26th November 2023
We are thrilled to announce that Kate Sweeney from England, with her gorgeous film To Be Two has won Ó Bhéal’s 11th poetry-film competition, as announced at the 11th Winter Warmer Poetry Festival awards ceremony.
To Be Two was chosen from 208 submissions received from 168 filmmakers in 33 countries. The 2023 shortlist represents 14 countries: Belgium, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Namibia, New Zealand, Scotland, The Netherlands, UK, Ukraine and USA. You can view the shortlist and screenings here.
Poem: To Be Two
Synopsis – An origin story of becoming – two mothers, a son, a family. Bringing together the moments and the materials from the everyday, it focusses on the ways we, as a family formed through adoption, have made our bonds. To Be Two is a collage of video recordings, poetry, and animation painted with inks and dyes made from mud, rust, blackberries, nettle milk and river water gathered and adapted from my immediate and intimate surroundings. to describe how we imagine and manifest our selves through each other beyond the language of blood and DNA.
Director: Kate Sweeney (UK)
Kate Sweeney is an artist, video maker and writer based in the North East of England. Her video pieces have screened and been exhibited nationally and internationally including Sydney International Film Festival, Zebra Film Festival in Berlin, Manchester Animation Festival, AnimaTricks in Helsinki and International Poetry Festival in London. Kate is currently a research associate at Newcastle University, and has previously taught Fine Art, Animation and lectured in poetry-film. She has just completed her PhD exploring video practice in literary archives at Newcastle University, UK (2016 – 20).
“What struck us primarily was how the beauty of the words “richter white paint stroked through a candle/ time blown backwards by a brush” were as captivating as the visual journey of this film. The pacing was extraordinary, the stunning stop motion animation of a child on a pushbike coming towards you, and then you might have a sheet of white vellum paper just for a few moments, all under-layered with a child crying or laughing. One is transported into extraordinary shifts in perspective, via a striking variety of stylised animations and abstract videography. A fantastic and worthy winner. ”
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