The Northwest Film Challene was part of Rathmullan Film Festival 23.
As a result of an open invitation, 12 new and emerging filmmakers were challenged to create a three-minute film using archival footage. Póca Productions of Donegal worked with the participants over the course of a number of online workshops to produce these amazing films, all of which were screened at the Rathmullan Film Festival.
Of her film, 'The Race For Stumpy's Gold', Fergus Friel writes:
My film is a fictional tale of three groups of scavengers going in search of Stumpy's gold on a secluded island. My film is made up entirely of archival clips. What attracted me to each clip chosen was the characters' unique faces, which appear as authentically lived in and having experienced such interesting lives. There is also a thematic throughline of coastal imagery which I think added to the mood of the film.
'The Race For Stumpy's Gold' won first place in the Northwest Film Challenge. The judges were very impressed by his clever use of the archives to create a completely new story. In addition, first prize was awarded to Fergal for his inventive editing and use of the archive film to imbue the short with real atmosphere.