LIGHTS,CAMERA ,ACTION

Welcome to the official web page of 
BEARA FILM FEST,
Co.Corks premier boutique short film festival.
Beara Film Fest (BFF) was established on 23rd Janurary 2018 by Castletownbere native
 Gerard O'Leary whom himself has featured in many productions on both stage and screen. 

BFF is situated in the busy fishing port of Castletownbere on the south west coast of Co.Cork,Ireland.This festival is officially not only just unique to County Cork but in fact it's the only one of its kind in IRELAND.

BFF is a proud supporter of gender equality balance within the film industry. 
This film festival is FREE to submit for independent film directors from Cork or 
living in Cork that have shot their short film entirely in Cork,West Cork or the Beara Peninsula to be considered for screening at this exclusive film festival .

It's a non.ticket event for the general public to attend.
This is strictly an over 18s event due to some subject content not being suitable for younger viewers as laid down by the Irish Film Classification Office
ID may be required at the door.

This years festival was held on  Saturday 1st July in the Beacon Niteclub.. 
Over the last number of years BFF has drawn a lot of international interest and enquiries from as far away as Canada, USA,
France,England,Turkey and New Zealand.


The power of Facebook,Instagram & Twitter was used to it's full potential to promote this years festival to a worldwide audience as well as using the more traditional methods of written media,radio,newspapers,posters etc

We are a nation of storytellers.We need more dreamers,more believers to take the leap,embrace these believers and dreamers,learn to love the arts.
This is made further possible by the governments ongoing commitment of
Section 481 for the film industry.

The Beara Peninsula has been home for numerous tv and movie productions both Irish and Foreign alike over the years dating back to the 1940s drawing attention from Oscar winners Ben Cleary and Neil Jordan in recent years as an ideal location to film.
Beara and it's environs offer the film industry "a unspoilt natural film set" in the form of unindustrialised scenic rugged countryside of yester year with many colourful villages dotted throughout further enhanced by the natural light that casts interesting shadows across both sea and mountain.
Castletownbere offers many beds with numerous B&Bs,house rentals etc to cater for any size cast & crew. 






HAVE YOU GOT THE VISION ?


Once again this year's event was kindly supported by:
Cork County Council Arts Grant Scheme 2023
Creative Ireland Arts Grant Scheme County Cork 2023


Special thanks is extended to local sponsors:
Lorraine & Chris Downey of 
Murphy's Super Value,Castletownbere 
and the
Castletownbere Development Association .

This is strictly an over 18s event due to 
some subject content not being suitable 
for younger viewers as laid down by the
Irish Film Classification Office(IFCO)
ID may be required at the door.

Once again 2023 was FREE for both student and established directors alike to enter. 
4 awards were up for  grabs.


*Best of the Fest Audience Award 
(As voted by the audience on the night)

*Best Director Award

*Rising Star Award 

*Best Cinematography 

Best Director,Best Cinematography & Rising Star Award were chosen by a panel of film industry professionals 

By promoting the wealth of local talent in the up and coming generation this may inflame that inner fire in one to pursue an interest and career in the art of film.And who knows along the way a star may be born.
HOW IT WORKS
T&Cs FOR SUBMISSIONS 2024

*PLEASE NOTE*
SUBMISSIONS OPEN 29/10/23

1.Director must be living in or from Cork 
2.Filmed their short in the County of Cork
3.Must have been filmed from 1st January     2022.
4.Maximum 20 mins in duration,you may enter several,its free of charge
5.In the English language or if in Irish/European language please have your short clearly subtitled. 
6.Submit in MP4 FORMAT via Wetransfer or Vimeo(download enabled)ONLY ,PLEASE. 
7.Please ensure that any additional material ie.music/film footage that's not your own has the necessary permission and/or licence for use in your short.
This is entirely the responsibility of the film maker.
8.Should your short be chosen for the official screening selection it is taken in good faith that you will honour the commitment to screen at BEARA FILM FEST.
Late withdrawal will not be accepted upon announcement of official selection .
9.SUBMISSIONS WILL CLOSE ON
Friday 9th February 2024,5pm sharp

Submissions to be forwarded to:
bearafilmfest@gmail.com
 
BEARA FILM FESTS COMMITMENT
Beara Film Fest is committed to show casing the best that Cork has to offer on short film by both established and student directors alike.
All the while promoting Cork as a premier location to film outside of the greater Dublin region,especially along the Cork section of the Wild Atlantic Way.

This boutique short film festival will always be free,not for profit and will always raise much needed funds for Cork based charities that recieve no funding other than the kind generousity of the general public.

By establishing a film festival on the Beara Peninsula,this will further show case the unique "product" that County Cork has to offer to an already vibrant and triving Irish film industry.
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY:

Beara Film Fest wouldn't be possible without the following support :

*Cork County Council Arts Grant Scheme   2023

*Creative Ireand Arts Grant Scheme     County  Cork 2023

*Pure Cork 

*Local Sponsors:

*Lorraine & Chris Downey of     
  Murphys Super Valu,Castletownbere.

*Castletownbere Development Association 

Big thank you to all that helped in 2023

* Mr.John Nolan-Castletownbere 
   Fishermens Co.Op.
* Castletownbere Development               Association 
*Helen Riddle-Southern Star Newspaper
  and Marine Times monthly publication
*Movieextras.ie Team-Ardmore Studios
*Designs & Signs,Bantry,Co.Cork
*Brian"BOSS" O'Sullivan -Artist
*Berehaven Golf Club 
*Senan O'Connor-Vantage Point Video
*Cork Actors Directory
*Motion Picture Licensing 
  Company,Ennis,Co.Clare (MPLC)
*Film Ireland.net
*McCarthys Bar
* IMRO
*Keith J O'Connell,Centauri Productions.
*Touch Wood Beara
*GMAC Property & Finance 

ALL VOLUNTEERS FOR KINDLY 
DONATING THEIR TIME.


WE ARE HERE

FILM TOURISM

FILM TOURISM is a growing phenomenon worldwide,fuelled by both the growth of the entertainment industry and the increase in international travel,resulting in destinations more and more seeking to be associated with successful movie/tv productions that will entice any "film tourist" to visit their destination.
Beara Film Fest strives to further promote County Cork as that destination to visit to a broader market by hosting short films that have been made in Cork.
Many times over it has been proven when a movie/tv production shoots in a particular location it not only creates an economic impact at the time of filming,it can also generate a spin off economic impact after the production has been released in an increase of anywhere between 25% to 300%. Tourists are often influenced by what they see on screen when deciding where they may travel to on vacation.
For example the recent success of Star Wars.The last Jedi that shot some of their pivatol scenes on Brow Head,West Cork and the phenomenal success of the movie The Young Offenders which was entirely shot in Cork City and West Cork.In Cork City,The English Market has been inundated with tourists due to the success of the movie.On the back of the movies success it was commissioned as a tv series further copper fastening Cork as a premier destination to visit,taking in many of the locations that featured throughout County Cork.
Beara Film Fest is a firm believer in supporting,nurturing and promoting existing and emerging film making talent.


           BEARA FILM FEST COMMITTEE. 

          JOHN GERARD O'LEARY,       
          FOUNDER & DIRECTOR .

          DAVID GERAGHTY,
          TREASURER .

          SARAH O'CONNOR,  
          SECRETARY 



HOW TO CONTACT US

Mobile: (086) 8166495
Tel: (027)70137
Email: bearafilmfest@gmail.com








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