João Tudella
A new film by a Lahinch-based director will be shown at festivals in Sligo and Dublin in the coming weeks.
‘Dinnseanchas’, directed by Lahinch filmmaker João Tudella, looks at how coastal communities are responding to climate change. The film was commissioned by Hometree, a Clare nature restoration charity based in Ennistymon.
The documentary was filmed along Ireland’s west coast, from Kerry to Donegal. Artists were placed in six communities to record local experiences of climate pressures, depopulation, and changing social and economic conditions. Farmers, artists, and community members all took part.
The film will be shown at the Strandhill Film & Folk Festival in Sligo on August 30 and at the Earth Rising Festival in the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, from September 12–14.
Hometree runs large-scale ecological projects, including the Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project, which focuses on restoring native woodlands. ‘Dinnseanchas’ is linked to this work, adding an arts and community element.
Director João Tudella said the film was guided by the time he spent with artists during residencies. “Being welcomed into those moments, conversations, walks, and shared silences gave me a deeper appreciation for the connection between people and place”.
Ray Ó Foghlú of Hometree said the project gave communities a chance to share their concerns and hopes. “For us, ‘Dinnseanchas’ was a huge opportunity to go to the uplands and listen”.
The film was funded by Creative Ireland’s Creative Climate Action scheme.
