From the 4 Finalists Announced for the 2009 Competition
Abigail Pilkington
Elaine Greene
Una Kelly
Dearbhaile Houston

The Winner is
Dearbhaile Houston with a project entitled 'There is A Light and it Never Goes Out'
Her prize is a Script Training Workshop kindly supplied by Galway Film Centre.

Have you got the X-Factor for Storytelling?

The Junior Galway Film Fleadh, in association with The Galway Film Centre and SpunOut, (a leading national youth organisation) are delighted to announce their 2nd annual story pitch competition.

The competition is open to young people between the ages of 13 – 18 years old. If you are interested in competing, you are invited to write a short (500 word) idea for a story – that idea might be for a feature film, a short film, a documentary, a book or – even a video game!

Maybe the idea will grip the audience from the outset, maybe it will slowly intrigue, maybe the end will offer a surprise, or a twist that will floor the audience?

Interested? Then we would advise that you write a draft of your idea, and then practice to family and friends. Become comfortable relaying, even performing the story outline. Because, should your idea be one of the 3 shortlisted, you will be invited to present it on the stage of the Town Hall Theatre to the assembled audience and jury during the festival which takes place 11th – 14th November 2009.

Each idea will be critiqued by Will Collins (winner of the 2008 Galway Film Fleadh Pitching Award) whose debut film is currently in production.

Prize: Script Training Scholarship at Galway Film Centre

What winning meant to last year's winner: Cait Neylon
I came up with my story by reading old myths and fairy tales. I then combined two together and placed them in a more modern setting. I feel that loneliness was the main theme of the story.

I was deeply flattered when I found out that I had been shortlisted. I've always considered writing stories and the like to be a personal type of thing so it was a great surprise to hear that others had enjoyed it. I prepared for the pitch by learning the short outline that I had submitted by heart and performing it in front of family members.

Pitching my idea on the THT stage was a surreal experience. I was quite nervous but once the words started to flow the process felt natural. I'll definitely feel more confident if performing on stage again with that experience behind me. My prize was a scriptwriting course 'From Idea to Script' provided by the Galway Film Centre. During this course I managed to complete a first draft of a short film.

I hope the competition is as successful as last year!

Cait Neylon

What Participating meant to last year's Runner Up: Soracha O'Rourke
I heard about the competition from my class teacher who actually approached me with a poster advertising the event, she knew English was my favorite subject and that Ii enjoyed conjuring up the occasional short story. I'd never entered any sort of competition as regards my writing so I really submitted my entry because she went to the bother of telling me about the contest!

When i was informed that I was a finalisist I was completely shocked but I was nearly sick to my stomach, I'd never been on stage in my life, I'm more of a behind the scenes girl! I was really nervous about what the other people my age would think of my idea but I just took a deep breath and went for it, and came out with a book voucher, so I'm extremely pleased I made myself follow through! I think the competition is great, not just for a motivation to write but I feel it was great for my confidence, I've been on stage debating since aswell as public speaking and  the giving of speeches and it didn't knock anything out of me, as a result I actually discovered my communication skills are actually a vaulable asset and haven't stopped writing since the competition ended.

All the best,
Soracha