Marina Levitina, a longtime Galway resident who relocated to East Clare before Covid and co-founded Lough Grainey Nature Sanctuary there, is back in town this week, wearing her film-making hat.

Marina’s documentary Loch Gréine: A Bright Vision, will receive its world premiere at the Pálás Cinema next Wednesday, July 9, as part of the Galway Film Fleadh.

It explores the stunning natural beauty and cultural history of the Graney Valley in East Clare, through the eyes of local residents. It celebrates the landscape through poetry, music, and memory, while calling for its preservation for generations to come.

The Graney Valley lies in the Sliabh Aughty Special Protection Area and is home to unique biodiversity, ancient woodlands, the lake and the rivers, mythology and ancient sites.

The film features stunning aerial photography combined with shots of rare Irish plants, birds and animals. It also captures a number of medicinal plants growing in locally and explores ancient sites, traditional agricultural practices, the meanings of placenames and themes of emigration and immigration, as well as the history of camogie and traditional music.

Marina hopes the film, which features music from renowned fiddler Martin Hayes, a local, will remind people what communities can do to protect their natural and cultural heritage.

“The people who live here, the plants, the trees, the birds and the animals, the land herself, the river and the lake named after the goddess Grian, ancient Irish goddess of the sun, are part of this community and part of the film,” she says, describing it as “call to action”. She wants people to “reflect on their own localities and ask: ‘What more can we do to help?’ When we work together, we truly can achieve so much”.

Loch Gréine: A Bright Vision will be screened at 11.15am next Wednesday, July 9, in the Pálás and there will be a post-show discussion. Booking at www.galwayfilmfleadh.com

Pictured: A still from the film capturing the beauty of Lough Graney.