We are thrilled to have the first screening of Tapestry of Colours in the USA at the Irish Reels Films Festival in Seattle.
So if you’re in Seattle on Sunday 13th October at 12:30pm, get yourself down to the SIFF Film Centre.
I’ll be having a Skype chat after the screening.
This was such an interesting session to be in with other panel members are Susan Lovell, Head of Commissioning, BBC NI, Suzie Wright, Media Project Manager, Channel 4, Channel 4 and Joyce Adeluwoye-Adams, Head of Diversity, PACT and Kate O’Connor, Deputy Chief Executive, Creative Skillset. Great to start the session with the trailer of my film and see the positive responses afterwards. Hugs and everything!
The session was skillfully chaired by Bronagh Crummey-Bryan. Honest questions and thought provoking inquiries. But I remain baffled at the focus of on policies and statistics when asked about human beings and issues. The highlight for me remain when I had the chance to say unreservedly: “I decide what defines me, I decide who I am”.
What an absolute privilege to have been a part of this incredible film project, a genuine work of art and a true labour of love by the brilliant and visionary director Grant Wakefield.
“Through beautiful and hard-earned imagery Wakefield has created a moving inner journey that lets us feel our connection to our ancient roots and the timeless turning of the earth.”
– Mark Magidson, producer BARAKA & SAMSARA
Keep a look out for FullDome theatre screenings in the new future.
Things are nicely hotting up for the Culture Tech screening on 12 September, 7pm. The venue has had to be changed to the Nerve Centre in Derry but all set to be a nice lead to the panel session at the Belfast Media Festival the next morning.
Only too happy to write a blog for the festivals
Click here to read my Culture TECH/Belfast Media Festival blog
I’ve been excited for ages that there will be a panel session about Diversity in the Creative Industries at the next Belfast Media Festival that I’ll be a part of which will use the trailer of the film to kick-start the discussion. I can finally let the cat out of the bag!
Other panel memebers are Susan Lovell, Head of Commissioning, BBC NI, Stuart Cosgrove, Head of Creative Diversity, Channel 4 and Joyce Adeluwoye-Adams, Head of Diversity, PACT. It promises to be very interesting and quite possibly a bit challenging.
It’ll be at the Playhouse Theatre in Derry~Londonderry at 11am on Friday 13th September, following the Tapestry of Colours screening at Culture Tech Festival on 12th September at Orchard Cinema at 7:30pm. The event is open to BMF delegates only.
Absolutely delighted that Tapestry of Colours will be screened with director’s Q&A at Culture Tech Festival in Derry~Londonderry this year. It will be on 12 September at 7pm at Orchard Cinema.
Last year I took a couple of days off from all the mad preparations for the preview of the film that was happening at the Lyric in Belfast in September and went to the first Culture Tech Festival. I wasn’t sure what to expect and ended up going to some amazing sessions. Who knew the film would be screened the following year at the festival! And it’ll be followed the next day by another really important event…watch this space for more info….
I can’t even begin to say how I feel after the 11 screenings and Q&As of Tapestry of Colours. Just back after the last one, in Strabane. To see Sin Fein, SDLP, DUP Councillors and PSNI representatives and other people, having watched my films Living in the Half Light and then Tapestry of Colours, and all moved by the films and totally sharing the same views on what they saw, the personal stories and the way the films were made and openly and warmly, without the least bit of friction, mistrust or criticism, discussing the implications and what they have learnt, and then all of them and the rest of the audience, without exception mesmerised and cheering and applauding the amazing performances by two incredibly talented musicians who feature on Tapestry of Colours, William Dundon, who happens to be a traveller and Fergal O’Brien…and showing me and my work appreciation you can only dream of…makes all the months of blood, sweat and tears to make the film and to bring it to this point of engagement worth while…it’s all truly truly humbling…You have to live in Northern Ireland to realise how significant and unbelievable all this is…
Very very excited to receive an email today from the office of First Minister and Deputy Minister in Northern Ireland to say that I will be contacted to make arrangements to host an event to screen “Tapestry of Colours” in Parliament Buildings….
UPDATE: Unfortunately this event has had to be put on hold until further notice due to difficulties in making practical arrangements
It pretty much blew my mind reading this review on FREQ by Gary Parsons and such kind words about my vocals too:
“The album opens with “Lamentations” – soaring string-sounding synths build up beneath a beautiful vocal from Zhenia Mahdi-Nau, and the sound here is very reminiscent of Dead Can Dance as it conjures up the images of the ancient pagan temples clinging close to the cliff edges on Greek islands. Whether this is a lamentation to the crumbling state of these monuments or a lament for the rituals of old matters not, it is a powerful opener and one that casts a spell over the album…..“Acquiescence” closes the album, its breathless vocal chant bringing us back to the ancient temples where the sun is now setting casting deep its darkness until the stars begin to appear in the sky above like a shining carpet. Keyboards swell underneath an impassioned voice and we are left in its mood of sombre quiet as the music drifts off into the aether.
The album seems to tell a story (although it is certainly not a concept album) and bookended by two graceful tracks give the sense of the beginning and end of a journey. Was the album worth the seven year wait? I, for one, certainly think so.”
Click here to hear Lamentations
Apollo, the new Banco De Gaia album went on sale. Woop woop, yehhhhhhh…….