14 November 2018
Newsdesk
Each November, in the lead up to the Irish Film Festival London, which takes place from 21st November to 25th November, IFL hosts an awards ceremony in celebration of Irish Film. These awards highlight and reward the talents of a select number of Irish film makers, whose work has shown great distinction, originality and passion.
The Award nominees are hand-picked from the films selected to screen during the festival each year. This year’s line-up includes twenty-eight films, representing Ireland’s latest mainstream and independent films. The categories include: Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, Best Documentary, The Súil Eile Award, the Best Irish Music Video Award and The Ros Hubbard Award for Acting.
The Awards took place last night in the beautiful setting of The Irish Embassy in London.
Best Short Film in association with The Irish World: The Nominees-
Lint -3 mins 15 secs / Dir: Lisa O’Sullivan
Exploring the strange limbo state that we experience in the aftermath of a break up, Lint follows one person’s bizarre attempt at regaining some sense of normality.
Early Days
12 mins / Dir: Nessa Wrafter
Though Kate knows she’s lucky to have become a mother, and her instincts toward her baby are fiercely protective, post-natal trauma and hallucinations make the world increasingly hard to bear. Can anything pull her back to reality - before it’s too late?
Wren Boys
11 mins / Dir: Harry Lighton
On the day after Christmas, a Catholic priest from Cork drives his nephew to prison. Starring Lalor Roddy, Diarmuid Noyes and Fionn Walton.
Winner - Early Days. The award was accepted by director Nessa Wrafter and presented by Bernard Purcell, editor of The Irish World.
Tickets available from regentstreetcinema.com/programme/irish-short-films-programme-2
Best Documentary in association with Cara Personnel and C-KO:
The Nominees-
Under the Clock -2018 / Documentary / 76 mins / Dir: Colm Nicell / Ire (U)
This film tells the life-affirming stories of a generation of people whose relationships began under one of Ireland’s most iconic landmarks, Clerys clock. Be taken back in time to the days of the Dublin dance halls, courting, sneaking out to meet a fella, and the heart-racing times spent waiting, not knowing if they would turn up.
Poc na nGael - 2017 / Documentary / 50 mins / Dir: Éamonn Ó Cualáin / Ire, (PG), Irish with English subtitles
Starring: Ger Loughnane, Brendan Shanahan, Geraldine Heaney
Irish hurling legend Ger Loughnane is on a mission to discover the Irish connections to ice hockey in Canada. He reveals how the Irish emigrants who settled there over 200 years ago, created the sport and played a key role in developing the game from its inception on a frozen pond in Nova Scotia to the modern arenas of today’s official championships. This is a poignant exploration of the incredible contribution of Irish immigrants in creating and developing a sport that went on to help define the new nation of Canada.
The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid: 2018 / Documentary / 85 mins / Dir: Feargal Ward / Ire (12A)
For years, the farmer Thomas Reid has been locked in a grueling battle with his neighbour, U.S. microchip manufacturer Intel. The multinational wants to expand and has its eye on Reid’s land. Eager to boost employment in the region, the Irish authorities are doing their utmost to force Reid into a sale. But the farmer has no intention of leaving his 300-year-old ancestral home, where he lives alone, surrounded by cows and chickens. Feargal Ward’s documentary shows this tenacious eccentric to be a formidable opponent of the system.
Winner - The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid. The award was accepted by producer Luke McManus, presented by Julie O'Neill, founder of Cara Personnel.
Tickets available from www.curzoncinemas.com/bloomsbury/film-info/dochouse-the-lonely-battle-of-thomas-reidbloomsbury
Best Feature Film in association with Scannain: The Nominees-
Rosie - 2018 / Drama / 86 mins / Dir: Paddy Breathnach / Ire (15)
Starring: Sarah Greene, Moe Dunford, Fiona Ashe, Lochlann O’Mearain, Toni O’Rourke
Irish writer Roddy Doyle was compelled back to script-writing for this Dublin-set drama, which tells a story, inspired by too many true stories in modern Ireland, of Rosie, a devoted mother of four, over a period of 36 hours as she and her partner, John Paul, and their family tries to cope with unexpected homelessness.
Grace and Goliath:
2018 / Family drama, comedy / 93 mins / Dir: Tony Mitchell / Ire (PG)
Starring: Emy Aneke, Savanna Burney Keatings, Jo Donnelly, Ciarán McMenamin, Olivia Nash
A Hollywood big shot, Josh Jenkins (Emy Aneke), sweeps into Belfast to make a movie, but before long, his world crashes and he loses everything. Lily (Olivia Nash), a hotel cleaner, invites him to stay with her crazy family and gradually the people of this ‘strange’ city manage to touch his heart. A powerful story of how one man’s Goliath ego is brought down by one single dose...of Grace.
The Little Stranger:
2018 / Drama, thriller / 111 mins / Dir: Lenny Abrahamson / Ire (12A) Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Ruth Wilson, Will Poulter, Charlotte Rampling
After a doctor is called to visit a crumbling manor, strange things begin to occur. The Little Stranger tells the story of Dr. Faraday (Domhnall Gleeson), the son of a housemaid, who has built a life of quiet respectability as a country doctor. During the long, hot summer of 1948, he is called to see a patient at Hundreds Hall, where his mother once worked. The Hall has been home to the Ayres family for more than two centuries, but now it is in decline and its inhabitants - mother, son and daughter - are haunted by something more ominous than a dying way of life. When he takes on his new patient, Faraday has no idea how closely, and how disturbingly, the family’s story is about to become entwined with his own.
Winner - Rosie was received by director Paddy Breathnach and presented by Kelly O'Connor, founder of Irish Film London.
Tickets available from www.regentstreetcinema.com/programme/rosie/
Best Irish Music Video Award in association with The Irish Jam:
The nominees-
1/ Villagers - Fool - Director: Bob Gallagher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI46nPj_1Eo
2/ Kodaline - Head Held High - Director: James Fitzgerald
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jje2x1HP0c
3/ Daithí (feat The Sei) - In My Darkest Moments - Director: Lochlainn McKenna
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yymDRYx5JwM
4/ Pillow Queens - Favourite - Director: Bob Gallagher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyLuM7rIBsI
5/ Roisín Murphy (feat Ali Love) - Jacuzzi Rollercoaster - Director Roisín Murphy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmB80LrNXVI
6/ Jafaris - Found My Feet - Directors: Nathan Barlow & Stephanie Naughter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j83M-EDduOM
7/ Hot Cops - Decay - Director: Aaron Eccles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt-TVLH4I2o
Winner - Favourite, Pillow Queens, received by director Bob Gallagher, presented by Kealan Duignan from The Irish Jam
Suil Eile Award in association with Tourism Ireland: Under the Clock, received by director Colm Nicell, presented by Darren Quinton from Tourism Ireland.
This film tells the life-affirming stories of a generation of people whose relationships began under one of Ireland’s most iconic landmarks, Clerys clock. Be taken back in time to the days of the Dublin dance halls, courting, sneaking out to meet a fella, and the heart-racing times spent waiting, not knowing if they would turn up...
Tickets available from www.regentstreetcinema.com/programme/under-the-clock-smithy-dickie
Ros Hubbard Award for Acting: Sarah Greene. The award was received by director Paddy Breathnach on behalf of actor Sarah Greene, presented by Ros Hubbard.
The Festival Founder, Kelly O’Connor said, “It’s great to have so many of the filmmakers in attendance at the awards this year. It’s such a unique networking opportunity, rubbing shoulders with programmers from all the main exhibitors in London, not to mention producers, commissioners and international acting talent too.
The Irish Embassy did a superb job of hosting us, and we are exceptionally lucky to have such a progressive and supportive Ambassador here in London to champion events like this as part of their busy schedule.”
Venues: Regent Street Cinema 309 Regent St, Marylebone, London W1B 2UW
BFI NFT1, Belvedere Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 8XT
Bertha Dochouse at Curzon Bloomsbury, The Brunswick, London, WC1N 1AW
Barbican Cinema, Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS
The Union Private Members Club, 50 Greek Street, Soho, W1D 4EQ
Dates: Wednesday 21st November – Sunday 25th November
Line-up: Full line-up listings on irishfilmlondon.com
Ticket Prices: Varies according to event. Check irishfilmlondon.com for details
Box office: irishfilmlondon.com
Details: Back for their 8th year, the Irish Film Festival London presents Ireland’s latest mainstream and independent films over 5 days across London with exclusive previews, panel discussions and director’s Q&As.
