Filmmaking dream comes to life on the big screen

The inaugural Kino Westmeath, a 48-hour filmmaking challenge, brought a flurry of creative energy to Mullingar from September 18 to 20. Organised by Liam Hall Walshe of the Westmeath Filmmakers Collective, in collaboration with Kino Dublin (KinoD), the event offered a unique opportunity for local filmmakers, actors, and creatives to collaborate and produce original short films over the span of just two days.

“I’ve always wanted to bring Kino to Mullingar,” said Liam. His dream became a reality with the support of the Westmeath Arts Office and sponsorship from Wolfshire Productions. “We only had three and a half weeks from securing funding to organising the event, but it turned out to be a massive success.”

The event was open to filmmakers of all levels, from beginners to seasoned professionals. “The idea is to break down the stigma around filmmaking,” said Rochfortbridge man, Liam. “We wanted to show that anyone can get involved and share their vision.”

The hub for the event was the Columbia Bar in Mullingar, where participants gathered on Wednesday night to pitch their film ideas and form teams. “Anyone could pitch a film about anything. They’d tell us how many actors they needed, what their film was about, and how many crew members were required. The goal was to form teams on the night; nothing was pre-cast or pre-planned.”

This open, collaborative approach to filmmaking was a core principle of the Kino model, which has been successfully running in Dublin for more than a decade.

After pitches were made, teams were formed, and production began the next day. Within two days, 12 original short films were created. The intensity of the challenge didn’t dampen the creativity, however. In fact, it inspired some standout performances.

“Siobhan Moore, from Mullingar, made her directorial debut, and the work she produced was simply unbelievable,” said Liam. “It was her first time making a film, and now I think her pieces could even make it into festivals. It was a transformative experience for her and for many others.”

One of the key highlights of Kino Westmeath was the collaborative spirit among participants. The majority were filmmakers from Mullingar, Athlone, and surrounding areas in Westmeath. Liam emphasised the importance of creating a filmmaking community in the region: “It was a celebration of local talent. The event really showed the potential we have here in Westmeath.”

The films were screened at Mullingar Omniplex on the Friday, Culture Night, when participants saw their hard work come to life on the big screen. “It was a dream come true,” said Liam, reflecting on the success of the event. “Having our films shown in a cinema was a huge moment for everyone involved.”

With the first Kino Westmeath now under his belt, Liam is already looking forward to next year. “I’m excited about where we can take the Westmeath Filmmakers Collective from here. Next year, we hope to make it even bigger, with more people, more films, and more creativity.”

The next Kino Westmeath promises to be a bigger, more collaborative event, building on the enthusiasm and success of its debut. With Liam at the helm and a growing community of filmmakers in Westmeath, the local film scene looks set for a creative renaissance.