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The Darklight Festival is “Ireland’s premier festival for filmmakers, animators and artists whose work explores the convergence of art, film and technology” and this year celebrates its 10th year of pushing the boundaries.

Personally I cannot believe it is 10 years on the go. I remember entering an item for its first year just after I finished my M.Sc. in Multimedia Systems and the less said about it all the better. To my shame I cannot claim to be an avid fan of the Darklight festival and have certainly only made it along to the odd (in more ways than one) event over the last ten years. That said I always sit down with their programme and pick a few items that I try to go to.  Please bear in mind that this is a wholly personal choice and you should really check out the schedule because there might be much more of interest to you. The other great thing about this fest is that many of the events are FREE so you’ve no excuse! The programme includes screenings, performances, discussions and workshops. I’m also really glad to see that the events all take place in and around the Smithfield area, especially in the beautiful Lighthouse Cinema. Don’t forget you can cycle there on Dublin Bikes or get the Luas Red Line.

Here are my choices in roughly chronological order:

1. Three Potential Endings by Willie Doherty. I like the idea of this film all about urban spaces. So many issues, not least with spaces like Smithfield which seems practically doomed if you are there on a regular Tuesday evening. “The work presents a male figure besieged with the possibility of failure and uncertainty, and was conceived as a response to the shifting architectural landscape of contemporary Dublin. Three Potential Endings extends the Willie Doherty’s concerns with exploring the dynamics of specific urban spaces through the medium of video.” Thursday 8 October – Saturday 10 October, 8pm, Smithfield Plaza, FREE. More
2. DATA Presents: A New Media Nostalgia. This discussion appealed to me because I love the idea of marrying art & technology. Having worked with new technology in art (neither today nor yesterday!) suspicion is the least of one’s worries: will it be alright on the night was always foremost in my mind. “A Dublin Art and Technology Association panel discusion @ Darklight ‘09: The use of the newest technology in art is still sometimes viewed with suspicion - only when a technology becomes both ubiquitous and mainstream is it fully accepted.” Friday, October 9th 2009, 7pm, The Cobblestone Pub, Smithfield, FREE. More
3. R.E.M. This is Not a Show, A Film By Vincent Moon And Jeremiah I would imagine that it would be a good idea to book this one. Hopefully it’s not too late to get tickets! “When legendary rock band R.E.M. decided to document their intimate run of ‘working rehearsals’ at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre, they turned to Parisienne director Vincent Moon, the guerrilla filmmaker behind musical on-line sensation The Take-Away Shows; the result is one of the most electrifying and inspired concert movies in an age.”Friday, October 9th 2009 9pm, Light House Cinema, Smithfield, Admission: €10 More
   Drive – Live at the Olympia in Dublin – a wee taster:
4. 2019AC: After Copyright. This is a symposium focusing on the questions of copyright in the digital era. Anna Troberg, the Vice Chair of the Swedish Pirate Party participates. No doubt it will be lively! Saturday, October 10th 2009, 1:00pm, Maldron Hotel, Smithfield, Admission: €10 More
5. The Geek Lounge Apparently I’ll be able to get my “geek on” at this event. I don’t need much encouragement so I’ll be there with other glasses & black polo sweater wearing nerds talking about what’s next after Web 2.0 or whatever they’re calling it this week. Geek-in-charge will be Fionn Kidney who sounds like a total wuss because apparently he’s a recovering internet addict. Pah! If you can’t stand the heat… Saturday, October 10th 2009, 3:00pm, Court Yard Restaurant, Smithfield, FREE More
6. Animatazz Animation Workshop, While I’m geeking it up Himself and the Nippers will be over the way at an animation workshop. Booking essential. “Animatazz maestro Michael Connolly presents an exciting animation workshop, catered to the needs and abilities of kids aged 8-15 who would love to learn to make an animated character come to life in one fun 90 minute session.” Saturday, October 10th 2009, 3:00pm, Maldron Hotel, Smithfield, FREE More
7. Buddha Bag VHS Amnesty & Movie Lounge I like the sound of this DIY event. You can choose from a selection of shorts on VHS (heh?! Whazzat?) or indeed bring your own and lay back on the ultra-comfy Buddha bags and chill out. If you had hit the festival club the evening before this might be the best option for you. During Culture night myself and the clan laid back on one of these and watched a few shorts as Gaeilge in Filmbase right after a big feed. Perfecto! I might meet them there after the animation and geek fest! Friday, October 9th 2009 – Saturday, October 10th 2009, 7:30pm, Light House Cinema, FREE More
8. Mark Romanek In Conversation Next on my schedule will be a spot of bi-location as I debate whether to go to this or item no. 9 below. Both sound like they could be very interesting. The curse of all festival goers, eh?  “Darklight 2009 Guest In Honour Mark Romanek talks life and career and movies and music with Darklight Programme Director Derek O’Connor: the interview will be proceeded by a selection of iconic Romanek music videos, from Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz and Closer by Nine Inch Nails to Hurt by Johnny Cash and 99 Problems by Jay-Z.”  He also presents a masterclass on the Saturday morning but I’m not enough of a buff to even dream about going along to that. Saturday, October 10th 2009, 5:00pm, Light House Cinema, €8 More
   
9. Has Pop Eaten Itself? This is another symposium but I do like a bit of banter myself. This one includes a great panel of pop eaters “Chaired by journalist and club promoter Una Mullally, the panel for this discussion will include artist and filmmaker Will St. Ledger, Irish Times journalist Sinead Gleeson, promoter and filmmaker Dylan Haskins, blogger Rapture Ponies, DJ Alison Curtis and musician James O’Neill.”, Saturday, October 10th 2009, 5:00pm, Maldron Hotel, Smithfield, Admission: €10 More
   
10. Niall Sweeney’s Revolver Now I’ll admit a smidgen of bias on this one as Niall is one of my big brother’s oldest friends but I have heard that his live performances are brilliant. “Embarking from a Dublin of a near-distant memory — with its burgeoning cultures of clubbing, digital media, and DIY — graphic artist and visionary Niall Sweeney takes you loop-the-loop round a world viewed through glasses tinted with his particular bent. Condensing two decades into a two hour performance, Sweeney presents an evening of story cycles and graphic travelogues in words, pictures and music.”  Saturday, October 10th 2009, 7:00pm, Light House Cinema, €12 More