Battered Cod' is a new type of short film in that it is both a documentary and an artistic film ('docu-artistic') and receives its Canadian premiere as part of the 16th International Women's Film Festival in St. Johns in October.

It was made in southeast Ireland by choreographer Libby Seward who works with both community and professional dance in Ireland. The film was made in collaboration with Ken Coleman of WYD-Eye Film Unit and explores the demise of the fishing industry through an unusual combination of dance, documentary, music and poetry.

This short film (10 minutes) touches on a number of issues relevant to both sides of the Atlantic, not least of all the greed and over-fishing of our seawaters. It also pays homage to the lives of fishermen worldwide and the communities they come from. The reflective mood is captured in glimpses of the daily life of Waterford Fisherman Mel Butler and narrative from Dunmore East's historian and folklorist, Ray McGrath.

'Battered Cod' was made with a grant from the Ireland Newfoundland Partnership and it is planned to be screened on Irish TV later in 2005.

Libby Seward is travelling to present her film at the Closing Night Gala Screening on Sat. Oct. 22nd, at the Arts and Culture Centre, St. Johns. During her visit she will be making contact with other film dance makers and exploring possibilities of future collaborations with dancers from both countries.

 

	Click HERE to download a brochure in Acrobat (.pdf) format (194K). Click HERE to see a tiny 30-second preview of the film in .avi format (945 KB).