Interview with me on the Tribeca Film Festival website

Posted on: May 1, 2011

Check out this interview I did for the Tribeca Film Festival.

http://www.tribecafilm.com/festival/features/faces-of-the-festival/Thomas_Hefferon_Switch_The_Confession.html

It was a blast to be a part of and outlines not just the films I had at the festival, but also my career so far.

Mubi picks “SWITCH” as one of the best films at Tribeca

Posted on: April 27, 2011

Major movie website Mubi have chosen SWITCH as one of the best films of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.

You can read the full article below:

http://mubi.com/garage/posts/3196

“The Confession” to screen as part of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival Retrospective Program

Posted on: March 21, 2011

I am delighted to announce that one of my previous short films, “The Confession”, has been chosen for the Retrospective Program at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.

It was chosen as one of 10 films selected from the past decade (representing 2009) of the Tribeca Film Festival, in celebration of their 10th year anniversary.

http://www.tribecafilm.com/Watch_Connect_Engage_The_Festival_Online.html

Its my second film at the festival this year, along with my latest film, “Switch”, which shall be having its world premier at the festival.

“Switch” to have its world premier at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival

Posted on: March 19, 2011

I am delighted to announce that my latest film, “Switch”, shall be having its world premier at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.

This is my third year in a row with a film competing in the festival, with “The Confession” playing in 2009 and “The Pool” in 2010.

Below is the press release with all the information about the programs and screenings.

http://www.tribecafilm.com/festival/media2/2011_TRIBECA_FILM_FESTIVAL_ANNOUNCES_SHORT_FILM_SELECTIONS.html

I am truly honoured and excited to be going back again and cannot wait for the festival to start on April 20th.

My new website launched today

Posted on: March 4, 2011

So after much toiling and hard work my new website has finally been launched today.

Thanks so much to my web designer, David Hennigan of Fluid Motion: http://www.fluidmotion.ie/, who kicked ass and did such a great job building me this new site.

I shall be updating the news segment quite regularly, so please drop back from time to time to see what I’ve been up to.

Also expect some big news over the coming weeks. Hope you like the site, enjoy.

“The Pool” selected for the 2010 Galway Film Fleadh and the 2010 Rushes Soho Film Festival

Posted on: June 1, 2010

I’ve just received some great news this week confirmation that “The Pool” has also been selected for both the 2010 Galway Film Fleadh (where it will have its Irish premiere) and also the Rushes Soho Film Festival (where it’ll have its UK premiere).

“The Pool” is a Filmbase funded short film and was produced by Dave Leahy (Warrior Films) and Fiona Kinsella (Jumper Productions), and was also co-funded by Dave Ffrench (Cladda Films) of LA.

It is a drama about three teenage boys who break into their school swimming pool one night in order to stage a macho breath holding contest. But as the night goes on the loud, brash Charlie begins to tease the overweight, child-like Sam.

After a girl (Katie) arrives whom they all fancy, tensions start to escalate and by the end of the night none of their lives will ever be the same.

The 2010 Tribeca Film Festival

Posted on: May 10, 2010

Following on from last years festival, the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival was a lot more action packed, in which I attended more screenings (2 feature films and 2 short programs), much more parties (I blame you Mr. Frasier) and made way more contacts.

We had a really great time at the festival and the general response to “THE POOL” has been phenomenal, with loads of people coming up to me after each screenings and wanting to discuss various aspects of the story and characters.

We also got some fantastic reviews from the few online journalists that attended the shorts programs, which is always nice to see. Below are some pictures from our stay in the big NYC.

Here is me and my wife with Ted Danson and his lovely daughter Kate at the world premiere of my film, “The Pool”.

Me with Darren Aronofsky (Director of “Requiem For A Dream” and “The Wrestler”) at a special awards ceremony honoring his contribution to cinema.

Me with my favorite comedian (and one of the funiest men on the planet) Omid Djalili and David Baddiel.

Me with the great Terry George (writer of “In The Name Of The Father” and writer/Director of “Hotel Rwanda”) with the head of Northern Ireland Screen.

Me speaking at the Q&A after the world premiere of “The Pool”.

“The Pool” selected for the 2010 Newport Beach Film Festival

Posted on: March 10, 2010

Hot on the heels of getting into Tribeca, we’ve had more great news this week. I’ve just received confirmation that “The Pool” has also been selected for the 2010 Newport Beach Film Festival, located in Orange County, California. Newport Beach Film Fest is one of the world’s biggest and runs for five days during the end of April.

“The Pool” is a Filmbase funded short film and was produced by Dave Leahy (Warrior Films) and Fiona Kinsella (Jumper Productions), and was also co-funded by Dave Ffrench (Cladda Films) of LA.

It is a drama about three teenage boys who break into their school swimming pool one night in order to stage a macho breath holding contest. But as the night goes on the loud, brash Charlie begins to tease the overweight, child-like Sam.

After a girl (Katie) arrives whom they all fancy, tensions start to escalate and by the end of the night none of their lives will ever be the same.

“The Pool” selected for the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival

Posted on: March 5, 2010

Had some fantastic news over the past few days as I got confirmation that my new short film, “The Pool” has been selected for the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival, where it will have its world premiere.

“The Pool” is a Filmbase funded short film and was produced by Dave Leahy (Warrior Films) and Fiona Kinsella (Jumper Productions), and was also co-funded by Dave Ffrench (Cladda Films) of LA.

It is a drama about three teenage boys who break into their school swimming pool one night in order to stage a macho breath holding contest. But as the night goes on the loud, brash Charlie begins to tease the overweight, child-like Sam.

After a girl (Katie) arrives whom they all fancy, tensions start to escalate and by the end of the night none of their lives will ever be the same.

“The Confession” acquired by UK Broadcaster CHANNEL 4

Posted on: January 29, 2010

Got some fantastic news today from the distributor of my previous work, NITV. They confirmed that UK Broadcaster, Channel 4, have acquired my previous short film, “The Confession”, for multiple broadcasts throughout 2010.

I couldn’t be happier as Channel 4 are one of my favourite TV stations and also a bastion of excellent programming. “The Confession” has played at more than 40 international film festivals, such as Tribeca, Palm Springs, and Toronto as well as being released in cinema’s across Ireland in October 2008.

The trailer for my new documentary, “Indira”

Posted on: January 2, 2010

I’m a bit late putting this up, as it went out a month ago, but here is the trailer for my upcoming documentary, “Indira”.

“Indira” is the story of a female body builder and the trials and tribulations that she and her family goes through as she prepares for the biggest challenge of her life; representing Ireland at the world championships in Den Haag, Holland. It is also an endearing portrait of a unique family unit.

Interview with me in CLICK magazine

Posted on: September 1, 2009

A couple of months back I did an interview about my new film THE POOL with Daniel Anderson for Ireland’s premier movie, games and technology magazine, CLICK MAGAZINE.

I’ve uploaded a PDF of the article so that you can read it. I want to thank Daniel, a great writer in his own right, for taking the time to interview me and I look forward to hooking up with him again for a Q&A at some time in the future.

Enjoy,

A still from my new documentary, “Indira”

Posted on: June 30, 2009

Here is an ungraded screen grab from my latest film, “Indira”, which we just finished filming last week.

It is a documentary about the every day life of the former Irish female body building champion as she gears up for the biggest challenge she has ever faced, representing Ireland at the NAC World Championships in Den Haag, Holland.

Dave Leahy (The Formorian, Satellites & Meteorites) produced under his “Warrior Films” banner, while the Director of Photography was JJ Rolfe (Satellites & Meteorites, The Good Doctor).

Some stills from my new short “The Pool”

Posted on: June 20, 2009

Here are some selected stills from my new short film, “The Pool”.

“The Pool” is a drama about three teenage boys who break into their school swimming pool one night in order to stage a macho breath holding contest. But as the night goes on the loud, brash Charlie begins to tease the overweight, child-like Sam.

After a girl (Katie) arrives whom they all fancy, tensions start to escalate and by the end of the night none of their lives will ever be the same.

The 2009 Tribeca Film Festival

Posted on: May 10, 2009

Wow, had such an amazing time over in New York at the wonderful Tribeca Film Festival. It was everything a film festvial is supposed to be, as I watched great movies, met tons of really wonderful people and got a brilliant reaction to my film, “The Confession”.

Here is me and my wife with a certain Mr. De Niro having brunch during an event at the festival.

Me and Zachary Quinto (Sylar from Heroes, Spock from the new Star Trek) and a lovely bloke too.

Me and Brian Cox, who was an absolute gentleman and full of interesting stories.

Me and a gang of my new festival buddies and my wife at the Rudo y Cursi afterparty.

2009 “The Confession” a major success on Youtube

Posted on: May 6, 2009

I couldn’t be happier with how “The Confession” has done on youtube. Tribeca asked me would I be interested in putting it up on their youtube channel as an experiment to see would an internet audience be interested in watching selected shorts from the festival.

Here is a screen shot of the “The Confession” youtube page. It scored over 230,000 hits, most of which came in its first four days online.

Here’s a close up of it.

Video introduction for the Tribeca Film Festival

Posted on: April 20, 2009

Me introducing myself and my film to audiences at the Tribeca Film Festival. Enjoy.

Storyboards for my new short film, “The Pool”

Posted on: April 10, 2009

Here’s some wonderful storyboards that my good friend Rob Carey did for “The Pool” last year.

Their primary purpose was as a tool to help me secure funding for the film, helping to show the funders how I envisioned shooting it and my vision for the project in general.

How I envisioned the swimming pool area.

Sam, Ben and Charlie stand on the bank by the deep end of the pool.

Sam in the bathroom, staring at himself and grabbing a roll of fat.

Ben underwater, lets out bubbles of air in shock as he gets a fright.

My new music video – JJ “Playing the Game”

Posted on: March 3, 2009

Below is my latest music video. Enjoy.

Music Video Shoot – Day Three

Posted on: December 15, 2008

After a fitful sleep we awoke to a gloriously beautiful day with clear skies over the mountains, which was a massive relief considering that almost everything we had left to shoot were the mountainous locations.

After lunch we drove through the mountains on the way to the last location in Newtown Mount Kennedy, Wicklow. While doing so we grabbed a few gorgeous landscape shots for the opening of the video.

Arriving at the petrol station for the final shooting location we rushed around like ants desperately trying to get everything before the light failed. In the end we got all the shots we wanted and I couldn’t be happier with the result. I’d like to thank my wonderful co-Director Kay Madsen, as well as the entire cast and crew who were just top class and really worked their butts off.

Really looking forward to the next shoot with you all.

Music Video Shoot – Day Two

Posted on: December 14, 2008

So today we passed the half way point in the shoot and had some good and bad luck. In the morning we shot at Bull Island and got very lucky with the weather as the mountains seemed to pull the clouds away from us, really opening up the sky.

This created great contrast in the surrounding landscape, which is evident in the below image.

However our evening location unfortunately was the Wicklow Mountains and so when we arrived up there we couldn’t see more than ten feet in front of ourselves. This was a major problem considering we were supposed to be showing the vastness and beauty of the barren landscape.

We ended up thinking on our feet and going back to shoot the scene in a location we had passed on the way up to the Sally Gap, and I’m actually very happy with the result, which you can see below.

Music Video Shoot – Day One

Posted on: December 13, 2008

So at the end of day one I couldn’t be happier. The RED camera is a dream to work with, and the images are so crisp and sharp its like working on film.

We started at 08:00 at the Parkview Hotel in Newtown Mount Kennedy, Wicklow and shot for around five hours. I’ve included a still below that I feel represents the style and atmosphere that me and Kay are going for with the video.

Jane McGrath and Sean Stewart are a dream to work with, really giving it their all and producing great performances. After lunch we took to the road and resumed filming at an old warehouse in Inchicore, where we shot the performance part of the video.

Below is a still of JJ Daly in action.

Shooting the music video tomorrow

Posted on: December 12, 2008

Tomorrow we began filming the “Playing the Game” music video for JJ Daly. It’s a three day shoot on the RED camera, with myself and Kay Madsen co-Directing, and Kay also functioning as DP for the shoot.

Mark Bryne is Focus Puller, with Jill McKay performing Hair & Makeup duties and Natalie Conaty Costume Designing. The video is being produced by Dave Leahy through Warrior Films, with equipment provided by The Production Depot and lights from Cine Electric.

The dramatised parts of the video star Jane McGrath (The Clinic: Season 3, Lowland Fell) and Sean Stewart (Fifth Street, Dorothy Mills) in the role of two drifters who come together for one intense night, before going their separate ways again. Donncha Crowley (Kings, The Confession) also features.

We’ll be shooting at the Parkview Hotel in Newtown Mount Kennedy, a warehouse in Inchicore, the Wicklow Mountains and finally Bull Island, Dublin.

“The Pool” awarded state funding

Posted on: November 12, 2008

Hi everyone, had some great news over the past few weeks although its taken me until now to post it.

The short film script, “The Pool”, which I co-wrote with TJ Hundtofte, has been chosen by Filmbase as one of their summer 2008 funded shorts.

It’s being produced by Fiona Kinsella through Rocket Productions, with Los Angeles based Cladda Films co-producing.

The story entails, ”Three 14-year-old boys break into a swimming arena at night to see who can hold their breath longest under water. After listening to the others’ storied re-tellings of local myths, urban legends and sexual fantasies, Sam, an immature kid bullied for his childish belief in the supernatural, starts to feel a strange presence in the pool’s dark waters. As the night progresses, the pool starts to act as a catalyst for all the dark feelings brimming inside the boys, turning their contest into a spiteful clash between former friends.”

We’re shooting on the RED camera over four days in spring 2009, with Kay Madsen DP’ing.

“The Confession” gets into three more film festivals

Posted on: November 6, 2008

While “The Confession” continues to play to good reviews in cinema’s across Ireland it has been selected for three prestigious international film festivals.
The first of these is the “Miami International Short Film Festival“, which takes place from the 17th to the 23rd of November in Miami.

I am also delighted that “The Confession” has been selected for two of the biggest continental European film festivals, the “Leuven International Short Film Festival” and “Short Cuts Cologne“.

Leuven runs from November 29th until December 6th, while Cologne plays from the 3rd to the 7th of December.

“The Confession” to get a nationwide cinema release

Posted on: September 30, 2008

On October 17th, Thomas Hefferon’s The Confession will be rolled out in 33 cinemas across Ireland screening with Ian Fitzgibbon’s A Film With Me In It, which stars Dylan Moran and Mark Doherty as out-of-work actors. The Confession will also be playing with the film at its Dublin premiere in Cineworld on 7th October 2008.

Parallel Films are the production company behind A Film With Me In It and it is being distributed in Ireland by Vertigo Films. The Confession was shown to Parallel Films by their Distribution Consultant Brendan McCall, who ran Buena Vista Ireland for a number of years before retiring last year.

Shot over three days in December 2007 on location in Whitefriar Street Church in Aungier Street, The Confession has played at 22 International Film Festivals so far, including the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival, Rhode Island International Film Festival and the Boston Film Festival. Worldwide sales for The Confession are being handled by Network Ireland, the leading distributor of short film content in Ireland.

An update on the festival scene for “The Confession”

Posted on:

Just a quick update on how “The Confession” is doing on the film festival circuit.
Below is a list of all the festivals that it has been officially accepted into, along with the country where the festival takes place in brackets.

Galway Film Festival (Ireland)
Waterford Film Festival (Ireland)

Raindance Independent Film Festival (UK)
Filmstock International Film Festival (UK)
Rushes Soho Shorts Fest (UK)

Canary Wharf Film Festival - Rushes Program (UK)
Shoreditch Shuffle – Rushes Program (UK)
Jersey International Film Festival - Rushes Program (UK)
Ankara Film Festival – Rushes Program (Turkey)
Tofifest (Poland)
Rhode Island International Film Festival (USA)
Palm Spring Shorts Fest (USA)
1 Reel Bumbershoot Film Festival (USA)
San Francisco International Festival of Short Films (USA)
DC Shorts Fest (USA)

Newport Beach Film Festival (USA
Del Ray Beach Film Festival (USA)
Boston International Film Festival (USA)
Saint Louis International Film Festival (USA)
Cine Fiesta Film Festival (Puerto Rico)

Atlantic Film Festival (Canada)

Rushes bringing “The Confession” on tour

Posted on: August 12, 2008

Had some great news today regarding “The Confession”. The Rushes Short Film Festival contacted me today to ask would I be interested in letting them bring the film on a tour of at least four film festivals across the UK and Europe.

Needless to say I agreed immediately as its always good to have your film at a festival. The festivals are the “Canary Wharf Film Festival“, with the screening taking place on 29th August, “The Shoreditch Shuffle” on 13th September and the “Branchage Jersey International Film Festival” on 25th September.

It will also play at the “Ankara Film Festival” on 22nd October.

“The Confession” accepted into two more film festivals

Posted on: July 14, 2008

I’ve been really busy over the past month and so I haven’t had a chance to update the site. In that time “The Confession” has been accepted into the “DC Shorts Fest“, which has been named by MovieMaker Magazine as “one of the nation’s leading short film festivals.”

“The Confession” has also been accepted into the “1 Reel Bumbershoot Film Festival“, which is run by the Seattle International Film Festival.

In other news, I just got back from the “Galway Film Fleadh”, which was brilliant as usual. The standard was very high this year, with the most Irish features I’ve ever seen at a single Fleadh. I saw a load of great shorts, and was extremely impressed by all four Short Cuts

“The Confession” selected for Galway

Posted on: June 16, 2008

I am delighted to announce that “The Confession” has been selected to play at the “2008 Galway Film Fleadh“. Ever since completing the film a few months back I had hoped that “The Confession” would get into Galway, because I wanted the world premier of to be in Ireland.

Galway is one of my favourite festivals in the world and I’m honored that they have selected one of my films again.

Interview with the “Evening Herald”

Posted on: June 9, 2008

About a week ago I did an interview and photoshoot for the “Evening Herald“, Ireland’s biggest selling newspaper. It was finally published today and I have to say, I’m really happy with the result.

I owe a debt of gratitude to David Diebold for coming up with the idea in the first place, and then for devoting two full pages of his newspaper to an article about little old me.

I also want to thank John Costello for writing a fantastic piece. Even though I was the subject of the interview, I was enraptured reading it.

You can check out the article by clicking on the link below the photo’s.

“The Confession” selected for two more prestigious film festivals

Posted on: June 3, 2008

Received some more fantastic news over the past few days. “The Confession” has been selected for official competition at the “Rushes Soho Short Film Festival” as well as “Tofifest International Film Festival” in Poland.

I am delighted and honored to be selected for both festivals and should hopefully be attending both of them.

“The Confession” selected for two major US Film Festivals

Posted on: May 27, 2008

I’ve received some absolutely brilliant news over the past few days, as “The Confession” has been selected to play at the “Palm Springs International Short Film Festival” and the “Rhode Island International Film Festival“.

Palm Springs is considered to be one of the top twenty film festivals in the world, while Rhode Island was recently voted the 10th best festival in America. Needless to say that I’m extremely happy with how the film has performed so far, and think that this bodes well for its future.

Just finished Screen Training Ireland course

Posted on: May 16, 2008

Just finished an intensive 3-day course, entitled, “Visual Structure with Bruce Block“. Wow, what a course. I can’t stop looking at things and saying to myself, “Is it deep or flat?” (You’ll understand if you do the course).

Not only was the course fantastic and full of useful insights into things that I would do subconsciously all the time, but Bruce was lovely and an absolute pleasure to meet. I think my brain will still be processing everything I learned for years to come.

“The Confession” picked up for distribution

Posted on: May 15, 2008

Got some great news today regarding the film. I got home to find an email from Derry O’ Brien, the M.D. of Network Ireland Television, informing me that they’d be more than happy to take on “The Confession” for distribution.

I’m delighted about this, because Network Ireland are already representing two of my older short films, “Loose Change” and “The Psychologist“, and I have a great relationship with them.

“The Confession” poster

Posted on: April 28, 2008

Just got the finalised version of the poster from my graphics guy, the amazingly talented Robert Carey. It took us over 20 revisions, but I think the final result was worth the effort.

“The Confession” finishes post

Posted on: April 22, 2008

After many months of hard work, my latest short film, “The Confession” is finally finished. The film stars Donncha Crowley (Headrush, The Tudors, Kings) and Sean Flanagan (The Boy From Mercury, Saltwater, The Clinic).

“The Confession” is set in 1970′s rural Ireland, and is about a young man’s attempt to confess his sins to the local priest, who seems more interested in gossiping about the local women than absolving the penitent.

The film was shot over three days in early December 2007 on location at Whitefriars Church in Aungier Street and in an empty warehouse in Deansgrange.