Film Line-up
Canadian Short Films:
Nach Ann Breagha a Bha i?
Leag Leum!
Faire Chalium MhicLeoid
An Saoghal Gaidhlig
Saorsa 89
Miann Iseabail
Scottish Short Films:
Piobairean Bhornais
Suibhlachan
Documentary Series:
Gaol is Ionndrainn
Ann am Bàta nam Aonar
Tormod
Local Short Film Series:
Nach Ann Breagha a Bha i?
English Title: Wasn't She Beautiful?
Country and Year of Production: Canada, 2007
Runtime: 4 mins
A beautifully narrated exploration of the live a family lived in a community from the perspective of the house that was their home. The film was shot as part of the GFFG (Gaelic Filmmakers Filmmaking in Gaelic, 2007) workshop held at the Gaelic College in St. Ann's Bay. All films were shot on black & white Super8 film in teams of novices and mentors.
Leag Leum!
English Title: Leave Me Alone!
Country and Year of Production: Canada, 2007
Runtime: 4 mins
If a man gets sent to the forest to cut a tree so his wife can have a little wood to bake for the family, it should be a simple task. But, James always stops and gets to talking, and this time, it may be his demise. This film was also created in the GFFG Workshop 2007.
Faire Chaluim Mhic Leòid
English Title: The Wake of Calum MacLeod
Country and Year of Production: Canada, 2006
Runtime: 8 mins
Synopsis
North America's first Gaelic-language short film is a whirlwind of a tale!
Calum MacLeod is a storyteller without an audience, for his children moved from Cape Breton long ago. One lonely night, Calum confronts the Baron of the Wind in a storm and demands his children be returned. The old man promptly falls dead. From distant points, the MacLeods assemble to attend Calum's wake. But the deceased Calum has a surprise ending in store for them yet.
Shot in the highlands of Cape Breton, and featuring Gaelic storyteller Angus MacLeod and music by internationally renowned signer Mary Jane Lamond, Faire Chaluim Mhic Leòid is a historic venture into one of the world's most renowned oral storytelling cultures.
An Saoghal Gaidhlig
English Title: The World is Gaelic
Produced by: Na Sgeulichean Og - Youth filmmaking camp 2009
Country and Year of Production: Canada, 2009
Runtime: 6 mins
Synopsis
It isn't bad enough that Seamus is late for class, but then he uses the "old time" language - English -that people in our region don't bother much with anymore. Miss MacDonald sends Seamus to the office for some discipline. When some of the students wonder whether there was ever a time when English was spoken, and Miss MacDonald tells them a horrific tale about the days when English rules the schoolyard.
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English Title: Freedom 89
Produced by: Na Sgeulichean Og - Youth filmmaking camp 2009
Country and Year of Production: Canada, 2009
Runtime: 4:22 mins
Synopsis
Living at home has lots of perks, but over time - a lot of time - those perks turn into maddeningly repetitive frustrations. When is the right time to strike out on your own, and how do you get the money to make it on your own? These are all the questions that a "young" girls needs to figure out if she want to run away from dear old Mum.
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English Title: Isobel's Wish
Produced by: Na Sgeulichean Og - Youth filmmaking camp 2009
Country and Year of Production: Canada, 2009
Runtime: 2:20 mins
Synopsis
Life is about choices, but did you ever meet up with someone that you wish you would have pursued with a lot more vigor? The one that got away ever haunt you? Sometimes, there might be room for a second chance.
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Scottish Short Film Series:
English Title: Pipers of Bornish
Country and Year of Production: Scotland, 2003
Runtime: 10 mins
Synopsis
Animation. A young boy makes a pact with a sinister fairy in this traditional Gaelic animated tale. The soundtrack is an old recording of the story, found in the School of Scottish Studies Archive.
The hypnotic musical score was composed and performed especially for the film by renowned piper, Rory Campbell, and the animation, which looks like a moving oil painting, was created digitally by Catrìona Black.
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Suibhlachan
English Title: The Traveller
Country and Year of Production: Scotland, 2009
Runtime: 5 mins
This is a Gaelic short film that won Best Professional Film for MG ALBA's media shorts competition FilmG. Suibhlachan was so successful that it was commissioned as a pilot by MG ALBA.
Synopsis
Sgeulachd bbeag mu Seonag, nighean òg a tha a dol air ais ann an uine airson céilidh a' chur air a seanair.
A poignant tale about a young girl, Seonag, who travels back in time to visit her recently deceased Grandfather.
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Documentary Series:
English Title: Love is Missing
Country and Year of Production: Scotland, 2008
Runtime: 60 mins
Synopsis
Canaidh cuid gu bheil e nas fhasa dhuinn bruidhinn air cuspair sam bi an diugh ach am bàs fhéin, gur e an rud mu dheireadh mu bheil sinn airson smaoineachadh ged a se an aon ni cinnteach a tha nar beatha. Anns a phrògram seo, tha coigear a chaidh am fògail nam banntraichean a' bruidhinn gu fosgailte air cò ris a bha e coltach dhaibhsan nuair a chaill iad an companach, ciamar a bha iad a' faireachdainn agus ciamar a ghluais iad air adhart le'm beatha.
Documentary which explores coping with grief and life as a widow and widower through the individual stories of five people. Peggy Macleod, Mary Ann Maciver, Willie Campbell and Joan MacCormick were all at different stages in their lives and in different circumstances when they were widowed but they each had to move forward and adjust to life without their partner. They describe candidly how they confronted the most profound experience of their lives and moved forward with a new life.
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English Title: The Rowing Man
Country and Year of Production: Scotland, 2009
Runtime: 58 mins
Synopsis
'S e craoladair a tha stèidhte air Eilean Leòdhais a th' ann an Niall Iain Dòmhnallach agus 's a Cheitean 2007, a' fulang le trom-inntinn, theich e airson trì seachdainean. Nuair a thill e, chaidh a dhearbhadh gu robh e dha-rìribh a' fulang le trom-inntinn - tinneas a tha gu math tric air a chumail air falach agus tinneas air nach eil daoine deònach bruidhinn. A dh'aindeoin na bha e a' fulang, chuir Niall Iain dùbhlan air leth air thoiseach air fhèin - iomradh tarsainn A' Chuan Sgìth. Chan e dùbhlan furasta a tha seo idir - dà fhichead mìle 's a trì ri iomradh - 's an t-Iuchar - ann an aimsir a tha ag atharrachadh tric. Ged a tha neart fisigeach a dhìth airson leithid seo fheuchainn, nas cudromaiche buileach tha neart inntinn deatamach. Tha an dùbhlan a' gabhail a-steach trì mìosan de dheisealachadh, foighidinn agus fèin-chreideas.
Niall Iain MacDonald is a broadcaster living on the Isle of Lewis. In May 2007 he suffered a breakdown, disappearing from society for three weeks. On his return he was diagnosed as suffering from depression, an illness often hidden away and rarely discussed. Niall Iain set himself a challenge in the face of what he was suffering. He decided to row across the stretch of water between mainland Scotland and the Isle of Lewis, known as The Minch. A distance of forty-three miles in unpredictable weather, even in July, is no mean feat. The row demands physical strength, but more importantly mental endurance. The challenge takes three months of preparation, dedication and sheer willpower.
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English Title: Norman
Country and Year of Production: Scotland, 2010
Runtime: 59 mins
Synopsis
Annsachd nan Gàidheal a dh''fhaodadh a bhith na rionnag eadar-nàiseanta. Tha Tormod MacGill-Eain iomraiteach mar chleasaiche, seinneadair, sgrìobhaiche, pìobaire, alcolach. Tha fèin-eachdraidh Thormoid a-nis an impis nochdadh mar leabhar. Seo dealbh drùidhteach dhen duine fhèin agus an dà dhualchas '' Gàidhlig agus Beurla ''a th'air a bhith a strì an aghaidh a chèile, na chlaigeann agus na chridhe, fad a bheatha.
The Highland superstar that never was. Acclaimed Gaelic comedian, singer, writer, piper and alcoholic Norman Maclean talks about his life as his autobiography nears publication. A moving tale of the struggle to live between the two cultures of Gaelic and English. | 