Latest Laois Event: Laois writer and director scores big success with debut film

Laois Writer/Director has success with his debut short film Shadowban at Irish and International festivals

Shane W. Brennan is a writer/director from Portlaoise, who has seen recent selection success with his short horror film Shadowban. The short film has been widely praised and amassed multiple selections in festivals in Ireland, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, Ukraine, and China. Recently Shadowban has been selected as 1 of 16 Irish short films to compete in the prestigious Light and Motion Competition as part of the Foyle Film Festival, which is Oscar-affiliated, as well as BAFTA and IFTA recognised.

The film was a passion project that was self-funded by his company Foe and was shot in Stradbally in the winter of 2021. Shane has been working in advertising and production for over a decade with some of the biggest brands in Ireland. However, Shadowban is his first step out into non-commercial fiction production. 

Shadowban is a short horror film that stars TikTok star and Kilkenny native Fiona Bergin and uses modern themes inspired by traditional storytelling and folklore. It explores how we use and rely on technology in our world to interact with each other and poses the question as to what we are losing with these advancements all set against the backdrop of and dark country road on Halloween.

Shane is delighted to be able to showcase his home county through his filmmaking and hopes to shoot future projects in Laois.

The trailer can be viewed at www.shadowbanfilm.com 

Awards

Best Horror Short: Semi-Finalist, San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival

Best Short Film: Finalist, Pumpkin Fantasy Film Festival

Best Film Poster: Winner, Disappear Here Film Festival

Best Short Fiction: Honourable Mention, Louth International Film Festival

Best Horror Film: Nominee, 13th Underground Cinema Film Awards

Best Irish Short: Finalist, The Dark Hedges International Film Festival

Best Horror Short: Winner, Onyko Film Awards

Best Acting: Winner (Fiona Bergin), Onyko Film Awards

Best in Festival: Honourable Mention, Spook Screen

Best Irish Film: Nominee, Spook Screen

Best Horror: Nominee, Dublin International Short Film and Music Festival

Selections

Official Selection: Foyle Film Festival, Northern Ireland

Official Selection: IndieCork Film Festival, Ireland

Official Selection: Clones Film Festival, Ireland

Official Selection: The Richard Harris International Film Festival, Ireland 

Official Selection: 13th Underground Cinema Film Awards, Ireland

Official Selection: Waterford International Film Festival, Ireland 

Official Selection: Disappear Here Film Festival, Ireland 

Official Selection: Ennis International Fantastic Film Fest, Ireland

Official Selection: Louth International Film Festival, Ireland

Official Selection: Spook Screen, Ireland 

Special Selection: Fright Night, Offline Film Festival, Ireland 

Official Selection: The Dark Hedges International Film Festival, Northern Ireland

Official Selection: HorrOrigins Film Festival, USA

Official Selection: San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival, USA

Official Selection: Pumpkin Fantasy Film Festival, China

Official Selection: Fargo Fantastic Film Festival, USA 

Official Selection: Astrophobia Science Fiction and Horror Film Festival, Canada

Official Selection: Dublin International Short Film and Music Festival, Ireland 

Official Selection: Horror at the Ohio, USA

Official Selection: Phoenix FearCON, USA

Official Selection: Atlanta Horror Film Festival, USA

Official Selection: A Night of Horror International Film Festival, Australia

Official Selection: Unrestricted View Horror Film Festival, UK 

Official Selection: The Black Country Horror Shorts Film Festival, UK 

Official Selection: The Vancouver Horror Show Film Festival, Canada

Official Selection: Shockfest Film Festival, USA

Official Selection: Onyko Film Awards, Ukraine

Special Selection: Sohome Horror Fest, Soho Horror Film Festival, UK