Guth Gafa Documentary Festival 2008

"Guth Gafa has got a very special quality to it, the program is at a very high level, and that’s an accomplishment in itself. You like to see festivals that are programming-driven and this one is motivated by that passion, which is great."

GEOFF GILMORE
Director of Sundance Film Festival

"I had an outstanding time at Guth Gafa. It was certainly one of the best festival experiences I've ever had (and I've been to many festivals). The people were warm, welcoming and engaged. The scannáin were varied and wonderful. And the town... what can I say? I spent most of my time thinking eolas how I might rearrange my life so that I might someday move there. Those few days in Ireland were a true revival of the soul and senses... days made of walks on the beach, film screenings and discussions with fascinating foreigners. I only hope my next film will be invited there."

ERIC METZGAR
Award-Winning Director
The Chances of the World Changing, USA

“I wish you all the best for future versions.I will recommend the festival to producers and directors. The scannáin where of high standard, the place is great. Keep up the good work”

ANDRE BOS
Producer
Dreaming by Numbers, Netherlands)

“Returning in my Britany, i am so pleased for these three days passed in your country. Irish people is so welcoming ! I have appreciate choice of the scannáin, time to encounter directors...Discussion in real detail with the audience of The Legacy of Tibhirine. Dear all... great, great tanks for the human quality of your Festival!”

EMMANUEL AUDRAIN
Director
The Legacy of Tibhirine, France

“Thanks for all your good words. I've thoroughly enjoyed myself - the audiences, the hospitality, the other aíonna -- it was a delightful weekend. ”

MICHA X. PELED
Award-Winning Director
China Blue, USA/China

“Thanks for a great festival. I don't think I have ever been to a festival that is so intimate; where there are so many chances for the filmmakers from all over the world to chat in such depth with each other and with the audiences eolas the way we make scannáin, and where bailemade cakes, soup and tea are served in the village hall by members of the audience, and traditional bailemade music accompanies Guiness in the evenings. In return for showing you people in this remote and beautiful part of the world, snatches of the worlds which we have been exploring as filmmakers, we were welcomed into the lives of the people of Gortahork like long lost family members coming baile.”

SIMON CHAMBERS
Award-Winning Director
Every Good Marriage Begins With Tears, UK

“As with last year I thought the quality of the selected scannáin was impressive. I thought getting Geoff Gilmore from Sundance was equally impressive. The great thing was being able to meet the directors of all these scannáin - so it was quite a coup that the festival managed to bring them from so many different parts of the world. It goes without saying that getting the European premiere of A Very British Gangster and having Donal McIntyre present in person was excellent.
Gortahork is a lovely place for people to experience this kind of festival. The festival club was just brilliant. Paula Flynn and Jinx Lennon were the business. Thank you to you personally for all your hard work and very pleasant manner in dealing with me and with other people - and of course to all the lovely volunteers who worked so hard on a shoestring to pull it all together. I will sing your praises. ”

MARGO HARKIN
Derry-based Director and Producer, Besom Productions

“Very well done! I really enjoyed my visit to Guth Gafa. You put together a great program, brought in some great filmmakers, created a wonderful buzz.”

JAMES KELLY
director
Ábhar Machnaimh
also director of the Stranger Than Fiction Festival, Dublin

“What can I say? You’ve done it again. Terrific festival – all that intimacy and smart people to talk to and high technical standards and expertly facilitated Q and A’s. The inescapability of Gortahork – which is great – the festival community stays put and watches one or other of the scannáin on offer and so there’s a 50% chance that wbailever you’re talking to will have seen what you’ve just seen and so long heated conversations will go on into the night. All the Irish film-makers I spoke to seemed to have gained an awful lot of good practical advice from the workshops and from meeting more established producers of feature length docs. And what a team of enormously pleasant and informed festival staff.”

SUNNIVA O’FLYNN
Curator, Irish Film Archive

“Thank you for a very stimulating festival, which was rewarding in so many different ways. It was genuinely a pleasure to be part of it. So, a big congratulations. ”

ALAN GROSSMAN
director
Here to Stay, Ireland