First Cut is delighted to present an exciting and innovative new project: Earth Echoes. Earth Echoes is a Virtual Reality (VR) based project for young people facilitated by artist Andrew McSweeney. The participants have full control over the development process, with the aim of producing a VR project which addresses their thoughts about our environment. It is funded by The Arts Council Young Ensembles Scheme and Tomar Trust.

Between September and February 2024, the participants are involved in workshops and field visits which involve creative thinking as well as practical filmmaking and learning about developing media for VR. The project will be showcased at the First Cut Youth Film Festival in 2025.

Earth Echoes is an explorative and research-based project based on the interests of a group of young creatives who form the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) with First Cut Youth Film Festival in collaboration with Irish visual artist Andrew McSweeney.

The project will work with YAC members who are 15-20 years old to take initiative and investigate Ireland’s environmental narrative from their own perspective as a group by producing an interactive and educational virtual reality application.

Following on from an interactive workshop ‘Future Lens: New Technologies in Filmmaking & Immersive Storytelling with VR’ held at Nano Nagle Place in Cork (February 2024) as part of FCYFF 2024, participants were introduced to 3D scanning methods used in filmmaking, interactivity as a tool in VR as well as being shown relevant examples of digital preservation in terms of preserving/archiving environmental data and cultural heritage assets for future generations.

It was emphasized through feedback from participants that there was much more to explore and the workshop highlighted the potential this project could have in showcasing creative environmental research. Earth Echoes seeks to allow the time for participants to gain a deeper understanding of how these new technologies work within the filmmaking field and produce their own interactive/educational story. Over the course of six months, participants will delve into pressing issues of climate change and digitally preserving elements from nature by engaging with new technologies/immersive storytelling. Through the collaborative efforts of talented youth, guided by the collaborating artist Andrew McSweeney, Earth Echoes aims to inspire reflection, ignite dialogue, and catalyse meaningful change.

The young filmmakers participating are Adrian Corzo, Aislinn Cuffe, Bowie McInerney, Ellen Murray, George Lynch, Heather Barry, Kyra Owers, Mark Delaney, Maya Lupton, Nora Twomey, Orlanne Jallet, Tara Desmond, Thomas McNamara, Tiana Murphy and Veronica Howells.

Andrew McSweeney is an Irish digital artist based in Cork, Ireland. He uses 3D software and interactive technologies to explore the intersections of design & nature. McSweeney completed a BA in Fine Art at CIT Crawford College of Art & Design (2015) and an MA in Interdisciplinary Design Practice (2021) at the Limerick School of Art & Design. Recent projects include the XaRt commission (November 2023), developed in collaboration with the NExIS research team and the MTU Arts Ogice CREATE Le Chéile Fund, and an experimental video piece exhibited as part of 9.57 (SUNSET) during the Cork Midsummer Festival at the Triskel Arts Centre (June 2024). McSweeney also presented “Green World”, an interactive augmented reality application, at the Earth Rising: Eco Festival (September 2024) at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. His upcoming solo exhibition at Studio 12, Wandesford Quay, Cork, in February 2025, will showcase a collection of new digital and interactive works.