Local National School scoops prize at FÍS Film Awards 2024

THE winners of this year's FÍS Film Awards have received accolades in recognition of their work, with a school from Offaly receiving an award. The FÍS Film Awards is a renowned annual competition for Irish primary school children and their teachers and educates them on the entire movie-making process.

Carrig National School scooped prizes in the Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking - Special Effects. Their film 'Now and Then' was made by 4^th, 5^th and 6^th classes.

Hosted by RTE’s Sinead Kennedy, the event is run by the Institute of Art, Design and Technology and Oide Technology in Education. First established as a grassroots initiative to nurture Ireland’s future moviemaking talent, over 1,500 pupils get involved each year. The awards ceremony, which was broadcast online earlier was co-produced by students of IADT’s National Film School and live-streamed through the official FÍS website.

The overall winner was St. Fiaccs National School in Laois for their movie ‘Podorozh’ (meaning ‘Journey’ in Ukrainian). Students received the Outstanding Achievement Award for Autobiography as well as The Aileen Mackeogh Film of The Year Award. Fully directed and produced by 6th class students, the short film tells the story of a young Ukrainian refugee fleeing the war in Ukraine to seek sanctuary in Laois, Ireland.

The FÍS Film Awards see classes across the country challenged to write, direct, and produce their own short films for a chance to win a myriad of accolades and attend the prestigious awards ceremony. Whether it be script writing, acting, filming or costume design, students are encouraged to get creative both in and out of the classroom.

The FÍS project was designed to introduce and lead primary school pupils through the creative process of filmmaking. Offering a unique opportunity to develop their creative skills outside of a traditional classroom setting, budding moviemakers are encouraged to test their communication, planning, and collaborative abilities. Students are allowed to create their own stories, characters, and visual effects, encouraging creative expression and lateral thinking, essential components for personal growth and learning. In addition, pupils are given hands-on experience with a variety of filmmaking tools and equipment, reinforcing digital literacy and bolstering their confidence with new technologies. The FÍS project aligns with the Government’s digital strategy for schools, an action plan for integrating digital technologies into teaching and learning assessments in the classroom.

Commenting on the winners for this year’s FÍS Film Awards, Anthony Kilcoyne, Divisional Director Oide Technology in Education noted: “Once again, the judging panel was impressed by the remarkable investigative, analytic, and critical thinking skills displayed by this year's entrants, coupled with their adept use of technology to narrate their unique stories. Using the platform presented by the FÍS film awards, entrants demonstrated the potent synergy between creativity and technology, bringing the curriculum to life in captivating and interactive ways.”

Reflecting on this year’s FíS Film Awards, Vanessa Gildea, Head of the Department of Film + Media, IADT said: “The FÍS Film Award Ceremony is an important date in the calendar of National Film School (NFS), IADT. It’s exciting to see the wealth and breadth of young filmmaking talent. We are very proud to be a part of FÍS and thrilled to see students and staff of the NFS deliver this enormous broadcast event. This is a truly wonderful real word industry experience for our students and is firmly established as part of the Television and Broadcast education at the NFS.”

Also commenting on this year’s FÍS Film Awards, Director of Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) at IADT, Emma Leahy said: “The FÍS Film Awards are a testament to IADT’s commitment to providing nationwide access to filmmaking. This year, submissions were received from over twenty counties across Ireland. We are delighted to support student’s opportunities to engage with the art of filmmaking.”