YOUNG CRITICS

Jamie Waddell, Clare Mee and Colum Culleton chat about the absurdist director/writer/actor Taika Waititi.

PODCASTERS
Clare Mee (Tipperary)
Colum Culleton (Dublin)
Jamie Waddell (Dublin)
Patrick O'Connor Mason (Dublin)

EDITOR
Patrick O'Connor Mason (Dublin)

COMPOSER
Colum Culleton (Dublin)

FUNDED BY
The Arts Council

CREATED BY
National Young Filmmakers & Animators Network
@Young Irish Film Makers (Kilkenny)

Directors' Series #2 Taika Waititi: Vampires, Gods and Nazis

Jamie, Phil and Colum talk about Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Dune.

PODCASTERS
Colum Culleton (Dublin)
Jamie Waddell (Dublin)
Patrick O'Connor Mason (Dublin)
Phil Spillane (Cork)

EDITOR
Patrick O'Connor Mason (Dublin)

COMPOSER
Colum Culleton (Dublin)

FUNDED BY
The Arts Council

CREATED BY
National Young Filmmakers & Animators Network
@Young Irish Film Makers (Kilkenny)

Sand+Worms=Dune - Dune Review(Mild Spoilers)

The Young Critics talk about Galway Film Fleadh opener Joyride. 
Here's a link to our instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngirishcritics/

Podcasters:
Adelaide Kane 
Amy McFarland 
Colum Culleton
John Brady
Leone Wright

Editor
Mia Hogan

Music
Colum Culleton

FUNDED BY
The Arts Council

CREATED BY
National Young Filmmakers & Animators Network
@Young Irish Film Makers (Kilkenny)

Joyride - Young Critics Podcast

The Young Critics talk about Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Here's a link to our instagram: www.instagram.com/youngirishcritics/

Podcasters:
Adam Van Eekeren
Jamie Waddell
John Brady
Pia Roycroft

Edited by:
Patrick O'Conor Mason

Music:
Colum Culleton

FUNDED BY
The Arts Council

CREATED BY
National Young Filmmakers & Animators Network
@Young Irish Film Makers (Kilkenny)

Young Critics' Podcast Everything Everywhere All At Once

An interview with writer, film critic, and filmmaker Anastasia Brown about her film 'The Name Has A Price' and her writing process.

To see more of Anastasia's work take a look at her linktree: https://linktr.ee/anastasiabrownfilm

Editor:
Patrick O'Connor Mason

Music:
Thomas Thorogood

Interviewer: 
Colum Culleton

FUNDED BY
The Arts Council

CREATED BY
National Young Filmmakers & Animators Network
@Young Irish Film Makers (Kilkenny)

Young Critics Interview with Anastasia Brown

The Young Critics are joined by Anastasia Brown to discuss the musical works of John Carney.

To see more of Anastasia's work take a look at her linktree: linktr.ee/anastasiabrownfilm

Podcasters:
Adam Van Eekeren
Amy McFarlane
Anastasia Brown
Colum Culleton

Editor:
Patrick O'Connor Mason

Music:
Colum Culleton

FUNDED BY
The Arts Council

CREATED BY
National Young Filmmakers & Animators Network
@Young Irish Film Makers (Kilkenny)

Directors' Series #3 John Carney, with Anastasia Brown

The Young Critics talk violence in Christmas movies, Christmas classics and childhood ruining moments on TV. Also we finally settle the debate of whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie because nobody was there to say otherwise! Happy Christmas and Yippee-ki-yay!

Podcasters:
Adelaide Kane
Colum Culleton
Jack Griffin
Pia Roycroft

Edited by:
Patrick O'Conor Mason

Music:
Colum Culleton

FUNDED BY
The Arts Council

CREATED BY
National Young Filmmakers & Animators Network
@Young Irish Film Makers (Kilkenny)

Violent Night? Home Alone Did it First! - The Young Critics Ruin Christmas Again!

An extract from our Christmas podcast. We discuss the coming year in film, the death of streaming, the positives and negatives of casual film criticism and much more. Happy New Year!

Podcasters:
Adelaide Kane
Colum Culleton
Jack Griffin
Pia Roycroft

Edited by:
Patrick O'Conor Mason

Music:
Colum Culleton

FUNDED BY
The Arts Council

CREATED BY
National Young Filmmakers & Animators Network
@Young Irish Film Makers (Kilkenny)

End of the Year and the Future of Cinema - Christmas Podcast Extract

Alannah Brent interviews filmmaker Liam Hall Walshe on how he got into film, how he started the Westmeath Filmmakers Collective, and what he hopes for the future of Irish film.

If you want to see more from Liam, follow him on instagram: @liamjhallwalshe

Interviewer:
Alannah Brent

Editor:
Patrick O'Connor Mason

Music:
Colum Culleton

FUNDED BY
The Arts Council

CREATED BY
National Young Filmmakers & Animators Network
@Young Irish Film Makers (Kilkenny)

Young Critics Interview Liam Hall Walshe

The Young Critics discuss Irish cinema, the current golden era of Irish Cinema, and the best Irish films. Joining them is filmmaker Liam Hall Walshe.

If you want to see more from Liam, follow him on instagram: @liamjhallwalshe

Follow Young Irish Critics to for more film reviews and podcasts: @youngirishcritics

Podcasters:
Alannah Brent
Adam Van Eekeren
Jack Griffin
Liam Hall Walshe

Editor:
Patrick O'Connor Mason

Music:
Colum Culleton

FUNDED BY
The Arts Council

CREATED BY
National Young Filmmakers & Animators Network
@Young Irish Film Makers (Kilkenny)

Is Irish Cinema in its' Golden Era? Discussing Modern Irish Cinema with Liam Hall Walshe

The Young Critics discuss our recent trip to the Galway Film Fleadh last month!
This podcast features John as host, with Adelaide and Jack joining him for a chat on how they liked the festival as well as what they saw there!

Follow Young Irish Critics to for more film reviews and podcasts: @youngirishcritics

Podcasters:
Adelaide Keane
Jack Griffin
John Brady

Editor:
Patrick O'Connor Mason

Music:
Colum Culleton

FUNDED BY
The Arts Council

CREATED BY
National Young Filmmakers & Animators Network
@Young Irish Film Makers (Kilkenny)

The Young Critics take on the Galway Film Fleadh 2023!

The Young Critics discuss our experiences watching 2023's popular dual feature; Greta Gerwig's Barbie and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer!

Follow Young Irish Critics to for more film reviews and podcasts: @youngirishcritics

Podcasters:
Pia Roycroft
Jack Griffin
Jack Murphy
John Brady

Editor:
Patrick O'Connor Mason

Music:
Colum Culleton

FUNDED BY
The Arts Council

CREATED BY
National Young Filmmakers & Animators Network
@Young Irish Film Makers (Kilkenny)

The Young Critics Talk : Barbenheimer!

YIFMCAST is a Podcast led by young people with a passion for all things film related!

In this very first episode join LTI Students, Evie, Rian, Aaron and Keelan as they tell us who they are, what their interests and skills in film making are, what it's like hosting a podcast and their time on the LTI course at Young Irish Film Makers in Kilkenny!

The LTI course in Young Irish Film Makers is a Local Training Initiative in Digital Media and Visual Communications QQI Level 5, funded by the Kilkenny/Carlow ETB.  We hope you enjoy this episode, and don’t forget to tune in next week for the next episode!

Host: Evie O’Brien
Guests: Rian O’ Keeffe, Keelan Donohue & Aaron O’Dea
Audio Engineer: Xenis Nikalou

Thank you to the help of Aoife Anderson, Lauren Hickey, Neville Mullally and Sorcha Hyland who helped in the production of the podcast.

Find us on: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngirishfilmmakers_yifm/
Facebook: @youngirishfilmmakers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yifm

YIFMCAST SERIES 1: EPISODE 1

YIFMCAST is a weekly Podcast series led by young people with a passion for all things film related! In this episode four Local Training Initiative (LTI) students, Evie, Rian, Aaron and Keelan, discuss a few critically acclaimed films they love to loathe and why. 

Critically Acclaimed: When a significant majority of film critics offer a film a large amount of positive reviews.
Loathe: Intense dislike or disgust for something

The LTI course at Young Irish Film Makers is a Level VI (QQI) Local Training Initiative in Digital Media and Visual Communications, funded by the Kilkenny/Carlow ETB.  

Host: Evie O’Brien
Podcasters: Rian O’ Keeffe, Keelan Donohue & Aaron O’Dea
Technical Director: Xenis Nikalou
Produced with Young Irish Film Makers staff including Aoife Anderson, Lauren Hickey, Neville Mullally and Sorcha Hyland.

YIFMCAST SERIES 1: EPISODE 2

YIFMCAST is a weekly Podcast series led by young people with a passion for all things film related! In this episode, join four Local Training Initiative (LTI) students, Evie, Rian, Aaron and Keelan as they discuss a significant moment in their lives that they would like to make into a film and why.

The LTI course at Young Irish Film Makers is a Level VI (QQI) Local Training Initiative in Digital Media and Visual Communications, funded by the Kilkenny/Carlow ETB.  

Host: Evie O’Brien
Podcasters: Rian O’ Keeffe, Keelan Donohue & Aaron O’Dea
Technical Director: Xenis Nikolaou
Produced with Young Irish Film Makers staff including Aoife Anderson, Lauren Hickey, Neville Mullally and Sorcha Hyland.

YIFMCAST SERIES 1: EPISODE 3

Check out our new Young Critics programme with this introductory interview from veteran Irish film journalist, broadcaster and copywriter, Esther McCarthy. McCarthy shares how she got into the industry and offers some great tips for young people interested in film criticism. Stay tuned as next week our Young Critics take the mic and review the internationally acclaimed, award-winning South Korean film, Parasite (dir. Boon Joon-ho, 2019). Any young people interested in learning, writing and talking about cinema are welcome to join this free, online Young Critics programme. Contact Sorcha Hyland, programme director at network@yifm.com for details.
CREDITS: Podcaster: Esther McCarthy. Sound Editor: Alireza Khaledi. Host: Sorcha Hyland

Young Critics: Interview with Esther McCarthy

YIFMCASTERS have their finger on the pulse this week as Disney's new streaming service provides increased access to older, and in some instances, controversial Big Screen classics. This episode bravely engages with ideas about race and identity in the context of the classic Disney film. We did our best to create a "safe and brave space" (bell hooks) for authentic debate here. Some of the ideas shared are challenging and open for further learning and discussion. We would love to hear your thoughts on this podcast! DISClAIMER:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this recording belong solely to the podcasters, and do not necessarily reflect those of Young Irish Film Makers as an organization. YIFM promote inclusion and diversity across its programming. We seek to become a fully accessible organisation so young people from every community, ethnicity, race, gender, class, ability and identity can engage with our services.

Host: Evie O’Brien
Guests: Rian O’ Keeffe, Keelan Donohue & Aaron O’Dea
Audio Engineer: Xenis Nikalou

Thank you to the help of Aoife Anderson, Lauren Hickey, Neville Mullally and Sorcha Hyland who helped in the production of the podcast.

Find us on:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/youngirishfilmmakers_yifm/
Facebook: @youngirishfilmmakers
Twitter: twitter.com/yifm

YIFMCAST SERIES 1: EPISODE 4

Though Parasite (dir. Boon Jooh-ho, 2019) predates our current global lock-down experience it eerily foretells what happens when the gap between the "haves" and the "have nots" is hit by not just environmental but also man-made disaster. Listen in as two Young Critics from Co. Wicklow, "Aindreas" and "Freya" share their take on this brilliant piece of award-winning South Korean cinema.
CREDITS: YIFM Young Critics: Freya & Aindreas. Sound Editor: Alireza Khaledi *If you would like to join YIFM's free online Young Critics programme just contact Sorcha Hyland at network@yifm.com for details

Young Critics: Parasite Film Review

In this week's episode of YIFMCAST, Evie, Aaron, Rian and Keelan discuss the controversial topic of originals vs remakes. The films discussed are:
1984 (1956 by Micheal Anderson) VS 1984 (1984 by Micheal Radford)
IT (1990 by Tommy Lee Wallace) VS IT (2017 by Andy Muschietti)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1971 by Mel Stuart) VS Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005 by Tim Burton)

The LTI course at Young Irish Film Makers is a Level VI (QQI) Local Training Initiative in Digital Media and Visual Communications, funded by the Kilkenny/Carlow ETB.  

Host: Evie O’Brien
Podcasters: Keelan Donohue, Aaron O’Dea & Rian O’ Keeffe 
Technical Director: Xenis Nikolaou
Produced with Young Irish Film Makers staff including Aoife Anderson, Lauren Hickey, Neville Mullally and Sorcha Hyland.

YIFMCAST SERIES 1: EPISODE 5

This week we jump pretty deep into our own "depth of field" here as we talk about one of the most famous film noir classics, Citizen Kane (Dir. Welles, 1942). Young Critics consider what it means to be a "citizen" and all kinds of other good stuff. Let us know what you think! CREDITS. Young Critics: Adelaide Kane, Alireza & Aindreas. Sound Editor: Alireza. Host: Sorcha Hyland. *To join YIFM's free online Young Critics programme contact network@yifm.com

Citizen Kane

This week YIFM Young Critics choose and discuss a film that really resonated with them as teenagers and young adults "coming of age" themselves in Ireland. John Butler's 2016 film, Handsome Devil, not only challenges all kinds of traditional Irish male stereotypes, it brings "comfort" to this young viewers. Listen in and please share our work! Editor: Alireza. Young Critics: Adelaide, Freya & Emma. Host: Sorcha Hyland. *To join YIFM's free online Young Critics programme contact network@yifm.com

Handsome Devil (Dir. Butler, 2016)

This week's episode of YIFMCAST shines a light on the month of May as Mental Health Awareness month. The first episode of series 2 discusses the connections between mental health and music. This encouraging and insightful conversation discusses how music lifts are spirits when we need it most.

The LTI course at Young Irish Film Makers is a Level VI (QQI) Local Training Initiative in Digital Media and Visual Communications, funded by the Kilkenny/Carlow ETB.  

Host: Evie O’Brien
Podcasters: Keelan Donohue, Aaron O’Dea & Rian O’ Keeffe 
Technical Director: Xenis Nikolaou
Produced with Young Irish Film Makers staff including Aoife Anderson, Neville Mullally and Sorcha Hyland.


Organisations that do fantastic work for Youth Mental health in Ireland are:

Jigsaw: https://www.jigsaw.ie/
We are Jigsaw, The National Centre for Youth Mental Health. There to ensure that no young person feels alone, isolated and disconnected from others around them. We provide vital supports to young people with their mental health by working closely with communities across Ireland. 



Spunout:https://spunout.ie/news
Spunout:  aim to educate and inform readers about the importance of holistic wellbeing and how good health can be maintained, both physically and mentally.
Spunout believes that there should be easy access to relevant, reliable, and non-judgemental information and are proud to provide our readers with a dynamic, responsive website full of up-to-date, factual information, free of any shame or bias.

YIFMCAST SERIES 1: EPISODE 6

Alireza Khaledi (Tehran, Iran) and Aaron O'Dea (Kilkenny, Ireland) are both Young Critics and Young Filmmakers. This week they talk with fellow Young Critics, Aindreas (Host) and Emma about their amazing and award-winning new work "Strange Time" (Dir. Khaledi, 2020), and "The Government's Plan" (Dir.O'Dea, 2019). View these short films online at: Link Pending and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0EIsGDFLkM

Young Critics : Interview with Alireza Khaledi & Aaron O'Dea

YIFMCAST is a Podcast led by young people with a passion for all things film related!

In this episode, join LTI students Evie, Rian, Aaron, Raz and Keelan as they discuss the relationship between mental health and film. This conversation is rich with discussion, exploring such places as escapism, tv shows and animation. The episode highlights the mental health benefits that can come from enjoying a comedy film and just being able to have a laugh.

The LTI course in Young Irish Film Makers is a Local Training Initiative in Digital Media and Visual Communications, funded by the Kilkenny/Carlow ETB.  We hope you enjoy this episode, and don’t forget to tune in next week for the next episode!


Towards the end of this episode to highlight the importance of Mental Health Awareness Month, Evie referenced a number of important organisations doing amazing to support our mental health.

Pieta: https://www.pieta.ie/
Pieta provides free therapy to those engaging in self-harm, with suicidal ideation, or bereaved by suicide.  Pieta rely on the generosity of the public whose donations and fundraising make up over 80% of their income. 

Spunout:https://spunout.ie/news
Spunout:  aim to educate and inform readers about the importance of holistic wellbeing and how good health can be maintained, both physically and mentally.
Spunout believes that there should be easy access to relevant, reliable, and non-judgemental information and are proud to provide our readers with a dynamic, responsive website full of up-to-date, factual information, free of any shame or bias.

Mental Health Ireland: https://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/
Mental Health Ireland aim to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for all individuals and communities, to support people with lived experience of mental health challenges in their recovery, bringing practical expression to national policy objectives.
Mental Health Ireland, founded in 1966 has a range of resources to support individuals with their mental health and provide training to those who want to become more well informed.
Host: Evie O’Brien
Guests: Rian O’ Keeffe, Keelan Donohue, Raz Jalali & Aaron O’Dea
Tech: Xenis Nikalou

Thank you to the help of Aoife Anderson,Neville Mullally and Sorcha Hyland who helped in the production of the podcast.

YIFMCAST SERIES 1: EPISODE 7

YIFMCAST is a weekly Podcast series led by young people with a passion for all things film related! In this final episode of the season, join four Local Training Initiative (LTI) students, Evie, Rian, Aaron and Keelan as they discuss all things music related.

The LTI course at Young Irish Film Makers is a Level VI (QQI) Local Training Initiative in Digital Media and Visual Communications, funded by the Kilkenny/Carlow ETB.  

Host: Evie O’Brien
Podcasters: Keelan Donohue, Aaron O’Dea & Rian O’ Keeffe 
Technical Director: Xenis Nikolaou
Produced with Young Irish Film Makers staff including Aoife Anderson and Neville Mullally.

YIFMCAST SERIES 1: EPISODE 10

Founded in 1991, Young Irish Film Makers (YIFM) is the national organisation working with young people through the training and production of film and animation.    The National Youth Film & Animation School is just one of their programmes working with young people to help develop their talents and prepare them for college and a career in the industry.  YIFM now works with over 1800 young people across Ireland each year both locally at their studios in Kilkenny and nationwide through their National Network, Young Critics and Outreach programmes.  Now 30 years old, YIFM has some interesting alumni including one or two filmmakers who have done very well indeed.  
  
‘Young Irish Film Makers inspired me to become a filmmaker. The easy going, yet disciplined, atmosphere introduced me to the joys of teamwork and storytelling at an early age.  I have carried those lessons through my whole career.’ 
Tomm Moore, Oscar Nominated Director at Cartoon Saloon


YIFM now work with over 1800 young people annually across Ireland.  Demand is growing as YIFM film making workshops are recognised for their ability to deliver high quality outcomes for young people.  Many young people use the creative skills gained with YIFM to go on to third level film, media production and animation courses in Ireland and abroad.  Those who don’t remain in the audiovisual industries take with them all the soft skills they have learned from their time working with YIFM.  Skills such as creativity, teamwork, communication skills, collaborative working, critical thinking and problem solving. 

YIFM are dedicated to improving access to and participation in arts for young people in all parts of the country.  They aim to do this by developing their infrastructure to build a multi purpose National centre of excellence to support their work in the areas of youth film and animation programmes across Ireland.

YIFM Alumni -
Over the years Young Irish Film Makers have had the pleasure of working with some very talented young people.  Some of whom grew up to do some amazing work in the creative industries.  The most famous being Tomm Moore & Ross Stewart from Cartoon Saloon who were members at YIFM, before returning after college to start their animation studio along with Nora Twomey & Paul Young within the walls of Young Irish Film Makers.   
Oscar nominated director Tomm Moore says this of the organisation:  ‘Young Irish Film Makers inspired me to become a filmmaker. The easy going, yet disciplined, atmosphere introduced me to the joys of teamwork and storytelling at an early age. I have carried those lessons through my whole career.’

Other YIFM alumni include: 
Rory Fleck Byrne began his acting career with YIFM taking part in numerous film making projects and just recently starred with Pierce Brosnan & Jackie Chan in “The Foreigner”
Laura Gaynor attended the National Youth Film School, went on to study film at IADT and has recently been selected for the BBC Production Training Programme.
Ferdia Shaw is one of our younger members who has just recently signed up with Disney to play Artemis Fowl in a series of movies alongside Dame Judy Dench and directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Young Irish Film Makers

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