stf_2007 23/08/2007 11:30 Page i Stranger Than Fiction Documentary Film Festival and Market 13th-16th September 2007 stf_2007 23/08/2007 11:30 Page ii Introduction It’s my great pleasure to welcome This year’s opening feature The of the films screening, as well as you to this year’s Stranger Than Undertaking stands out as one of the contributions from David Norris, Fiction Festival. This is the sixth most beautiful films to come out of Louis de Paor, Stephen Rea and year of the event, and the first Ireland in many years. Richard Boyd Barrett. without the indomitable Gráinne The feature-length documentary This is perhaps a golden age of Humphreys at the helm. With continues to thrive on the inter- documentary film, and for the four Gráinne’s departure, Irish Film national scene, and I have selected 14 days of Stranger Than Fiction, I’d Institute Director Mark Mulqueen films which I hope you will at turns encourage you to come to the IFI to decided to approach this year’s find provocative, entertaining, heart- meet the filmmakers, to partake in festival in a different way, opting to breaking, hilarious; and always, I the market, to engage in the discus- bring an independent film-maker on hope, deeply affecting. Truth is indeed sions, and to see the finest of docu- board as Festival Director. stranger that fiction, and documen- mentary films from Ireland as well as As a documentary-maker used to taries tap into humanity in all its from throughout the world. submitting films to such festivals, I vagaries in ways that drama can’t; was delighted to be asked to put witness the delightful and witty James Kelly together this event. It has been an Helvetica (yes, it is a documentary Festival Director honour and a privilege, as well as a about a font), or Jessica Yu’s real eye-opener, to take up a position wonderfully crafted Protagonist, or on the other side of the fence this indeed Donal McIntyre’s truly year. My first impression was just terrifying A Very British Gangster. how much good work is currently We are delighted to welcome being made in Ireland. Due in no small Roger Graef as special guest of the part to the support and commitment festival; criminologist, founding of the Irish Film Board and member of Channel 4, director of the broadcasters RTÉ and TG4, this year’s The Secret Policeman’s Ball (amongst programme sees a particularly strong many others), he is a towering figure selection of Irish films exploring many in the world of documentary film. aspects of Irish life, past and present. We also welcome directors of thirteen Partners Supporters A special thanks to Saidhbh Ní Dhúlaing and to all the festival volunteers, who have generously given their time to help make this festival possible. stf_2007 23/08/2007 11:30 Page 1 Stranger Than Fiction Screening Schedule Tickets & Prices Day 1 Thursday 13th September ‘Feature Docs on the Big Screen’ Panel Discussion 10.00am-1.00pm Festival and Market reception 7.15pm The Undertaking (Opening Film) 8.45pm Day 2 Friday 14th September Market: One-On-One Meetings 9.00am-6.00pm Get Collins and Now or Never 1.00pm Exile in Hell 1.00pm The Catalpa Rescue 2.05pm Mise, Seán Ó Ríordáin 3.10pm Dublin Day 3.20pm Mosney 5.00pm Helvetica 7.00pm Flight of the Earls 9.00pm Day 3 Saturday 15th September Market: One-On-One Meetings 9.00am-6.00pm Pleasure at Her Majesty’s 11.15am Jack Doyle: A Legend Lost 11.00am Saviours 12.00pm Protagonist 1.00pm A Complaint of Rape and Murder Blues 1.25pm Forever 3.00pm Iraq in Fragments 3.30pm Roger Graef Masterclass 4.00pm Losers and Winners 5.15pm A Very British Gangster 7.00pm Manufacturing Dissent 9.00pm Day 4 Sunday 16th September Short Film Competition 12.30pm Escape from Suburbia 2.15pm A Winter’s Journey 4.00pm Our Daily Bread 5.45pm I For India 7.00pm In the Shadow of the Moon 9.00pm Ticket prices: Prices vary from €7 up to €10 Membership is required for all films, either €1 depending on the duration of the film and the per day per person, or else €20 for the entire time it is screening. year. We thoroughly recommend the latter: it There are special package prices of €40 for opens the door to a huge number of free sneak 5 films and €70 for 10 films. previews and other benefits throughout the year. Tickets are available from Box Office, 01 - 679 3477 IFI, 6 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, Online bookings www.irishfilm.ie www.irishfilm.ie 1 stf_2007 23/08/2007 11:30 Page 2 Stranger Than Fiction Documentary Market The Stranger Than Fiction Market Guests participating in these Michéal Ó Meallaigh runs parallel to the festival and meetings include TG4, Head of Programmes Department provides independent Irish Michéal O Meallaigh is Head of Programmes documentary producers with a Ann Baumann for TG4. TG4’s primary role as broadcaster unique opportunity to meet with and ARTE, GEIE, Acquisitions is to commission programmes in the Irish pitch potential projects to leading Anne Baumann, Commissioning Editor for language and to co-produce programmes Commissioning Editors, Sales Agents, ARTE has worked with the company since that have a particular relevance for an Irish 1992. Previous to this she worked for ZDF, audience. Distributors and Buyers from around SWF, SR and as a Production Manager the world. It is an opportunity for facilitating co-production projects between Alan Maher Independent Irish documentary Germany and France. ARTE (G.E.I.E.) was Production Executive, Irish Film Board producers to gain finance, knowledge, founded on April 30 1991 by ARTE France Alan Maher joined the Irish Film Board in and expert advice from professionals and ARTE Deutschland TV GmbH. July of 2006. Previously, he was Head of in the documentary broadcast world Development at Element Pictures and a with international financing and Kate Beetham creative director of Vinegar Hill commissioning power. BBC, Series Producer Productions. As Production Executive at the Kate Beetham is Executive Producer for docu- IFB, Alan is responsible for funding projects mentaries on the BBC commissioning team. and managing them through financing, She works for BBC 1, BBC 2 and BBC 4 and production, sales and distribution. One-On-One Meetings has a background in production. The BBC The key aspect of the Market is commissions around 300 hours per year cov- Martin Morgan one-on-one meetings that are ering observational documentary, construct- The History Channel, The Biography Channel scheduled over two days, giving ed documentary, docu-soaps and series. and the Crime and Investigation Network independent Irish producers the Martin Morgan began his career in feature opportunity to pitch ideas to Kevin Dawson film cutting rooms before migrating to Commissioning Editors and Sales RTÉ, Commissioning Editor documentary production, and becoming Kevin Dawson has been Commissioning Head of Production for British Pathé News. Agents, secure funding, make links Editor for Factual Programmes at RTÉ He then moved to The History Channel. As and forge relationships for the future. Television since 1999 and is responsible Deputy Channels Director, he now oversees The market this year will host for the key output in History, Arts and 162 hours of history programming daily. decision-makers from the top contemporary documentaries. Most is channels, sales agents as well as commissioned independently and Factual Margaret Murphy international distributors. output runs to about 120 peaktime hours Commissioning Editor, Factual Entertainment Deadline for applications is the per year. He was formerly a staff producer for SBS Independent, Australia 29th August and all independent and reporter at RTÉ and previously worked Margaret has many years of experience in in the print media as a newspaper writer television production, in Australia and the UK, producers who wish to participate and executive. spanning production of documentaries, must be a member of Screen magazine, arts and entertainment programs. Producers Ireland or have a pro- Laurène Mansuy Her interests lie in half-hour documentary gramme screening in the festival. ARTE, Acquisitions in The Discovery and and factual series, including formats, and Knowledge Unit international co-productions and low-budget Laurène Mansuy has been Commissioning original entertainment series. Editor since 2005 for the Discovery and Knowledge Unit at Arte France. She over- sees acquisitions for the documentary slot "Faraway places”, which is broadcast on dig- ital terrestrial television. 2 Stranger Than Fiction 2007 stf_2007 23/08/2007 11:30 Page 3 This year’s Market is supported Information by the Irish Film Board and For further information the Irish Film Institute and is run please contact: by Screen Producers Ireland. Emer Mullarkey Stranger Than Fiction Market Director Screen Producers Ireland. 01 662 1114 [email protected] Mairéad Ní Nuadháin Feature Docs on the Big Screen Screen Training Ireland RTÉ Commissioning Editor for Irish Panel Discussions hosted Masterclass with language, Science and Multicultural, by the Irish Film Board Roger Graef, OBE Mairéad’s brief covers a wide range of programming for RTÉ. Her department also supplies RTÉ’s provision of programming to Thursday 13th Sept., 10.00am-1.00pm Saturday 15th Sept., 3.30pm-6.30pm TG4, a range which covers entertainment, Aimed at industry professionals with factual and children’s programmes. Before As Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the experience of documentary film- that she had been originator and series Irish Film Board continues to fund making, this is a chance to hear producer of Léargas, as well as documentaries creative, feature documentaries, the how one of the world’s leading and entertainment programmes.