Awards have been given to primary schools from across the country to mark the annual FÍS Film Awards as it celebrates 20 years of filmmaking in primary schools.
Taking place at The Helix, DCU, Dublin, children gathered to enjoy and celebrate this year's event which was attended by Minister for Education and Youth Hildegard Naughton.
Over 1,500 pupils from schools across Ireland were involved in submitting films for the competition, bringing their creativity and storytelling skills to life.
This year’s top award, the Aileen MacKeogh 20th FÍS Film of the Year, was presented to St Hugh’s National School in Kilmore, Dowra, Co Leitrim, for their film From Tullynaha to Muckadilla.
"We come from a three-teacher school with 50 pupils in the parish of Ballynaderea in County Leitrim and even though we're fairly small, it’s a great school and this is one of the fantastic things we love being involved in," principal Padraig Kenny said after the presentation.
The FÍS project was designed to introduce and lead primary school pupils through the creative process of filmmaking and it offers a unique opportunity to develop their creative skills outside of a traditional classroom setting.
For Ruairí Mac Conduibh, who is one of the chief organisers, this initative is about "teaching the children that it is about a process".
"So the entire story, and the filmmaking process from a story board to an idea to bringing it to life and getting the children to to learn all these sills is so important for them," Mr Mac Conduibh said.
"They get to think critically and problems will come up during filmmaking and they get to learn problem solving through collaboration," he explained, adding that "the important aspect too is that they get a voice".
Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton was in attendance at the awards.
She said: "We know that young people are learning very differently nowadays, through the online world and artificial intelligence."
She added: "We need to be adapting and making sure our education system is enabling our young people to stay safe online.
The minister said an event like today "reminds us that there are huge positives and opportunities" using these technologies safely and responsibly.
For Ellenora Bradley Barron from the winning St Hugh's NS, said she and her classmates are "so proud" of their film.
The film tells the story of William Forde who left Ireland, "emigrated to Australia and then his son became prime minister there for eight days", she explained.
"It's a story from our area and it was so good to be able to tell it like this," she added.
For her classmate Glen Gilrane, the fun of making the film was great.
"We made it with our friends and our teachers and it's fun to see it here," he added.
The ceremony took place at the Helix today, and the ceremony was filmed by students from the IADT in Dún Laoghaire.
Today the Helix, tomorrow, Hollywood.
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