The Arts Council is delighted to congratulate filmmakers Paul Duane, David Cairns and Tony Donoghue on the selection of their films for screening at the prestigious Telluride Film Festival in Colorado (29 August - 2 September). Described by the Washington Post as 'a first rate proving ground for new pictures', the Telluride Film Festival is one of the world's most influential film festivals and it is a major achievement for a film to be selected for it.
Made under the Arts Council's Reel Art documentary scheme, Natan which is co-directed by Paul Duane and David Cairns, tells the story of Romanian immigrant Bernard Natan, who became one of the most successful film producers in France at the beginning of the 20th century. The film investigates the reasons for his sudden fall from grace which led to his execution in Auschwitz and his subsequent disappearance from history.
In returning Bernard Natan to his rightful place at the centre of early 20th century cinema, Paul Duane and David Cairns have made a film that is itself a significant contribution to the history of French cinema. The film is a creatively compelling and richly textured work that has been described by the Irish Times as '...an extraordinary documentary'. Natan has garnered international recognition and acclaim since it premiered at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival in February and looks set to continue to do so following its screening at Telluride.
Also screening at the Telluride Film Festival is Tony Donoghue's short animated film Irish Folk Furniture. Made under the Frameworks scheme - a joint initiative of the Arts Council, the Irish Film Board and RTÉ - Irish Folk Furniture won the award for best short animation at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2013. This delightful and unique gem of a film continues to engage and charm audiences at screenings around the world.
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