A festival by its very nature is a ‘celebration’ and Clones Film Festival certainly lived up to that billing for 5 days of October 2009. From opening night to closing night, they came, they saw and they celebrated in higher numbers than previous years and with a voracious appetite for the diverse menu the programmers had created, all aided by the support of the Arts Council and Monaghan County Council and sponsored by a host of local and national businesses and film related organisations.
Space does not allow a look at all the films on offer over the 5 days but if attendance is a measure then Clones Film Festival has certainly got it right in terms of programming as 2009 saw a big leap in the numbers and interest in all the films offered. Chief among these would be Julie & Julia, District 9, The Balcony, Everlasting Moments and The Liberties. So let’s look at the special events at the festival and try and give a flavour of the exceptional and varied entertainment experienced by all who attended.
 
Wednesday: Opening Night
On opening night Pat Donlon, Director of Annamakerrig House, the nearby artists retreat, warmly welcomed the assembled guests and film makers. She complemented the programmers and organizers on the range and scope of what was on offer over the coming days and using films in the programme as points of reference, she recalled a career closely involved in all things film. She was then followed by her husband Phelim who again pointed out the significance of Clones Film Festival and congratulated all concerned for keeping this festival vibrant and on the cultural map of the country.
MC for the evening was the current chair of the festival committee, Cathy Sheerin, who introduced the first short film of the festival; ‘Sundown’ a beautifully crafted animation produced by Clones man Feidhlimidh Wrafter. That was followed by a short witty documentary on cartoonist Tom Matthews and Cathy then introduced Serena Brabazon, star of The Chronoscope who spoke briefly about the film which was thoroughly enjoyed by a rapt audience.
What can one say about the music for opening night? Mirenda Rosenberg is quite simply amazing, oozing star quality in an age of blandness she certainly wowed those who stayed on to listen to her and her band. She will certainly be back for more!
 
Thursday: GAA 125 Day
 Thursday saw the real business of this festival begin with the arrival of the local primary schools to experience big screen cinema in their home town amongst their peers, something the organizers think is hugely important. It was great to see the local schools wholeheartedly supporting the work of the festival in this regard and 100’s of children left the screening of two films with work packs and more importantly, memories that hopefully will last a lifetime.
Then it was on to the main business of Thursday night; The GAA 125 celebration and an enthusiastic audience were first treated to two films on aspects of the organization, An Cosc and Blowing the Whistle.
Almost destroyed by last minute petulance and egotism the GAA 125 Debate was rescued by the hard work of the organizers and the very welcome intercessions of a host of ‘real’ GAA enthusiasts and concerned townspeople. The hastily revamped panel of Donald McDonald, Declan McKernan, Pauric Duffy, Director General GAA, and Dick Clerkin, Currin and Monaghan County where abley chaired by Frank McNally, a great friend of Clones Film Festival and columnist with The Irish Times. The huge crowd was treated to an informative, interesting and passionate look at all things GAA and its past and future role in a modern Ireland. The importance of this discussion has warranted two weeks full page coverage in our newspaper of record The Northern Standard, and the festival would like to thank all those who took part and to those who supported what was always intended to be an independent unbiased celebration of an important local and national organization.
Local troubadour John Maguire and friends rounded off the day in The Festival Club with a beautiful set of classics and songs from his own pen.
 
Friday: TGIF?
A full programme of film on Friday was complemented by two special events, a screening of the classic and seminal Battleship Potemkin with a live score performed by Cormac McCann. Audience members described this event as thrilling and hugely enjoyable and you can catch this unique interpretation as Cormac tours it to various venues around the country.
The Man From God Knows Where is a new and soon to be filmed screenplay by Pat McCabe and Kevin Allen. Friday night saw a rehearsed reading of the screenplay and featured some notable local stars of the stage. Kevin declared the exercise hugely helpful in terms of script development and a large audience was wrapped up in the strange and unique world of the authors for an hour and a half before taking part in a Q&A session with the two authors. The festival would like to thank Cormac, Pat, Kevin and all the actors and actresses who put so much work into making these events the huge attraction that they were.
The Festival Club saw Ana Gog on stage with a melodious and enjoyable set. These are definitely an outfit to watch!
 
Saturday; Steady as she goes
Saturday continued the festival with a varied selection of film and workshops for adults and children alike.  Wilma Nichol brought her Speech and Drama classes to a workshop run by Poetry Chicks, Pamela Brown and Abby Olivera. They conducted their unique character development with two enthusiastic groups of kids. James Finlan hosted a workshop on the Art Of Pastiche in the Courthouse, now fully equipped and on stream as yet another venue for the festival.
‘Noisemaker’ is a documentary on that mercurial and controversial social commentator Jinx Lennon. A large crowd gathered for Dara McCluskey’s excellent look at the live and times of Jinx and where then treated to a Q&A hosted by committee member Mr. James Sheerin. Jinx then took to the stage with Miss Paula Flynn and delivered his usual high octane set to an audience that can’t get enough of his singular point of view.
Then it was Hacienda’s turn to entertain and they as usual let no one down. Firing out the tightest of sets they played long into the night and had even the normally reserved and conservative Gulpins on the dance floor! They proved yet again that they thoroughly deserve to be the first band on the booking sheet year in and year out.
 
Sunday: Judgment Day
And so the last day of the festival dawned with bleary eyed editors frantically trying to make the noon deadline for delivery of the Scanbitz Short Film Challenge films.
5 teams arrived on the Friday to begin shooting their entries for this novel challenge: to shoot, edit and screen a film in just 48 hours. What a buzz they created around the town as they fought with persistent torrential rain, high winds and grey light to get their dramas on to celluloid. Citizens witnessed many strange and wonderful sights, such as; a model aircraft zipping over town with a camera strapped to it, a botched and Pythonesque burial, a prominent local businessman in Garda outfit, a woman giving birth outside a butchers, and a Celtic Warrior striding up main street, sword in hand and retribution on his mind or was it a pint?
Sunday is judgment day at the festival and first up where the short film and documentary competitions. Three independent judges where invited to sit through the short lists and choose a winner. Not a task for the fainthearted or weak!
Peter Magic Johnson (The 15 Second Film Festival) James Finlan, (Film Maker and Huston School Of Film, Galway ) and Kevin Allen, (Film Maker and Flatlake Literary and Arts Festival impresario) deliberated long and hard ahead of the Francie Awards ceremony later in the evening. A short break for the red eyed judges and then it was judgment time for the Scanbitz Challengers.
 
The Francie Awards
 
So all was ready for The Francie Awards, booked out from earlier in the day tickets where in high demand for one of the events of the year in Clones. The Lennard Arms was packed to the gills as film makers and the public flocked to see who would lift this year’s coveted Francie Awards.
MC was once again by Chairperson Cathy Sheerin the awards where presented by each of the judges and the Audience Award was presented by the man who came up with the Scanbitz Challenge idea, Fergal McGrath. (please see articles elsewhere on the winners in each category) 10th Avenue provided the post awards entertainment to a dance happy, tired but satisfied crowd.
Cathy then pronounced the 8th Clones Film Festival officially closed and an exhausting, riveting 5 days of celebration came to an end, rounded off by a supreme night of drama and entertainment... Roll on next year, bigger better and brighter again…..if that is possible!