognises superior achievement in film and television animation, were also announced. Some of the winners included Kung Fu Panda for Best Feature, and Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death for Best Short.

2009 Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Goya Awards were handed out last night. Best Original Screenplay went to Javier Fesser for the feature film, Camino, and Best Adapted Screenplay was won by Rafael Azcona and José Luis Cuerda for Los Girasoles Ciegos, which was adapted from the novel by Alberto Méndez.

The BBC Four World Cinema Awards 2009 were handed out. The winner of Best Film was 4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2 Days, written and directed by Cristian Mungiu. The inaugural World Cinema Achievement Award was given to German writer/director/producer Werner Herzog.

Irish Wins at British Awards

The 2009 Evening Standard British Film Award winners were announced last night.

Irish writer Martin McDonagh, beat fellow Irishman Mark O' Halloran (Garage) and Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon), to cinch the Best Screenplay Award for his film In Bruges.

Irish actor Pat Shortt (Garage) tied with Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon) for the Best Actor category.

Best Film went to Hunger, directed by Steve McQueen, and co-written by Steve McQueen and Irish screenwriter Enda Walsh.

A full list of the award winners is available on the web site.

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.'

Playwright Loses Court Battle

The Stage reports that a case taken by Irish playwright Gerard Mannix Flynn against the Dublin Theatre Festival, alleging breach of contract, was dismissed by Judge Jacqueline Linnane in the Irish Circuit Civil Court.

Flynn was suing for €38,000 in damages, claiming the Dublin Theatre Festival reneged on an agreement to include one of his productions in its 50th anniversary programme in 2007. Judge Linnane awarded costs against Mr Flynn, and said she was satisfied he had failed to prove the existence of the verbal contract he claimed to have made.

Flynn said later he will appeal the decision to the Irish High Court.

NI Screen Skills

Northern Ireland Screen (NIS) is open for applications for its 30-week Screen Skills development programme, which begins in March 2009.

It's a paid placement scheme (minimum wage), and participants will gain experience on NIS funded projects as well as within independent television production companies.

Participants will be mentored by former Northern Ireland Screen trainees who are now established freelance crew members working in the UK film and television sector. They will also be given an individual Training Needs Analysis and attend short courses run by Skillset accredited organisations.

The programme will provide training opportunities for 6 junior freelancers who have had at least one year’s experience at runner level.

Only legal resident of the UK can apply. The deadline for receipt of entries is Friday 20 February 2009, and application forms can be downloaded from the web site.

JDIFF 09 Lineup

The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival announced its programme for this year's festival, and tickets are now on sale via their web site and box office. The festival will open with Oscar-nominated 'Doubt' as well as a variety of Irish features including 'Dorothy Mills', 'The Daisy Chain', and the recent winner at Sundance: 'Five Minutes of Heaven'.

Other big international films to screen include the Cannes-winning 'The Class' as part of the French Gala Event, the Swedish 'Everlasting Moments', 'Two Lovers' starring Gwyneth Palthrow and Joaquin Phoenix, and the film adaptation of the best selling book 'Marley and Me'.

Other Irish films will also feature including the IFTA-nominated psychological thriller 'Dorothy', the teenage drama 'Cherrybomb', Ivan Kavanagh's 'Our Wonderful Home', 'Eamon' by Margaret Corkery, and the Desperate Optimists-produced feature 'Helen'.

Director John Crowley will have two of his latest films screen - 'Is There Anybody There?' starring Michael Caine and the BAFTA-winning 'Boy A', There will also be a 50th Anniversary screening of documentary maker George Morrison's 'Mise Éire'.

Irish feature documentaries to screen include 'Stone Pastures', 'A Song for Dad' and 'Liam Clancy Live at the Bitter End'. There will be a range of Irish short films from the Short Cuts, Frameworks, Lasair, and Oscailt schemes on showcase also.

The premiere of Cartoon Saloon's animated feature 'The Secret of Kells' will close the festival on Sunday 22nd February.

Other events include the inaugural Jameson Film Experience, which is themed around graphic novels: British actor Clive Owen (Sin City) will be interviewed onstage by Mark Dinning, Editor of Empire magazine.

There will also be the Creative Cinema Panel Discussion, and a public discussion with screenwriter / journalist / novelist Frederic Raphael.

Storyland 10

RTÉ has announced the ten finalists of its Storyland project:

Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
By Thomas Martin & Steven Byrne
Screenworks

Morbid & Sons
By Patrick Kavanagh, idea Nicholas Kavanagh
Moocow productions

Hardy Bucks
By Martin Maloney & Chris Tordoff
Hardy Productions

Happy Slapper
By Gary Duggan
Screenworks

Sullybags
By Patrick O'Driscoll
Vico Pictures & Sound Ltd

Chez Spuds
By Pat McCabe & Johnny Ferguson
Igloo Films

Psych Ward
By Luke & Sam McManus
Blinder Films

What Does Joe Know?
By Eoin Rogers
FastNet Films

Rental Boys
By Gemma Creagh
Mixed Bag Media

Running Low
By Diarmuid O'Brien
Happy Endings Productions

The competition kicks off on Friday 13th March when all 10 episodes will be online, and up for a vote. Voting closes on Friday 27th March, and only nine projects will go forward to make the next episode.

Critics' Circle Awards: Theatre

The Stage announces the winners of this year’s Critics' Circle Awards:

• Best New Play - August: Osage County by Tracy Letts (National Theatre presentation of the Steppenwolf Company).
• The Peter Hepple Award for Best Musical - La Cage aux Folles (Menier Chocolate Factory and West End).
• Best Actor - Kenneth Branagh in Ivanov (Donmar West End).
• Best Actress - Margaret Tyzack in The Chalk Garden (Donmar).
• The John and Wendy Trewin Award for Best Shakespearean Performance, awarded jointly to - Derek Jacobi in Twelfth Night (Donmar West End) and David Tennant in Hamlet (RSC).
• Best Director - Michael Grandage for Ivanov and The Chalk Garden (Donmar West End and Donmar).
• Best Designer - Neil Murray for Brief Encounter (West End).
• Most Promising Playwright - Alexi Kaye Campbell for The Pride (Royal Court).
• The Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Ella Smith in Fat Pig (Trafalgar Studios and West End).

Low Budget Short-List

Last week Northern Ireland Screen announced the five projects picked for this year's Northern Ireland Screen Low Budget Fiction Fund:

• Honeymoon Hangover – by Cecilia McAllister
• The George Best Reunion Tour – by Tom Jonstone
• Wee Buns – by Christine Murphy
• Keeping Mum – by Deirdre Alexander
• Outpost Alaska – by Scott Martin

By April one script will be selected to go into production, with a view to completing principal photography by the end of 2009.

This is the third year of Northern Ireland Screen's low-budget fiction scheme. The first recipient was Peacefire, which just won the Prix Special Du Jury award at the Angers European First Film Festival.

Peacefire Wins

Northern Ireland Screen reports that Peacefire, a new drama from first time feature writer-director Macdara Vallely, and starring John Travers (Song For a Raggy Boy, Closing the Ring), won the Prix Special Du Jury award at the Angers European First Film Festival.

Peacefire is an adaptation of Vallely's play, which won the Edinburgh Fringe First Award, and was also shortlisted for the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award.

The film was shot entirely in location in Craigavon, Co. Armagh, where Vallely grew up, and it was the first feature funded through Northern Ireland Screen's low-budget feature fund.

Screenwriting the Future

De Montfort University in Leicester is hosting a one-day seminar on TV screenwriting on Saturday 7th March 2009 at the Leicester City campus, and the focus will be on Fantastic Writing - science fiction, fantasy and magic: Writing the future, the past and other worlds.

Confirmed guests include James Moran (Doctor Who, Torchwood and Spooks), Phil Ford (Sarah Jane Adventures, Dr Who and Torchwood), Stephen Volk (Afterlife) and Graham Joyce - winner of the World Fantasy Award, the British Fantasy Award, the Angus Award and the O Henry short story prize. Graham has also written screenplays for Hollywood studios and is currently commissioned to work on the story line for the computer game DOOM 4.

Stephen Volk created and was lead writer of the award-winning ITV drama series Afterlife starring Lesley Sharp and Andrew Lincoln, called 'terrific television' (The Guardian) and 'Unmissable' (Mail on Sunday). A BAFTA-winning screenwriter, his TV and movie credits include Ken Russell's Gothic, Octane, Shockers and the notorious, almost legendary, BBC 'Halloween hoax' Ghostwatch.

Event organiser and course leader for the unique MA, Christopher Walker says "This is a rare opportunity for scriptwriters of all levels, from complete beginners through to those who have already had some success in the industry, to hear from industry professionals - there are two keynote speakers and two question and answer panels. Events like this are usually restricted to London so it's a way of giving opportunities to writers from the East Midlands to meet with industry professionals, network and get inspired to boost their writing careers."

A place on the course costs £65 per person including lunch, refreshments, and parking, and can be booked via the web site.