Offaly Film Commission celebrates fifth birthday today

Irish actress Antonia Campbell-Hughes, who’s currently flying high opposite Jack Dee on BBC’s Lead Balloon, is to be special guest today (Thursday) at FilmOffaly5.

The event, taking place at Filmbase in Dublin, has been arranged to celebrate five years of the Offaly Film Commission. Today’s celebration will also see the group’s vendor discount card scheme - the first of its kind in Ireland - launched.

Antonia Campbell-Hughes first came to attention on the silver screen following her role in the Irish film The Other Side of Sleep, which was shot entirely in Offaly in 2010. That film went on to be screened internationally at festivals and had a general release in 2012, while Antonia was named Screen International Stars of Tomorrow winner in 2011 and a Shooting Stars Award winner in 2012 at the Berlin Film Festival.

FilmOffaly5 will host an interview with Antonia, discussing her experiences as an actor and the opportunity to film in Offaly in a role that she herself says changed her. The discussion will also include Antonia’s other films, including the German 3096 Days and the British made Kelly + Victor.

Speaking ahead of her visit Antonia said she’s delighted to be coming back to Ireland. “My time in Offaly was a deeply profound, immersive project that fully embraced the tone of the community,” she said. “A unique and soulful place...and their new vendor card scheme is a great initiative for encouraging more productions into the county.”

As well as the interview, FilmOffaly5 will include a food and drinks reception as well as screenings of films that have been made in Offaly since the organisation’s birth.

FilmOffaly5 will take place at Filmbase in Temple Bar in Dublin this evening at 6pm. All are welcome, and more details are available at www.filmoffaly.ie.