Innovative documentary set to screen at two major film festivals
An innovative documentary made by an Offaly-based filmmaker and his Carlow colleague is to be screened at two major international film festivals this weekend.
The documentary, called 'Jill and Giles' is the work of Eoin O'Donoghue, who is a native of Tipperary but is now based in Tullamore, where he works with Midlands 103, and Alison Byrne from Carlow, both of whom are former graduates of the Institute of Technology in Tralee where they studied TV, radio and new media broadcasting.
As part of their final year studies, Eoin and Alison had to create an artefact and direct and film a documentary. “We wanted to document the story of someone who lives an unconventional life, and we through initially that we might find someone living on the Atlantic Coast since we were both based in Tralee,” explains Eoin, “but then we came across an online article about a couple who have been living on a boat for the last 20 years, ten of which have been spent on the river Shannon, so we made contact with them and they agreed to work with us.”
The resulting documentary, simply called 'Jill and Giles' is due to be screened this weekend at two major international film festivals, the Toronto Irish Film Festival in Canada and the Chicago Irish Film Festival. Alison Byrne flew out to Canada on Monday of this week and when he spoke to the Offaly Independent on Tuesday, Eoin O'Donoghue was making preparations to join her in Toronto.
“We are very lucky that both film festivals are taking place the same weekend as it wouldn't be possible for us to make the trip to Toronto and then to Chicago if they were on different dates,” admits Eoin.
The documentary makers plan to be in Toronto tomorrow (Saturday) for the screening of 'Jill and Giles' and will then take a flight to Chicago to be present at the screening of their film at the Chicago Irish Film Festival on Sunday.
Given that 'Jill and Giles' is the first-ever documentary to be made by Eoin O'Donoghue and Alison Byrne, it has been greeted with huge critical acclaim both on the domestic film circuit and also internationally. The short film has been screened at five national film festivals, including IndieCork 2019 and the renowned Richard Harris International Film Festival in Limerick. It has also been screened at three film festivals in the UK and once in Canada, and only this week the amateur filmmakers received the good news that 'Jill and Giles' will be making a return trip to Canada to be screened at the Vaughan International Film Festival, which takes place in Ontario in May.
“We are absolutely delighted with the success of the documentary, which has been beyond our wildest expectations,” says Eoin O'Donoghue, “and the great thing about showcasing it at international film festival is that you get to meet and interact with loads of other filmmakers.”
'Jill and Giles' tells the story of an English couple (of the same names) who have been living and working on a barge for the past 20 years, ten of which has been spent on the river Shannon. They base themselves in Athlone during the winter months and spend the remainder of the year travelling the length and breadth of Ireland's longest river.
Both Alison and Eoin were intrigued by the couple's lifestyle and how they had a different type of freedom to other because of their very unique living and working environment.
Their documentary, which was filmed over three days and edited over three months between February and March of last year, focuses on the initial decision of the couple to live on the barge, their work and hobbies and it explores the themes of unconventionality, freedom and belonging.