Teenagers with diabetes let their imagination fly on a Helium Arts film camp in Athlone last December. Now the short film they created, called What is Mine, is having its premiere during a public screening event at IMC Cinema Athlone on Saturday 14th September.
Helium Arts is an award-winning national charity based in Mullingar which supports the social and emotional needs of children facing long-term medical conditions through arts-based creative projects in hospital, community and public settings. Helium’s community film project gives young people who share similar health experiences the opportunity to connect, learn film skills and collaborate with professional filmmakers in making their own films.
What is Mine is a curious tale of a disputed inheritance and a coveted spoon. The film was created by 10 teenagers during a weekend film camp, with mentorship by professional filmmakers Colm Mullen and Ciaran O’Donnell and collaborative artist Siobhan Clancy. The young people devised the story and took on all the acting and production roles. They learned lots of creative skills including camera operation, sound recording, lighting and directing.
Thanks to Athlone Arts & Tourism, the young people had the opportunity to film on location in historic Athlone Castle (learning a bit about the Siege of Athlone along the way) and they even wore some of the Castle’s medieval-style costumes for the sequences they created.
Orlagh Petticrew, Secretary of the Westmeath Branch of Diabetes Ireland and mum to Owen, one of the budding filmmakers, said the project was “an inspirational experience for teenagers, all with diabetes, to bond and learn while having fun and being creative. A unique, unforgettable opportunity for all.”
The screening will include a behind the scenes documentary, a Q&A with some of the participants, and a showcase of other short films created by teenagers with diabetes during a Helium Arts’ workshop in Westmeath with Diabetes Ireland in 2017.
The film project is produced by Helium Arts in partnership with Midlands Hospital Mullingar and Athlone Arts & Tourism. The project is funded by the Arts Council, Westmeath Arts Office, Creative Ireland and Healthy Ireland, and is supported by the Westmeath branch of Diabetes Ireland. Helium Arts gratefully acknowledges IMC Cinema Athlone for supporting this screening.
What is Mine is a public screening, taking place from 12-1pm on Saturday 14th September at IMC Cinema Athlone. To reserve a seat email [email protected]
For more information about Helium Arts visit www.helium.ie
