DkIT Film students named winners at Dublin University Film Festival
Two films created by DkIT students were recently presented with awards at Dublin University Film Festival.
Hosted by Trinity’s DU Film Society, the student-run event offered students a taste of professional film exhibition, screening 12 short films from seven different institutions. The popular event this year celebrated its 10th anniversary at the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield.
Moving On, directed by Niall Daly was named as Best Picture. The film was made during the Year 3 Creative Documentary module and is an exploration of childhood comfort items and the psychological and emotional significance they hold.
Speaking about the film Niall said:
“Moving On is a personal project for all involved that explores the psychological and emotional significance our childhood comfort items hold for us. The idea came to me when I started to reflect on my own childhood and the comfort items that meant something to me. When I was young, my stuffed animals were as real as a best friend, something I could talk to, be safe with. Something I couldn’t bear to lose. This attachment made me think who else out there had such a connection. While the film is not about my own experience, I aimed to explore the stories of others and came to find it to be a common experience.
Interviewing a wide range of people of various ages (10-50 years old) I came to realise the stories were endless, profound and heartbreaking. In turn, I aimed to make a film that would capture the closeness we feel to our childhood comfort items.”
Reflecting on the awards he added:
“Winning Best Film at the Dublin International Film Festival was a surreal experience, what was most special, was having audience members share with me the stories about their own childhood comfort items, and how much they could relate to the many voices featured in the film.”
Fellow student Donagh Walsh's film 'Heart & Soul' was also selected to be screened at this festival and won the award for Best Cinematography.
Speaking about his win, Donagh said:
"After winning Best Young Director in the Absurd Film Festival Monthly Awards Ceremony in Milan, winning an award for Best Cinematography at Dublin University Film Festival feels amazing. I shot this film in just under 3 hours so with such a short timeframe to get it produced it’s so cool to see the film get recognition and win awards in multiple different categories.”
