Guth gafa festival appeals for funds

ORGANISERS of an international film festival, which will take place in Kells in early October, are making a last minute appeal to the people of Kells to assist in a crowd-funding campaign to support the hosting of the festival in the heritage town.
The Guth Gafa International Documentary Film Festival was held in Kells and at Headfort House for the first time last October, having relocated from County Donegal after a successful eight-year run.
This year’s event takes place in Kells and at Headfort House from 2nd to 4th October but the shock decision by the Arts Council not to fund the 2015 festival has left the prestigious event strapped for cash.
To make up for the deficit, festival organisers have launched a fund:it campaign with the target of raising €8,500, the amount contributed by the Arts Council last year.
Now with just four days left to reach this target, the Guth Gafa team is turning to the people of Kells to help bring the campaign to a successful conclusion.
“A €10 contribution gets you the reward of two passes to the film of your choice at this year’s festival,” explains director, Sarah McCann.
She adds that by supporting the Love Docs?/Love Guth Gafa fundraising campaign the people of Kells would be contributing to the survival of Ireland’s only independent human rights documentary film festival.
“For the past eight years, despite operating on a shoestring budget, Guth Gafa has been attracting growing audiences to watch an extraordinary range of award-winning national and international documentaries.
“One of the festival’s unique aspects is that the film-makers are invited to the event to talk to audiences about their work,” she explains.
Putting the finishing touches to this year’s programme, she reveals that it is shaping up to be the best yet.
“By supporting our efforts in our new home in Kells, you will be helping us to continue this work,” she adds.
Anyone wishing to make a contribution can go to the  http://fundit.ie/project/love-documentaries--love-guth-gafa     fund:it page to choose their award.
Audiences can enjoy a taster of what’s to come every Thursday night at  at 7.30pm between now and when the festival opens, at Dukes Bros in Kells Town Centre where some of the most popular documentaries of the festival in recent years will be screened.
This week’s film, An Honest Liar, tells the story of the world famous magician, James The Amazing Randi, who has spent much of his career exposing psychics and others who claim paranormal power.
With the assistance of modern technology, one of the filmmakers, Tyler Measom, will connect via Skype to take questions from the audience afterwards.