The South by SouthWest (
SXSW) festival, which takes place in Austin Texas, is affectionately known as ‘South By’ and is a yearly collection of film, interactive media, innovative technology, music festivals and conferences. The inaugural festival was in 1987 and since then it has grown not only in size but also in prestige, as corporate sponsorship, big-name acts, innovative technology and hundreds of undiscovered bands, filmmakers, and tech innovators flocking there every year. Unfortunately, last year’s physical festival was cancelled last year due to the pandemic and went digital and online.
Luckily, as a representative of the Ireland’s Mid-West film industry, yours truly was able to get a ticket, courtesy of Film in Limerick and Innovate Limerick, for this year’s offerings. While I was disappointed not to be flying over to Texas itself, the remote festival was still a very exciting prospect!
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Directed by Shaun O Connor, the film details how mental hospitals in Ireland were once used as catch-alls for people considered ‘troublesome’ or ‘abnormal. O Connor was inspired to make the short after learning that gay conversion therapy was widespread across the UK and Ireland in the 60s and 70s - and is still legal today.
The film, which stars Young Offenders Cora Fenton, recently picked up the prestigious Best Irish Short award at the Foyle Film Festival, putting it on the long list for this year s Oscars.
A White Horse has also won Best Irish Short at the Kerry Film Festival, Best Overall at the Richard Harris Film Festival, Best Independent Short at the Underground Cinema Film Festival, and Best Production Design at Kinsale Sharks.