Darklight

So what did you think of Darklight 2014?

06.03.2026 by Eimear

How was Darklight 2014 for you? We are looking back on our experiences at Darklight Festival of Independent Creativity in April 2014 to make sure 2015 is an even better experience for our audience.

You and your friends can help us find out what worked well at the festival this year and what could be improved upon by telling us what you thought about this year’s events.

We would be really grateful if you took the time to fill out our Darklight 2014 survey, whether you attended the Festival in 2014 or not. It should take around 6 minutes. The survey will be open until 6pm on Wednesday the 16th of July 2014.

By taking part in the survey, you can opt in to a draw for tickets for you and four friends to a special Darklight screening event later this year.

You’ll find the Darklight Audience survey here.

Were you a volunteer at this year’s Darklight? We would love to hear what you thought of the festival.

You'll find the Darklight Volunteer survey here.

We really value your feedback and your time.

Thanks,

The Darklight Team

Darklight’s REBOOT - Documented

06.03.2026 by Eimear

Have you checked out our photo albums here?  Have you seen the killer parties, keynotes, panel discussions, gigs and games that were caught on video here?  

Lets say thank you to our fab Photo and Video Volunteers who worked tirelessy to document Darklight 2014. 

Cormac Browne:
I was shooting video and coordinating the A/V team for Darklight. I’m a film artist and freelance Videographer. I’m currently developing the script for a short film I’m directing later this year.

Bruno Candeias:
I’m a freelance editor and motion graphics artist. I’ve just arrived in Ireland, so I’m delighted to see such a cool independent scene in Dublin. I edited the video and designed the motion graphics (animated Space Baby logo) for the Darklight Vimeo channel.

Darren Cawley:
I’m about to finish a HND in Creative Media Production. For Darklight, I’ve been filming and sound recording, and even taking a few photos too.

Ellen Fitzpatrick:
I shot stills for most events on Sunday. I’m a student DIT film and broadcasting.
I want to get into film production after I graduate.

Carlos Galiano:
Freelance video producer. I was taking video of the whole festival.
Currently finishing a short film shot in Barcelona, and editing the pilot for a mystery web series for Youtube.

Shane G Mahon:
I’m an MA radio and TV production student, and a Music Technology graduate. I love filming and editing and have a particular passion for shooting live events and music. At Darklight I worked the whole festival as a camera man shooting both video and stills photography.

Dominic Rose:
I recorded Audio for the whole festival and manned the sound desk. I’m studying Music technology in Maynooth. When I graduate I want to on music for film.

Jeffrey Shiau:
I shot Video and stills for the whole festival. I’m a recent graduate from Emory Uni from NY. I’m living in Ireland since last September. I’m working as a digital marketer and aspire to be a multi-platform storyteller. Really loved meeting all the great people behind Darklight!

Lizzy Twist:
I took photos of the whole festival. I have a BA in multimedia, and a diploma in Event management and PR. I love festivals and I want to get into full-time festival and event management. Loved working with a great team.

Thank you Photo and Video Volunteers! You did a wonderful Job.

Day Three

06.03.2026 by Eimear

By Vinny McHale

Day three of Darklight 2014 came to an end in an triumphant fashion with the long journey into night! But before that there was yet another day of spectacular events.

Kicking off our workshops was the Damn Fine print workshop that was held in Block T. Several were held and in which time each of the lucky groups got an excellence guide to this interesting art form. Not to be outdone each group member got to make their own poster to bring home. One excited participant tweeted afterwards.

Our Gamechangers series continued throughout the day in the impressive Cinemobile situated in Smithfield. Over the day audiences got a chance to watch Jean Luc Goddard’s “Breathless (A bout soufflé),” John Ford's “The Searchers,” David Wendt’s “Wetlands (Feuchtgebiete)” and Richard Linklater's “A Scanner Darkly.”

Model and actress Jenny Lee Masterson tweeted: “Classic movie watching 2day @ 4pm #thesearchers @cinemobileirl @darklightfest #darklight #johnwayne #film #westerns pic.twitter.com/qnJtgDGdxU. Furthermore, she tweeted of John Ford's “The Searchers”: Don't call me uncle. I ain't your uncle! Classic John Wayne The Searchers #darklight @darklightfest @cinemobileirl pic.twitter.com/fblt2jWrzn.

But the highlight of the day was the most elaborate game of tag/hide and seek. At 8pm eager participants for the Journey to the End of the Night began gathering at CHQ in the I.F.S.C. Up to 200 people queued to be assigned a red or white arm band. White meant you were a player and red meant you were a chaser. Within two hours the players had to get to 6 points across Dublin city without falling foul of the chasers. It wasn’t difficult to get carried away with excitement that this colourful chase provided. In the quite residential streets saw the biggest chases which provided losers and winners on both sides. On Clonbrassil Street I encountered one Argentinian chaser who held three trophies in the form of three white ribbons. She gleefully boasted “I could have more but I’m too nice”. Not too far down the street or out of the Chasers eye line. I encountered a player cowering in the shadows. Not wanting to give away her position, I simply sauntered past.

Overall, the day was one of creativity and euphoria, euphoria and creativity and euphoria through creativity.

Day Two

06.03.2026 by Eimear

By Sebastian Stephenson

Friday brought the day when the Cinemobile arrived, the components of Film 4 were revealed and a lucky bunch of students got an incredible in-sight into what the world of post-production involves. The day hadn’t even begun, when Anna Higgins, who was here to host the Film 4 Keynote, tweeted: "Off for 24 hours in Dublin: @darklightfest & European premiere of @FrankTheFilm. Get to see @lennyabrahamson & @LastHijack in 1 night!"

Early morning saw the arrival of the famous Cinemobile in Smithfield. It will become home to our Gamechangers series which kicked off tonight with Martin Scorsese’s 'Goodfellas.' Also showing within its intimate confines was the The Late Night Work Club.

Also during the day, a group of third level students received a privileged tour of Egg Post Production's facilities located on Fitzwilliam Square. Among the lucky ones to attend was Penny McGovern, who said of her visit: "Just back from Egg Post Productions, had an absolutely fantastic visit. Reminded me a little of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, lots of wide-eyed volunteers being lead through a post-production cave of wonders. All of the staff were incredibly welcoming and explained their area of expertise brilliantly, and took all of our questions. It really gave us a comprehensive overview of the whole post-production process. As a graduating student, it was also really positive to see a successful Irish filmmaking company and see the strong body of work they are producing. The Open Day was such a fantastic opportunity for all of us students from various colleges, all interested in film and fascinated by the editing process. It makes you excited about developing your own projects here in Dublin."

With Day two finally under our belts and the festival in full swing the optimism for tomorrows fun continues unabated!

Day One

06.03.2026 by Eimear

By Sebastian Stephenson

As the dusk settles over Smithfield last night it also brought to a close the first day of the newly rebooted Darklight – Festival of independent creativity. At 6pm Block T went from being a quaint epicenter of artistic work to being the life and soul of the party. The opening was an impressive gathering that consisted of industry types and fans of independent creativity. Apart from the conversation that was on offering from excited punters there was Asahi beer flowing and Diep noodles being consumed.

Time was called on the exuberance and those lucky enough to have tickets to the sold out opening screening of “Last Hijack” and the discussion marched off to the Light House. Although no tickets were available for the main event, the demand was such, there was a special screening was set up in The Generator to accommodate the numbers.

With such high spirits and numbers on the first night, the expectation for tomorrow is one that is met with unified excitement.

Sat & Sun Special @ Storytelling Hack Jam

06.03.2026 by Eimear

Join this top-notch international team to create your own prototype over 2 days in BlockT Smithfield.  This is an opportunity to work closely with world-class mentors Dan Schultz of Hyperaud.io, Berto Yáñez of A navalla suíza, and Giles Pradeau and Philo van Kemenade of Popathon. 

We’re calling out to Ireland's finest filmmakers, designers and developers to team up and brainstorm ideas, create open-source code and demo prototypes of your own web-native stories.

Ticket Price: Saturday and Sunday ticket price is €20.  Tickets can be purchased on entry at Darklight Box-Office, BlockT, Smithfield.

Time: 10am - 6pm (ish) Sat & Sun

Booking: Purchase your ticket in advance here: http://www.darklight.ie/festival/detail/storytelling-hack-jam OR Purcase Ticket on your arrival at Darklight Box-Office.

More Tickets Now Available For Irish Premiere of ‘Last Hijack’ Tonight @ 8pm

06.03.2026 by Eimear

Spill-over screening @ Generator

There are a few tickets still available for the Irish Premiere screening of 'Last Hijack' screening in Light House Cinema tonight at 8pm.  Due to popular demand there is a spill-over screening at Generator, Smithfield Square.

Tickets for this boutique intimate screening are available for the subsidised price of €6.  Tickets are available on the door. 

A Scanner Darkly

06.03.2026 by Eimear

Drawing a line, literally, under our Gamechangers series is the 2006 film “A Scanner Darkly”. Directed by two-time Academy Award-nominee Richard Linklater, “A Scanner Darkly“ is a science-fiction thriller adapted from the Philip K. Dick novel of the same name. Set in a dystopian future, the film explores the risk that is exposed to a cop who experiments with a new drug and the line between reality and identity becomes blurred.

Comedian Dylan Moran once quipped “There are no hack subjects, just hack approaches.” This is what sets “A Scanner Darkly” apart from its peers and earns its label as a Gamechanger. The works of Philip K. Dick have been adapted for the big screen many times. Among them are some of the greatest and most fondly remembered sci-fiction movies of the 1980s and 1990s: “Blade Runner,” “Total Recall,” “Minority Report.” The films were all very successful in finding adoring audiences and also had a certain look that was familiar to many. Case in point, Ridley Scott’s bleak industrial city setting of “Blade Runner” was based on the industrial outline of his native Sheffield in the north of England. “A Scanner Darkly” was no different in expunging an authentic look. This time however, it was through the use of animation in the post-production of the shoot that sealed this movie's legacy.

“A Scanner Darkly” also stands out as a rare project in the works of its director, Richard Linklater. Linklater is more often linked to deeper projects which focus on the human condition. Science-fiction was a new direction. Linklater first came to prominence with the 1991 indie classic “Slacker.” Made on a modest $23,000 budget, “Slacker” grossed over $1,000,000 in its domestic market. It was on this film that Linklater employed a young production assistant/actor by the name of Tommy Pallotta. Pallotta went on to produce “A Scanner Darkly” and was instrumental in bringing about its unique look. Subsequently, Pallotta went on to become a director in his own right and his co-production with Femke Wolting “Last Hijack” opens this year’s Darklight festival.

DARKLIGHT FESTIVAL BEGINS! WELCOME TO DARKLIGHT 2014: REBOOT

06.03.2026 by Eimear

FREE EVENTS @ DARKLIGHT
Darklight's programme offers a mix of screenings, roundtable discussions, workshops and an exhibition that are all free. Click here to view listing all FREE events at Darklight 2014. 
 
We are very excited to present GIFted--Darklight's animated GIF exhibition showcasing over 200 original GIFs received from around the globe. Be inspired, entertained and enthralled by a truly gifted exhibition, showing in spaces across Dublin including the Science Gallery, The Bernard Shaw, Light House Cinema and BlockT.
 
PARTIES & MUSIC @ DARKLIGHT
This evening at 6pm we welcome you to our Gala Festival Opening Party in BlockT, before the Irish Premiere Screening of 'Last Hijack' in Light House Cinema.
 
Roll on tomorrow, Darklight fills the GoodFriday dancing shoes, with Buffalo Woman and Tara McCormack performing in Darklight's HQ, BlockT from 8pm.
 
And then there's Saturday's Darklight Party 2014, taking place in Generator with Elastic Witch/Skinny Wolves DJs (10pm-11.30pm); Forza Italo AV Set (11.30pm-1.00am) and Lil Dave (1am - 2.30am). 

Keep an eye on our News section for reduced rate party tickets, prizes and competitions!

SPECIAL SCREENINGS and Q&A's @ DARKLIGHT
For the next four days, we are welcoming some very special international and Irish guests who will showcase work and share insights, answering all questions posed by you, at post-show screening talks and roundtable discussions. We welcome director Ben Russell, Anna Higgs, Film4's commissioning editor; Hugh Garry, Femke Wolting, the directors of 'Wizards Way,' Forsyth & Pollard, Storytelling Hack Jammers from Europe and the U.S., and will be chatting with directors Tommy Pallotta and the Oscar-nominated Joshua Oppenheimer - to name but a few.
 
WORKSHOPS @ DARKLIGHT
If you literally want to roll the sleeves-up and get immersed there's an array of workshops available over the weekend. Photography your thing?  BlockT's Darkroom are running a DSLR Hacking Workshop at a discounted rate for Darklighters. Damn Fine Prints keeps it coming with film-themed workshops. Dissect the Anatomy of a Film or build your own Virtual Reality Headset from plastic googles, a lense, cardboard and your phone! Or be part of a the hackathon Storytelling Hack Jam, brainstorm ideas and demo prototypes with a top-notch international team.

For a full list of Darklight workshops, click here.

We're excited. We hope you are too. 
Box Office is now open at BlockT, 1-6 Haymarket, Smithfield Square, Dublin 7.
www.darklight.ie / info@darklight.ie / 089 431 6410
Darklight is proud to be principally funded by The Arts Council / An Comhairle Ealaíonn. The Irish Film Board / Bord Scannán na hÉireann is an official Festival Industry Partner. Darklight is supported by Dublin City Council & Screen Training Ireland.
 

Opening Gala Screening: “The Last Hijack”

06.03.2026 by Eimear

It is only hours away from the official opening of Darklight--the festival of independent creativity--and no opening can be without an event that summarizes the festival's essence. Opening Darklight Re:boot is the Irish premiere of ”The Last Hijack.”

“The Last Hijack” is a film co-directed by Tommy Pallotta and Femke Wolting that merges documentary storytelling with the art of animation. It tells the story of Mohamed, a middle-aged Somalian man who makes his living through piracy. The world of modern piracy, however, is very different from the Romantic, swashbuckling image generated by Hollywood and classic books. Mohamed’s existence is very different to that of Captain Kidd or the latter-day Jack Sparrow. Pending nuptials, he is under pressure to give up his marauding lifestyle, which grows more dangerous with every passing day.

Today, piracy off of Africa’s coast is a hot issue. It is a thriving economy for citizens whose country has been sucked dry of any financial or employment rejuvenation. The success behind this illegal activity is based upon the secrecy sworn between active pirates. “The Last Hijack” is an unprecedented achievement in the film's capturing of this illegal occupation from the perspective of a veteran pirate.

The opening gala screening of "The Last Hijack" is followed by an Q&A with one of the directors, Femke Wolting. The filmmaking team of Tommy Pallotta and Femke Wolting is a meeting of true industry pioneers who push the boundaries of storytelling. Pallotta first produced the award-winning feature film "Waking Life," directed by Richard Linklater. He followed it up with the film adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s "A Scanner Darkly." Femke Wolting co-founded Submarine, a multiple award-winning production company.

The Irish premiere of “The Last Hijack” takes place tonight in the Light House Cinema at 8pm. Tickets are €15.