Westmeath Filmmakers join forces for screening event

The Westmeath Filmmakers Collective held an end-of-year celebration in the Annebrook House Hotel to showcase films made in the county throughout 2023.

Ten short films were shown at the sold-out event, ranging from comedies and sci-fi to dramas, horrors, and music videos. They included Craig Moore’s award-winning ‘Barry vs the Binman’ and ‘Three Brothers Two’ as well as ‘Short Wormhole In The Washer’ by Paireac Keane from Tyrrellspass.

Organiser Liam Hall Walshe from Rochfortbridge said he is excited about what the future holds for filmmaking in Westmeath. “We want this to go as wide as possible and to make Westmeath culturally relevant as a hub for filmmaking.

“We want people who came to this event to meet, network, and start planning new projects together for 2024 – how we can take all the passion we have here in the room tonight and distribute that to have new short films, festivals, and all that sort of thing.”

Mr Walshe, whose latest film, Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, is to be released in 2024, said the filmmakers collective has been effective since its founding.

“We’ve had two networking events prior to this after first meeting up in December 2022. There has been a big progression of filmmaking in the county as a result of this.

“Next year we want to legitimise that a bit more; do more events, recurring events, recurring meetings, and meet hopefully bi-weekly to discuss our strategy.”

He added that at least three short films on the programme have won awards in the last year, which shows the “enormous potential” the industry has in Westmeath.

One such award-making filmmaker was Paireac Keane, who hailed the importance of the screening event that took place on December 28. “I think it’s fantastic, it’s great,” he said.

“The filmmaking community is quite small in Westmeath and Ireland in general, so it’s good to meet up when we can and have that strength in numbers.

“I think it would be great if all of the midlands counties joined together and formed a collective, similar to what other regions have.”

Mr Keane suggested a regional WRAP fund for films in the midlands could be transformative for the industry and the region.

David Toolan from Athlone, who showed a music video he produced on the night, said he also has his sights set on establishing a local film industry.

“I had been working up in Dublin because there had been no work available in the film industry here in Westmeath,” he said.

“I’m after moving back [to Westmeath] recently because I want to build something here; I want to create something that people will come here for.”

Mr Toolan said the talent is there. “I think we’re on the cusp of something big but I think there needs to be way more communication and collaboration between all of the talent in Westmeath and the wider midlands region,” he said.

“The talent is there, but they are in isolated points doing their own thing and what we need to do is combine talents.

“Even if we could produce one feature film a year in the midlands, that would be amazing.

“I’m not talking about something parochial; I’m talking about something that could go to the Oscars – something of that calibre.”

Mr Toolan added that this was his first Westmeath Filmmakers Collective event to attend but he plans on becoming more involved over the next year.

Other films on show included ‘Undress’ by Stephen Moran, ‘Seen’ by Calvin Doyle, and ‘Callus’ starring local actor John ‘Banjo’ Quinn.