"God Given Opportunity" Short Film

“God Given Opportunity” by Anne Marie Kelly, is a short film responding to the Papal Visit to Ireland and the “Negativity” that surrounded it.  It seeks to artistically represent the battle between good and evil that took place over the last few decades as child abuse and its cover up tore the Irish Catholic Church apart. 

The Team involved in this project are the actors Jamie McClean and Dmitry Vinokurov, Director of Photography - Ciarán O'Donnell, Sound Designer - Johnny Kelleher, with Anne Marie Kelly as Writer and Director.   Together, the core of this group last year created "Ma", the award winning, multi festival showing, short. 

You can view "Ma" here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqkd3cetVJo&t=

When the Pope came to Ireland in the 1970s I was very young, but I remember the excitement in the air, the sense of togetherness of a nation, overjoyed to welcome our Holy Father.  When the Pope came to Ireland in 2018, I came to the Garden of Remembrance and listened to people share their stories of how their path of growth had been invaded by perpetrators of abuse, given power over them by the same Catholic Church that was celebrating mass in the Phoenix Park.  Like most Irish people, I have heard stories of abuse shared before, but that day, the stories got inside me, and as I watched people be interviewed and use words like “negativity” against those seeking atonement, I raged inside.  How dare we be so dismissive of human pain...  How dare we enable evil by turning our eyes away...

From this response grew “God Given Opportunity”, a short cinematic experience, which distils the story of abuse in the church to its salient points namely that, an ideal was founded on goodness, it was invaded by evil and evil was allowed to walk away unpunished.

The vileness of abuse is clearly conveyed in the delivery of the story, but in symbolism and inference, with the use of imagery and sound design, and in this conveyance has a deeply effecting impact on the viewer as our own gut system feels the betrayal, the helplessness, the rage of failed wrath.  As a believer, or as a non believer, it takes us back to the beginning of the story of the Gospels – what would Jesus have done? 

At the minimum, this film will cost Euro10,000 to make. With that amount of money we can tell this story with impact and integrity.  Above and beyond this amount gives us the room to add further to the response triggers of the piece.  It also gives us more time for investing in filming and editing.  It allows for the refinement of the artistic elemental quality of the piece.

Many films have been made and stories told about this part of our history.  Links have been made and continue to be researched between the effects of childhood trauma and mental illness, addiction, self harm and suicide.  My work as a psychotherapist is a constant influence on my work in the arts; through this medium I speak from the heart and the gut to the viewer on a level that resonates long after the closing credits fade.  To be a part of this project on any level allows the resonance of “I’m listening” to ring on.

Donation Acknowlegements:

€10.00:  Thank you email from the team.

€20.00: As above AND Secure online screening of film

€50.00: As above AND be thanked in the end of film credits

€100.00: As above and a Personalised Invitation to the Dublin Premiere of “God Given Opportunity”

€250.00: As above AND A personalised signed picture of one of the stars of the film, Jamie McClean or Dmitry Vinokurov

Lots of deserving causes and projects are calling for support.  If you feel you cannot support us financially, please stick with us as part of our chorus.  Share us, like us, push our project out to the world, talk about us in cafes and bars, wherever you meet with others, and through you, others may be able to give us the financial support that we need to make this film a reality.

More information about the people involved and the project itself can be found on the facebook page of "God Given Opportunity".

Thank you for your time!
Anne Marie Kelly.