Darklight Compendium: Volume 1

Set up as a platform for young film makers, Darklight: Volume 1, showcases short films that have been part of the Darklight Film Festival since its inception in 1999. It's an eclectic mixture of animation, live action narrative-based shorts and abstract, experimental works, all varying in time and content. Just like any film festival, the work here ranges from plain awful, to outstanding, to teeth-grindingly pretentious. A few genuine stand-outs raise their heads from the pack - most notably 'Stars', a hugely innovative Irish-produced, multi-layered animation piece that manages to be both profound and technically astounding. Others such as 'The Confession Sessions' are a tad overlong but effective, whilst 'The Love Letter' is beautifully shot and nicely played by the young cast. But the point here really isn't so much which shorts hit or miss; but that these film makers have a platform, and an opportunity to showcase their work. Most people don't get to film festivals (especially short film festivals), and the average cinema-going folk off to see School of Rock on a Friday night will not be doing cartwheels at the prospect of a further delay to their evening, especially having already sat through numerous ads and trailers. That's why the Darklight DVD is an excellent idea, and a well-produced and slick package. The DVD is available from from darklight.ie and Laser, IFI Bookshop and Temple Bar Cultural Trust.