Celebrating Student Film-Makers: Highlights from the JAFAs
After a long hiatus, the JCSP Libraries Academy Film Awards (JAFAs) made a welcome return recently in the Light House Cinema. It was a much-anticipated event that allowed our talented young filmmakers to showcase their work on the big screen.
Throughout the year our students have been busy creating short films as part of our JCSP film making initiative. Filmmaking serves as a powerful literacy exercise that blends modern media with traditional storytelling. Students are challenged to think critically about sound and visuals as well as coming up with dialogue and narrative. By making films together, students are enabled to engage with material in ways that suit their strengths and interests, fostering collaboration and collective learning.
A wide range of formats and genres were presented on the day, from horror to comedy, animation to real life and even some with AI effects. 10 JCSP Library Project schools took part this year, with a total of 20 short films screened at the event. In attendance were all our young filmmakers with their librarians and teachers. We were also delighted to welcome a group of 15 educators from Italy on an Erasmus-funded mobility. It was wonderful to share the event with our peers from abroad.
Students were presented with JAFAs trophies and medals on the day. Each student involved also received a JCSP certificate of achievement in school. This event is a reminder of the power of student-driven cinema and its ability to inspire and connect.
This event is a reminder of the power of student-driven cinema and its ability to inspire and connect
And the Winners are…
Best Film – ‘Remember Me’ – Killinarden Community School
Best Acting – ‘Imperfecto’ – Ellenfield Community College
Best Acting – ‘The Rookie’, ‘ Babuska’ and ‘Knockout’ – Coláiste Eoin
Best Comedy – ‘The One Ticket’ – Mount Carmel Secondary School
Best Soundtrack – ‘Girlhood’ – Clogher Road Community College
Most Creative – Kylemore College (Collectively)
Best Animation – ‘Running Late’ – Killinarden Community School
Best Cinematography – ‘The Real Challenge’ – Galway Community College
Most Original Idea – ‘Peppa Pig’ – Marino College
Special Mention – ‘She’ – Clogher Road Community College
Special Mention – ‘Liveable Earth’ – St. Aidan’s Community School
Participating Schools
Our thanks to Siobháin Boyce, JCSP Librarian in Mount Carmel Secondary School who organised every aspect of our JAFAs this year – from encouraging participation to organising the venue and judging panel, to sourcing the awards and medals – and much more. Thank you Siobháin.
Thanks also to The Lighthouse Cinema for once again facilitating the showing of all of the JAFAs entries in their cinema and for assisting in the selection of the winners (not an easy job!).
