Remarks at The 25th Galway Film Fleadh
Galway, 14th July 2013
I am delighted to be here this evening as the 25th Galway Film Fleadh draws to a close. I would like to thank you all for that very generous welcome.
Is ócáid an-tábhachtach i bhféilire cultúrtha na hÉireann í Fleá na Scannán. Go deimhin, téann sé crua orm Mí Iúil i nGaillimh a shamhlú d’uireasa na bhFéilte a thugann na mílte sin duine chuig an gcathair seo chuile Shamhradh.
[The Film Fleadh is an enormously important event in Ireland’s cultural calendar . In fact, it is very difficult to imagine July in Galway without the festivals which bring so many thousands of arts enthusiasts to this city every Summer. ]
Of course, Galway’s relationship with film making has deep roots and I was delighted at the very recent announcement that this city is bidding to join UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network as a City of Film. UNESCO has already acknowledged the importance of film by designating Sydney and Bradford as UNESCO Cities of Film. It would be a well deserved honour if Galway, a city which contributes so much to the cultural dimension of this country, were to join them.
The Film Fleadh provides a valuable opportunity to remind ourselves of the multifarious nature of the art form that is film; and the extent and depth of the annual programme consistently offers opportunities to view works that range from long admired masterpieces to brave new departures; and from homegrown treasures to international classics.
A measure of the quality of the Fleadh is its Oscar nominating accreditation. Out of the more than 7000 film festivals worldwide, only 68 have Oscar qualifying accreditation and since 2011 the Galway Film Fleadh is one of those.
Film is a powerful independent form in its own right. Film is an art form, built on images; film builds on skills and forms of practice that are present in the other Arts but is never reducible to them.
A truly great film can transform the way we view the world; alter the manner in which we understand our human struggles and create links between past memories and present realities. Many of the great films are those which have the courage to take risks: to explore new themes or to view traditional themes from new and creative angles. They are films which experiment and innovate with language and style and characterisation; those exceptional works which truly move the art of film on; ensuring it remains constantly relevant, challenging and thought provoking.
It was, of course, one such film which inspired the founding of the Film Fleadh in 1988. ‘Reefer and the Model’ was a work which walked its own artistic path; a film unafraid to be different and to move very close to the creative edge. Since then the Fleadh has been travelling its own imaginative path, showcasing original works from around the world but focusing, in particular, on all that is best about Irish film making.
There is a rich history associated with Irish film and a talented and ever heroic film community who constantly push the boundaries as they create increasingly diverse and exciting pieces of work. When I became Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht it was my privilege to re-establish An Bord Scannán in 1993. During its first phase, which immediately preceded the establishment of this Fleadh Bord Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board made a significant, and indeed crucial, contribution to Irish film making culture and activity producing such works as ‘Eat the Peach’, ‘Angel’, ‘Anne Devlin’ and, of course ‘Reefer and the Model’ which motivated Miriam Allen and her creative team to gather film lovers here in Galway every Summer.
Today, the programmes of the Fleadh Bord Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board continue to provide Irish film talent with the opportunity to develop and produce a rich variety of innovative and artistically courageous projects. In 2010, the Irish film industry supported 261 productions and provided employment to over 16,000 people. What is even more important is the recognition of the large range of skills involved in filmmaking and their availability now with so many educational and training opportunities on offer.
More and more Irish films are receiving recognition and critical acclaim abroad while, in 2012 record levels of foreign direct investment went into the Irish Film Board. In fact, turnover in this sector increased by thirty percent last year, buoyed up by the production of nineteen feature films in Ireland.
We continue to be proud of the many Irish people who win international acclaim for their work in film; newer names like Kirsten Sheridan, Saoirse Ronan and Fodhla Cronin-O’Reilly joining the roll call of significant Irish talent which has so successfully ensured Ireland’s place in the world of film; a roll call which includes Neil Jordan, Brenda Fricker, Brendan Gleeson, Seamus McGarvey, Jim Sheridan, Gerard Stembridge and so many others who have put Irish film making on the international map.
This year’s Film Fleadh showcases, yet again, the artistic daring and rebellious courage that continues to define much of the Irish film industry. Films like ‘Run and Jump’, ‘Life’s a Breeze’, and ‘Out of Here’ are an uplifting reminder of the wealth of talent that continues to thrive and flourish here and of the inspirational people who have paved the way for a younger generation of innovative film makers and original Irish work.
The Fleadh also provides a valuable opportunity to engage with all that is best in the international film world, reminding us of how independent film can be such a crucial outlet for freedom of expression, true creative articulation and a pushing beyond the boundaries of familiarity to explore all possibilities. This week is also a reminder of the importance of nurturing and encouraging the production of independently produced films. We know that it is becoming increasingly difficult for independent productions to source public subsidies. Therefore festivals like this play a significant role in promoting and supporting innovative and original film production at an international level.
I am delighted to see that this evening, the Fleadh draws to a close with a screening of ‘The Sea’, adapted from John Banville’s Booker prizewinning novel, which examines the capricious power of memory and of how misperception of an event, no matter how fragmentary or fleeting that event may have seemed, can cast such long shadows.
Some of the most affecting, brilliant and memorable films are those where the film maker is drawing on past memories and through the art of film exploring how those memories have shaped their identity and their present lives. In fact, film is unique as an art form as it can not only recreate memories but encapsulate them, make them current, and very often capture them in the collective memory of the audience.
Much of the poignancy of ‘The Sea’ is the manner in which Banville explores the way we live on in the memories of others, and the way our very identities can be captured and indeed altered by those memories. The importance of the collective memory has come very much into focus in recent times. As we engage in a decade of commemoration here in Ireland, we will be required to draw on the ethics and politics of memory so as not only to be sensitive to differing and incomplete versions of our narrative, but also to remain open to the making of reconciliation or, if required, to the acceptance of different versions or aspects of memory.
In conclusion I would like to thank and congratulate Miriam Allen, Gar O’Brien and the many other talented people who this year, and over so many years, have allowed audiences to engage fully with the art of film making and to learn much from those who have come here to generously share their experiences with film lovers. I understand Miriam has just received an honorary doctorate from the University of Staffordshire for her work in promoting young film makers and I commend her on this well deserved honour. She and her team have, over the past twenty five years, brought this event to a point of Oscar nominating quality and their contribution to the cultural dimension of this country is immense.
B’fhíor-thógáíl croí dhom bheith anseo tráthnóna agus comóradh fiche-chúig bliana den Fhleá á cheiliúradh. Níl amhras ar bith orm ach go leanfaidh sí ag fás is ag forbairt agus guím gach rath amach anseo orthu siúd uilig atá bainteach leis an ócáid thábhachtach seo.
[It has been truly uplifting to be here this evening as the Fleadh celebrates its 25th anniversary. I have no doubt it will continue to develop and grow and I wish all those involved with this important event every success in the future.]
Thank you very much.