Fastnet shines spotlight on acclaimed filmmaker
We didn’t think it was possible, but this year’s Fastnet Film Festival just got even more exciting!
Next month, the hugely popular West Cork festival will host three special events celebrating the work of acclaimed American filmmaker, author, and artist Rebecca Miller, daughter of Arthur Millar.
Across a live interview, a book reading, and a film screening, audiences will have the rare opportunity to engage with her creative journey and storytelling craft.
Miller will sit down for a live interview with Barry Monahan, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Film & Screen Media at UCC. Together, they will explore her approach to filmmaking and writing, delving into the art of storytelling and the influences that have shaped her wide-ranging body of work. With a career spanning cinema, literature, and visual art, Miller’s voice remains one of the most distinctive and thoughtful in contemporary culture.
The second Miller-focused event is a screening of ‘Arthur Miller: Writer’, a 2017 documentary about Miller’s father, the iconic American playwright. This deeply personal film blends rare archival footage, candid interviews, and family memories to present a rich, intimate portrait of Arthur Miller. More than a biographical account, it offers a humanising glimpse into his convictions, creative process, and the complexities of his personal life, all seen through the lens of a daughter and fellow artist.
The third event is a special reading hosted at Worm Books where Miller will share excerpts from her literary works and reflect on storytelling across page and screen. She is the author of ‘Personal Velocity’, ‘The Private Lives of Pippa Lee’, ‘Jacob’s Folly’, and her most recent novel ‘Touch’ (2023), a moving meditation on grief, friendship, and human connection. Known for her emotional depth and unforgettable characters, Miller’s fiction has garnered critical acclaim and continues to resonate with readers around the world.
Miller’s filmography includes ‘Angela’ (1995), ‘Personal Velocity’ (2002), ‘The Ballad of Jack and Rose’ (2005), ‘The Private Lives of Pippa Lee’ (2009), ‘Maggie’s Plan’ (2015), and ‘She Came to Me’ (2023). Her work has received honours from Sundance, the Independent Spirit Awards, and Gotham Awards, and is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. She also wrote the screenplay for ‘Proof’ (2005) and adapted her story collection ‘Personal Velocity’ into an award-winning film.
The Fastnet Film Festival runs from 21-25 May in the beautiful setting of Schull in West Cork. It will feature an exciting lineup of seminars, masterclasses, and workshops.
Fringe events include live music, drama performances, book readings, a movie quiz, café screenings throughout the town, free family entertainment.