Launch of short experimental poetry film in Mayo

Mayo-based filmmaker Orlagh Heverin will launch her short experimental poetry film entitled The Secret Tree in the Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, on Wednesday, November 25.

Starting at 6 p.m., this free event includes poetry, music, the screening of the short, and a Q&A session with the filmmaker.

The short was shot entirely in Mayo during autumn last year. Poetry, image and music are important elements of this film, with Mayo actors Anne Fahey Ronayne and Ca Denning starring, while the music was composed by Mayo-based musician Patrick Dexter and performed by musicians Eibhlín Gallagher, Dervilla Hynes and Finola Reilly. Spoken words in the film are adapted from extracts of poetry by Mayo-based poet Anne Walsh Donnelly.

At the heart of the short is female sexual trauma, and it is apt that the film is screened during the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (which runs from November 25 to December 10). The screening on November 25 coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Heverin is grateful for artist support from The Linenhall Arts Centre and support from a Mayo Artist Bursary from the Mayo Arts Service for the launch of her short.

To book a place for the launch, contact The Linenhall Arts Centre on (094) 9023733 or visit www.thelinenhall.com. All are welcome.