DOC NYC 2021- Young Plato (World Premiere/ International Competition)

Posted by BK on October 21, 2021 in Arts, documentary, Events, film, premiere, Showcase | Leave a comment

DOC NYC 2021

YOUNG PLATO (Section: International Competition)

WORLD PREMIERE 

Directors: Neasa Ní Chianáín (School Life) and Declan McGrath

Producer: David Rane

Running Time: 102 Minutes

Language: English Country: Ireland (Feature Documentary)

DOC NYC 2021 FESTIVAL SCREENINGS: 

PUBLIC SCREENING:

Sunday, November 14 at 4:05PM
Location: Cinepolis Chelsea

Monday, November 15 at 1:15PM
Location: Cinepolis Chelsea

An inspiring documentary from the filmmakers of School Life, YOUNG PLATO charts the dream of maverick, Elvis-loving school headmaster Kevin McArevey who is determined to turn the fortunes of an inner-city community plagued by urban decay, sectarian aggression, poverty and drugs. The all-boys primary school in post-conflict Belfast’s Ardoyne, Northern Ireland, becomes a hot house for questioning violence, as the headmaster sends his young wards home each day armed with the wisdom of the ancient Greek philosophers. The boys challenge their parents and neighbors to forsake the prejudice that has kept this low-level civil war on the boil for decades. YOUNG PLATO hums with the confidence of youth, a tribute to the power of the possible. 

Neasa Ní Chianáín (Director) is one of Ireland’s most established documentary talents. She has directed nine documentaries (four feature  length)    and one TV series. Recent films include the award-winning ‘Frank Ned & Busy Lizzie,’ ‘Fairytale of Kathmandu,’  and ‘The Stranger,’ which screened at the 67th  Locarno Film Festival.

Her last film, ‘In Loco Parentis’ (aka ‘School Life’), has been a world-wide success, premiering in competition at both IDFA 2016 and Sundance 2017. ‘School Life’ won the Special Jury Prize in the Golden Gate Awards at the San Francisco Film Festival, and an Audience Award (Prix du Public) at Visions du Réel  in Nyon. Neasa was also chosen to take part in the Sydney Film Festival’s ‘Europe! Voices of Women in Film,’ which selected 10 of  Europe’s most promising women directors.

Neasa is currently in post-production on a new feature documentary, ‘The Alexander Complex’ and has recently completed ‘Young Plato’ which will have its World Premiere at DOC NYC 2021.

Declan McGrath (Director) is a fllmmaker whose recent credits include the award-winning ‘Lomax in Éirinn ‘ (TG4) and ‘Mary McAleese & The Man Who Saved Europe ‘(RTE, BBC). He has written two books on the craft of filmmaking (Screencraft: Editing & Post Productions and Screencraft: Scriptwriting), both translated into five languages. He is also a regular contributor to the New York film journal, Cineaste.

His credits as a director include the acclaimed: ‘Lomax in Éirinn,’ which screened at festivals worldwide, ‘My  Struggle For Life,’ ‘Tír Eoghain: The  Unbreakable Bond,’ ‘Mary McAleese & The Man Who Saved Europe‘ and ‘Women Of The Oireachtas.’  His most recent film ‘Young Plato’ will have its World Premiere at DOC NYC 2021.

His credits as a producer include: ‘The Occupation,’ which was nominated for the New York Festivals Film and TV Awards in 2018.

Declan also directed the TV series ‘Seinn Liom’ and ‘Cad É An Scéal’ (BBC) and has worked as an editor for over twenty-five years, cutting numerous award-winning dramas    and documentaries.

DOC NYC Link to buy tickets:

https://www.docnyc.net/film/young-plato/

 @DOCNYCfest #docnyc

 We would like to thank Emma Griffiths (EG-PR) for the press release.