Six IFB Funded Films Pick Up Prizes at the Galway Film Fleadh
Three IFB funded films won awards, one received a runner up prize, while two picked up honourable mentions at the Galway Film Fleadh this weekend.
Ken Wardrop's debut feature documentary HIS & HERS scooped the Best Irish Feature award. The film which screened on Friday night to an amazing reception explores the age-old love affair between men and women through the collective voice of 70 ladies - ranging from seven to ninety years of age. Kens accomplished short films such as Undressing My Mother and Farewell Packets of Ten have garnered him much critical acclaim on the international short film circuit. The runner up prize for Best Irish Feature category went to SWANSONG - STORY OF OCCI BYRNE written and directed by Conor McDermottroe.
Other IFB projects to pick up prizes at the festival include the Framework short film THE POLISH LANGUAGE which won the Best Animation Award. Written and directed by Alice Lyons and co-directed by Orla McHardy it is a film-poem about the subversive power of art and the renewal of poetry in the whispery language of Polish. OLD FANGS, also a Framework short written and directed by Adrien Merigeau received an Honourable mention in this category.
The Best Short Drama award went to the Signature short THE MAN INSIDE written and directed by Rory Bresnihan. The short film recently won the Best Live Action Short Under 15 Minutes Award, 2nd place at the renowned Palm Springs International Film Festival. Meanwhile the Short Short musical DENTAL BREAKDOWN directed by Ian Power received an Honourable mention.
2009 21st Galway Film Fleadh Awards
Best Feature Documentary:
The Cove Directed by Louie Psihoyos
Best First Feature:
Frozen River Directed by Courtney Hunt
Best Irish Feature:
His & Hers Directed by Ken Wardrop
Runner Up Best Irish Feature: Swansong: Story of Occi Byrne Directed by Conor McDermottroe
Short Film Awards
Best First Animation- The James Horgan Award
Winner: Blip Directed by Sean Mullen and Ben Harper
Honourable mention: The Office Environment Directed by Mark Mullen
Best Animation
Winner: The Polish Language Directed by Alice Lyons and Orla McHardy
Honourable mention: Old Fangs directed by Adrien Merigeau
Honourable mention: On the Quiet Directed by Eamonn O'Neill
Best Short Documentary
Winner: Christmas with Dad Directed by Conor McCormack
Honourable mention: The Knife Directed by Colm Quinn
Honourable mention: God and Napoleon Directed by Ciaran Deeney
Best First Short Drama
Winner: Thursday Afternoon Directed by Manus McManus
Honourable mention: Questions Directed by Mark Noonan
Best Short Drama- The Tiernan McBride Award
Winner: The Man Inside Directed by Rory Bresnihan
Honourable mention: If I should fall behind Directed by Morgan Bushe
Honourable mention: Dental Breakdown Directed by Ian Power
The Pitching Award
Get the Pope Directed by Gary Mitchell