The best of Irish shorts

Cinegael film festival’s short film evening

By Byron Toben

My own favourite of the many film festivals in Montreal is Cinegael, the Irish film festival. Now in its 24th year, it is pas comme les autres festivals, in that is spread out from February to late April, roughly a week apart with a well earned break during the March madness when pre-occupied with St. Patrick celebrations.

One of its annual highlights is the short film evening in which attendees get to vote for the three most liked. Discussions often continue in nearby pubs such as McKibbin’s, Hurley’s and Irish Embassy.

You can see the synopsis of this year’s eleven selections at cinegaelmontreal.com
(Just gaze down to April 1 and press the “more” button.)

The shortest film, Luke and Roger, is a mere 1-minute comedy.
The longest, The Party is a 14-minute drama.
The nine others clock in at 8 to 13 minutes

Note that The Stutterer (13 minutes) won the recent Academy Award for best live action short.

Goodbye Darling (11 minutes) echoes the 1916 Easter Uprising in its centenary in this year which will be more fully explored in Cinegael’s special week end April 22 -23.

The short film evening is only $11 for non-members. Full membership at $70 includes all nine showings, the opening reception and the closing Gala, plus occasional special events during the rest of the year.

Screenings are at the J.A. DeSève Cinema, Concordia University, 1400 de Maisonneuve W
More information at cinegaelmontreal.com

Image: scene from Goodbye Darling

Byron Toben is the immediate past-president of the Montreal Press Club.