Screen Directors Guild of Ireland

Today SDGI, the representative body for directors involved in the Irish and international audiovisual industry, announced the launch of its brand new website at www.sdgi.ie. 

The website will act as an invaluable resource to both members and the industry as a whole. For the first time a place now exists that brings together members details, biogs and professional credits and acts as a ‘one stop shop’ providing information, advice and industry news while also keeping visitors up to date on the progress of SDGI’s campaigns, projects and events. 

Speaking today in Dublin, Birch Hamilton, Executive Director of SDGI said: ‘ We are delighted to be launching our website today as it clearly shows our firm commitment to supporting Irish screen directors. Through this website we aim to increase the profile of all our members on a worldwide stage and also provide them with a practical and useful resource that is relevant to their day to day working lives.’

The next SDGI Directors Club will feature Neil Jordan with his latest feature filmThe Brave One. In a special intimate members only screening, Neil will discuss with SDGI Members the various aspects of how he brought his vision to the screen in this unforgettable thriller and how he evoked an extraordinary performance from Jodie Foster.

The Q&A session following the screening will give guild members a unique opportunity to chat with Neil.  The screening takes place on the 29th November at 6.30 in the IMC cinema in Dun Laoghaire followed by complimentary drinks in Dunphys Pub.

Writer/Director and SDGI member Liam O Mochain second feature film ‘WC’  won the Best Feature Film award over the weekend at the 1st Waterford Film Festival which ran from November 15th-18th 2007.   O Mochain says on hearing the news  “We are delighted to have won the best feature film award at the inaugural Waterford film festival, the festival was our first competitive festival to screen at”   WC received it’s world premiere at the 2007 Dublin International Film Festival in February, where it sold out.  It also screened in July at the 2007 Galway Film Fleadh in the WILDCARDS strand and had it’s International Premiere in August at the 2007 Montreal World Film Festival.  

SDGI in association with Screen Training Ireland will run a 'Negotiation Rights for Directors' Seminar for directors on Dec 10th at Brooks Hotel. 

The seminar will be made up of presentations from the course tutors, hands on work using draft standard contracts and group activities involving the participants. The seminar will be broken up into two distinct sessions – Part 1 which will be facilitated by Geraldine East, Lawyer, will look at the legal aspects of a Standard Directors Contract and Part 2,  which will be facilitated by Peter McFarlane (Agent) and will focus on Negotiating Contracts and Finding and Managing an Agent.

This seminar is for aimed solely at experienced directors in film and television with a minimum of two broadcast credits either in a recognized film festival or on television. Places are limited to 16.

Deadline for applications –Friday November 30th, 2007

Please apply online at www.screentrainingireland.ie   If you’ve any questions please email Helen McMahon at helen.mcmahon@fas.iePhone: 01 483 0840 Fax: 01 483 0842 

SDGI in conjunction with IADT and the Gallery of Photography are delighted to announce the latest exhibition 'Domestic Bodies' by Irish Photographer Garvan Gallagher in the SDGI offices, Curved Street, Temple Bar. This exhibition is part of an ongoing exhibition of photography in the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland offices aimed at fusing the world of film and photography. 'Domestic Bodies' is a series of male representations in domestic spaces which uses perspective and dramatic lighting to create a pregnant narrative and a decisive moment. It explores areas such as vulnerability and uncertainty while questioning the ideals around the 'perfect' body. The previous exhibition 'Closer to Reality, further from Truth' by Jamie Saunders used photography and manipulation to tackle issues in contemporary Ireland. Irish photographers Darragh Basquille and Fiona Hackett exhibited prior to that. To see the exhibition drop into the SDGI office any weekday from  9am to 6pm.