BSE/IFB BACKED FILMS RECEIVE TOP AWARDS AT IFTA’S
Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (BSE/IFB) offer warm congratulations to all the winners at the annual Irish Film and Television Awards, which were presented last Saturday night in the Burlington Hotel, 14 of which were awarded to BSE/IFB-funded projects and 7 of which were picked up by films produced under the BSE/IFB low budget initiative.FREEZE FRAME, the low budget thriller scripted and directed by John Simpson was the big winner on the night, taking home more awards that any other film. Released in cinemas earlier this year by Eclipse Pictures, the film scooped the award for Best Cinematography (Mark Garrett) and Best Production Design (Ashleigh Jeffers). Simpson also beat off stiff competition to take home the BSE/IFB and NIFTC co-sponsored award for Best New Talent. FREEZE FRAME was funded by the BSE/IFB, the NIFTC RTE and Universal, under the BSE/IFB low budget scheme.
Lenny Abrahamson, who made his directorial debut into feature film with ADAM AND PAUL, scooped the coveted award for Best Director. ADAM AND PAUL was produced by Speers Films and Element Films, also as part of the BSE/IFB Low Budget film scheme.
Damien O’Donnell’s INSIDE I’M DANCING, which is currently on nationwide release, picked up the award for Best Script.
Following its major win at the Toronto Film Festival, OMAGH, the compassionate and powerful story of the Omagh bombing directed by Peter Travis, picked up the prestigious award for Best Film. Gerard McSorley, performance in OMAGH won him the award for Best Actor in a Feature Film Actor in a feature film. Aisling Walsh’s SONG FOR A RAGGY BOY, produced by Subotica Films, took home the Audience award for Best Film.
Other winners include the beautifully shot TIMBUKTU, direct by Alan Gilsenan, which picked up the Best Music in a Film (Ray Harman) and Best Editing (Emer Reynolds) awards and Best Costume Design was given to David Gleeson’s COWBOYS AND ANGELS.
Brown Bag’s beautiful animated short THE BOY WHO HAD NO STORY, directed by Aidan Hickey, topped two categories including Best Animation and Best Children’s Youth programme. The prize for best Documentary was scooped by BATTLE OF THE BOGSIDE, directed by Vinny Cunningham and produced by Perfect Cousins.
“We are delighted to see new talent picking up these prestigious awards” says Mark Woods, BSE/IFB CEO. “We’d like to congratulate all of the winners and look forward to working with them again in the future”.