Scoil Cholmcille Letterkenny students' film shortlisted for FÍS Film Awards

The 2024 FÍS Film Awards have announced that students from Scoil Cholmcille, Letterkenny, have made the shortlist for this year's competition.

Their film, The Award, is one of 20 nominated from around the country. The renowned contest which is now in its 18th year, will feature a host of short movies created by primary school children and their teachers across Ireland. This year’s event, hosted by RTE’s Sinead Kennedy is set to take place in the Helix, Dublin on February February 21. With over 1,500 pupils involved, the FÍS Film Awards aims to inspire a new generation of budding filmmakers from within the classroom.

The premise of the FÍS project is to introduce and lead pupils, often as young as six and seven years of age through every step of the filmmaking process. By doing so, children are offered a unique opportunity to develop their creative skills outside of a traditional classroom setting.

Aspiring moviemakers are encouraged to test their communication and collaborative skills, essential components for personal growth and learning. Additionally, pupils are given hands-on experience with a variety of filmmaking tools and equipment, bolstering their digital skills and increasing their confidence with new technologies. The FÍS project is in line with the Government’s digital strategy for schools, an action plan for integrating digital technologies into teaching and learning assessments in the classroom.

From one cohort of students to another, the award ceremony will be filmed and broadcast by third-level students from the IADT’s National Film School, MA in Broadcast Production for Radio & TV to provide them with hands-on professional and practical experience as they seek to further their skills. In addition, post-production of the awards is produced by students on IADT’s BA in Film & TV programme.

This year’s FÍS Awards Ceremony will recognise a wide range of achievements across 20 unique categories. Celebrating all aspects of the filmmaking process, it will include awards for acting, costume design, originality, and storytelling among others. The wide range of accolades on offer aim to highlight the many different components pupils and teachers must consider when acting as movie directors, producers and screenwriters.