Gold, An Bronntanas and One Million Dubliners Win at Boston Irish Film Festival
Gold, An Bronntanas and One Million Dubliners, three features funded by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, have won awards at the Boston Irish Film Festival.
Gold, which opened in Irish cinemas in October 2014, won the award for Best Feature at the festival. Directed by Niall Heery (Small Engine Repair), Gold stars David Wilmot (Calvary), Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones), James Nesbitt (The Hobbit) and Kerry Condon (Rome) in an offbeat comedy about an estranged father who returns to his hometown after an absence of ten years to reconnect with his teenage daughter and ex-wife.
An Bronntanas, directed by Tom Collins, aired as an acclaimed Irish-language TV miniseries on TG4 in late 2014. This feature-film edit is the winner of the Special Jury Prize at the Boston Irish Film Festival. Speaking of the award win, producer Ciarán Ó Cofaigh said: “We were very proud of the success of the series when it was broadcast recently on TG4, but it’s apparent that the film version has its own legs. The production of An Bronntanas was an enormous challenge and we believe we have achieved this production to a high international standard. Winning this award in Boston and the film’s selection for many other festivals will further promote the film and the Irish language.”
One Million Dubliners, directed by Aoife Kelleher and which will be released in North America in April, is the winner of the Director’s Choice Feature prize. A documentary focussing on the necropolis of Glasnevin Cemetery, the film has won acclaim and awards including The Irish Times’ ‘Best Irish Film 2014’ and the ‘Best Feature Documentary’ award at Galway Film Fleadh 2014. Director Aoife Kelleher commented: "The response to the film in Ireland surpassed all of our hopes. We are delighted to announce the release date of the film in North America, scheduled shortly after Saint Patrick’s day. We’re very grateful to the staff of Glasnevin, without whom the film could not have been made, and for the family and friends of Shane MacThomáis. Making this film, with its remarkable subject and such a brilliant team, has been a privilege and it's wonderful that audiences outside of Ireland will now have an opportunity to engage with the film.”
The Boston Irish Film Festival will take place from March 19th to 22nd.