Photo Credit: Brigid Vinnell/ Sunbeka

The 8th annual Little Cinema/ Galway City of Film 48 Hour Challenge was held over the weekend of August 23rd-25th 2024 with 10 teams each creating a 5-minute film in 48 Hours. The callout for teams went out in early July, followed by an info session and networking opportunity in mid July for those who wanted to find a team member or create a team, and the 10 places were filled within the first hour of the callout going live!

The launch was held at Portershed a Dó on the Thursday night, where the props were handed out. Each team had a surprise prop to use, everything from ukuleles to a computer mouse, to a headless bear fairy. On Friday morning they were provided with a genre, line, and prop to use. The genre was “horror”, the line they had to include was “that can’t be real”, and they had to use a “whip-pan shot”.  The teams had from Friday morning until Sunday morning to write, shoot, edit, and upload their films. Sunday was rounded off with a pizza party, screening, and awards ceremony.

There was a full house with loads of laughter and banter on Sunday evening for the screening at the Town Hall Theatre and a range of categories to win including Best Use of Prop, Best Use of Line, Best Use of Shot, Best Costume Design, Best Make Up, Best Special Effects, Best Sound Design, Best Music Score, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Writer, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Film.     

Team, Prop, Film, & Team Members:

Kiss From A Rón – Brown Ukulele – nUKElear Family: Samuel Acheson, Kim Acheson, Heather Watson, Anna, Elizabet Chubrikova, Joshua Uzell, Robert Coogan-Ellis, Ailidh Nic Craith, Ronan O Conghaile, Sara Sulej, Jess Bruen, Emma Nestor, Jean Acheson, Kieran Hemming, Martin O’Hara, Shivam Sharma, Namejs Balodis, Antoine Curran, Hrishi, and Rachel McNulty. 

Era Gwan So – Heart Alarm Clock – Gan Am: Oisin Mac Coille, Hannah Edmundson, Saidbh Nic Coille, Caoimghin O Heonghussa, Fergus Keane, Darragh O’Brien, Tara Breathnach, Brian Waldren, Kaia Hall, Aaran Donoghue, Paul Dunn, Carol Caulfield, Ciara McNamara, Becki  Stainthorp, Ciaran Fox, Damon Conway, Kamil Krawczak, Katie Kelly, Tony O Maoileain, Caoimhe Nic Coille, and Liadan Nic Coille. 

The Youngsters – Katana Sword – Kissaki: Thomas Kingston, John O’Neill, Eoin Murphy, Nicholas Curto, Emma Whelan, Sophie Smith, Feidhlim O’Neill, and Adam Flannelly. 

Oat Flat White Productions – Computer Mouse – Death’s a Drag: Georgia Lee, Mairéad Dewar, Eleni Kalantzi, Aaron Moloney, Ross Flaherty, Philippa Larkin, Shane Heneghan, Thomas Mullaney, Aisling Keane, Alice Twomey, Rachel Egan, Troy Gawley, Jake Gawley, Emma Louise Duffy, Gavin Friel, Leigh Greally, Deirdre Bolger, Rosa Green, and Graham Sheehan. 

ALLSORTS – Galway Map – Reality Check: Sarah Fahy, Moira Mahony, Fiachra Cotter, Maria Pelzer, Ciaran Mahony, Olivia Curto, Tony Walsh, Ionia Ní Chróinín, and Darryl Vance. 

Celtic Badger Media – Green Ukulele – Cadence: Barry Fahy, Paul Fitzgerald, Martin Nee, Michelle Sands, Ian Brew, Grainne Coughlan, Esther Woods, David Martin Ryan, and Sean Courtney. 

Associates – Headless Fairy Teddy – Stitch by Stitch: Hazel Preda, Piper Kelly, Conor Byrne, Tara Murphy, Fintan Staunton, Clara Della Chiesa, Niamhie Mullarkey, Brian Killoran, Ailbhe Breathnach, Saorla Fenton, Jack Lindey, Amy Curtain, and Vivienne Preda. 

Wing It Studio – Windmill Stick – The Fear: Barry Rowland, Leon Delaney, Benny McGinley, Greta Thornton, Niall Shanagher, Alex McKinley, Sean Scully, Aaron Rawlinson, Cathal Fitzgerald Crowley, Daniel Donegan, Alejandra Hernandez Diaz, Michael Keane, and Hugh Gately. 

The Untouchables – Booty Vase – Soul for a Soul: Jack Quinn, Liam Kimball, Ben Cassidy, James Murphy, Duilleann O Sullivan, Dovilė Kraske, Kevin O’Brien, and Ben Lardner a.k.a Somber Party. 

A Curious Beast – One Sock – Hammer and Nail: Barra Convery, Daniel Keane, Kin San Pedro, Luke Crumlish, Fintan Geraghty, Vera Kilgallon, Cillian Browne, Muir Hogan, Harry Bo, Oran Roper, Mark Convery, and Lucia Mueller. 

Judges:

We were honoured to have Lelia Doolan (Irish Film & TV Producer & Icon), Linda Gannon (Film & TV Hair Designer), Dave Moran (Writer & Script Supervisor), & Máire Ní Chonláin (TG4 Commissioning Editor). The winning film – Reality Check, by Team All Sorts (team led by Sarah Fahy) was filmed in Athenry, and will be screened at Galway Film Fleadh 2025. 

Award Winners:

• Best Use of Shot ı Film: nUKElear Family ı Team: Kiss From a Rón 
• Best Use of Line ı Film: nUKElear Family ı Team: Kiss From a Rón 
• Best Use of Prop ı Film: Stitch by Stitch ı Team: Associates 
• Best Use of Costume Design ı Emma Louise Duffy ı Film: Death’s a Drag ı Team: Oat Flat White Productions 
• Best Make Up Winner ı Greta Thornton ı Film: The Fear ı Team: Wing It Studio 
• Best Special Effects ı Kin Acheson ı Film: nUKElear Family ı Team: Kiss From a Rón 
• Best Sound Design ı Barry Rowland ı Film: The Fear ı Team: Wing It Studio 
• Best Editor ı Barry Rowland ı Film: The Fear ı Team: Wing It Studio 
• Best Writer ı Whole Team ı Film: Stitch by Stitch ı Team Associates 
• Best Music Score ı Troy Gawley ı Film: Death’s a Drag ı Team: Oat Flat White Productions 
• Best Actor ı Liam Kimball ı Film: Soul for a Soul ı Team: The Untouchables 
• Best Actress ı Saorla Fenton ı Film: Stitch by Stitch ı Team: Associates 
• Best Cinematography ı Daniel Donegan and Aaron Rawlinson ı Film: The Fear ı Team: Wing It Studios 
• Audience Award ı Film: Stitch by Stitch ı Team: Associates 
• Filmmakers’ Choice Award ı Film: Reality Check ı Team: Allsorts 
• Best Film Award ı Film: Reality Check ı Team: Allsorts 

Challenge Crew:

The crew the behind Little Cinema/ Galway City of Film 48 Hour Challenge 2024 were Kenny Gaughan (Ardán Project Co-ordinator & Little Cinema Co-Founder/ Challenge Manager), Brigid Vinnell (Co-ordinator and Photographer – Sunbeka), Matthew Blayney (Co-ordinator and Video Editor – Emblane Films), Ray Grady (Video Production – Unbound Media), Miriam Finnegan (Proud Dundalk-onian and Social Media Manager). 

“Congrats to all the awards winners from the 48 Hour Challenge. Ten incredible films were made, and we wish we could give awards to all of them, because they are all genuinely deserved. The Challenge is such a great event because of the people that take part. There’s a real camaraderie between the teams and the friendly competitiveness and support for each other is beautiful to see. It feels like it really encapsulates the spirit of the Little Cinema and the ethos behind it when it was set up. As Barry Fahy said as part of his introduction as advice for taking part, ‘find people that you love and make it with them.’ Thank you to all our funders and sponsors, our amazing audience and of course the incredible filmmakers who are pushing the limits of what’s possible with every single passing year.” – Kenny Gaughan 

Participant feedback:

“Quite literally one of the best weekends of my life directing team Kiss From A Rón for this year’s Little Cinema 48 Hour Challenge. Our film, took home three prizes; Best use of Line, Best use of Shot and Best Special Effects!” Sam Acheson – Team Kiss From A Rón –nUKElear Family

“Thank you to #EraGwanSo for being the best teammates, colleagues, collaborators and more importantly friends! Thank to Kenny, Matthew, and all at Ardán, Galway City of Film, and Little Cinema for putting it together.” – Oisin Mac Coille – Team Era Gwan So – Gan Am

“And that brings an end to my favourite weekend of the year. With a special mention to the man, the myth, the legend that is Kenny what you have created is nothing short of incredible my friend and is a highlight of my year every year and for that I thank you!” Paul Fitzgerald – Team Celtic Badger Media – Cadence

“Was a genuine privilege to lead such an amazing crew and cast through this manic expedition. Special thanks to Mary Owens & Donncha Ó hÉallaithe for letting this motley crew of filmmakers invade your home with coffin in tow.” Barra Convery – Team A Curious Beast – Hammer and Nail

“There’s something still so crazy to me that all these gorgeously talented people pooled together for one weekend to make a little idea of mine & Mairead’s become a reality. To Little Cinema Galway and Ardán for making all this possible and getting me out of work for a weekend every year to do what I love with the people I love.” Georgia Lee – Team Oat Flat White Productions – Death’s a Drag

The Little Cinema & Galway City of Film 48 Hour Challenge is part of the annual Galway City of Film programme for 2024 and was made possible this year by support from Ardán, Galway City Arts Office, Galway County Arts Office, TG4, Screen Ireland, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Woodquay Hostel, PorterShed, Galway Film Fleadh, Unbound Media, and the Town Hall Theatre Galway. 

Galway City of Film is a UNESCO designation managed by Ardán on behalf of Galway City and County Councils. 

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