STUDENT FILM DIRECTOR DEFENDS BANNED FILM

Date Published: 24-Apr-2009

A student film director is standing by his film which the Mayor of Galway has banned from a screening at the Eye Cinema next month. Mayor Padraig Conneely is on the Board of Management of Galway Community College which is holding an invitation-only end of year screening of students work at the Eye Cinema in May. He's had the screening of Tony McDonagh's 'Roped In' banned because a schoolboy who goes on to die by suicide in the film is shown wearing the colleges' uniform in a flashback scene. Director Tony McDonagh says the use of the uniform was authorised by college authorities and the 3 minute film has not been publicly screened as it is still at the editing stage. Tony McDonagh says he and his production team approached the theme of suicide responsibly.