Young Irish Film Makers summer film production this year was First Confession, based on the famous short story by Frank O’Connor. The film was shot in and around Kilkenny between Monday 4th and Friday 15th July. Mike Kelly has written the screenplay adaptation and will direct the short film.
Young Irish Film Makers has adopted a new policy of using professional actors in the lead roles in our major productions. This year our lead actors were Pauline McLynn (Shameless, Father Ted) as Miss Ryan, Comedian Karl Spain as Father O’Connell and Abbey Actor Brid Ni Neacthain as Grandmother. All our professional actors were great fun to work with and commented on the professional approach of our young film makers.
Pauline later wrote in her blog: “ bumpy bus journey to Kilkenny and spent a lovely night at Langtons Hotel before putting in a day of filming with the Young Irish Film Makers group based there. The shoot was a delight and all involved just fab to work with from the youngest of the cast (7 or 8 years old) to the crew, who ranged from 14 to 17 years, as well as a few fossils like myself. A joy. There are times when work can be so enjoyable that it doesn’t feel like work at all”. Thank you, Pauline!
Local actors, and long time supporters of YIFM, Brendan Corcoran, John Morton, Ger Cody and Aoife Roche also appeared in the film.
The child actors were all from Young Irish Film Makers acting classes and are led by young Ferdia Roche as Jackie, a young boy, who is due to make his first confession before receiving his first holy communion. Jackie fears confessing his terrible sins because they include trying to kill his spiteful sister with a breadknife, and planning to kill his grandmother who walks barefoot around the house and drinks porter. The film follows poor Jackie as he struggles to keep from murdering his enemies, avoid the fires of Hell and cope with the mysteries of a dark confession box!
Other children starring were Andi Snyder as Jackie’s evil big sister Nora and Odhrán O’Shea as Jackie’s best friend Bill.
The film will is now is the editing stage and have Kilkenny premiere in the Set Theatre on the 31ST of October and Dublin premiere soon after. It will then screen in film festivals worldwide.
