Five schools take part in Roscommon Mini Motion Pictures Film Festival

Five primary schools took part in the recent Roscommon Mini Motion Pictures Film Festival at Roscommon Arts Centre.

Curraghboy NS took part in the competition alongside Scoil Bhríde, Mountrath (Laois), Boher NS (Offaly), Granard NS (Longford) and Lanesborough Primary School (Longford).

There was a prize of 30 Samsung tablets and a digital e-flipboard for the winning school and 10 tablets for the runners-up. Samsung goodie bags were also provided for every pupil.

Each school’s film was screened in front of judges on the day, who had a very tough decision choosing from the five schools.

‘Microbit Madness’ was Curraghboy’s film, which told the story of two time-travelling children, and incorporated the use of programming and STEM during production.

Mountrath scooped the second place prize for their film, ‘Granny’s Revenge’ and the winning school Boher NS for ‘Down with that sort of thing’, which retold the true story of the robbery of the Shrine of St. Manchan.

The film festival was supported by Roscommon County Council Creative Schools, the Creative Ireland Programme, Samsung, transACT Technology Solutions and Shuttermaniac Productions.

The technology that pupils used for filming and editing was provided in what Samsung B2B National Account Manager Ireland, Darran Shaw, called a “safe and sustainable way.

“With our technologies, we went to the Department of Education and we looked for some legacy devices that they were going to bring to an end of life and we looked to upscale them. We put them into what's called our Knox programme and our Knox programme was able to secure them and put an environment around them just to turn them into video cameras so that they were safe and secure to use.” 

 Commenting on the high standard of films on display, Creative Schools Associate Aideen McHugh said: “Today is proof of what can happen when you open the floor to young people and allow them the opportunity to express your creative thinking, whatever way you choose.” She added: “To be here today, celebrating the young creatives, it's an honour. You have all shown your huge ability and the value in what you choose to do and how you choose to say it and share it with us.” 

Creative Director for the competition was Lee Williamson from Shuttermaniac Productions. In his role, he assisted the schools using his expertise and equipment from his production company.

He also praised the pupils after working alongside them for the last few months. “I’m incredibly proud of everyone involved, from the filmmakers to the organisers, and I look forward to seeing where this journey takes them. The future of storytelling is bright, and today, we all got a glimpse of it."

“Seeing the smiles, the applause, and the sheer joy of being part of something bigger reminded me why events like these are so vital. They’re not just screenings—they’re launching pads for dreams.” 

Schools can register their interest in any potential future film festivals by emailing lee@shuttermaniac.com.