‘OMAGH’ SWEEPS AWARDS AT MONTE-CARLO
Feature-length drama Omagh has swept the board at 45th Monte-Carlo Television Festival, to win a record 4 major awards. At tonight’s Awards ceremony the drama picked up: Best TV Film, Best Actor - Gerard McSorley in his role as Michael Gallagher, Best Actress - Michèle Forbes in her role as Patsy Gallagher and the Special Jury Award.Channel 4’s Head of Film and Drama, Tessa Ross, says: “This was a film made with enormous heart and bravery to show the human devastation caused by terrorist acts. It is wonderful that the Omagh story has struck a chord with audiences and critics the world over. I am delighted Monte Carlo has honoured the film so fully. It was a hugely exciting landmark production for Channel 4, reflecting our belief in drama’s ability to ask powerful and provocative political questions. “
Writer and Producer, Paul Greengrass, says: “I’m very honoured that we’ve received this award and I’m pleased for the victims of the Omagh bombing, and in particular Michael Gallagher & his family whose ongoing struggle for justice has been perused with such determination and dignity.”
Written by Guy Hibbert (May 33rd) and Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, Bloody Sunday) and produced by Tiger Aspect/Hell’s Kitchen International, Omagh examines the events and aftermath of August 15th1998, when a Real IRA bomb claimed thirty-one lives. It tells the story of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group as they strive to find the truth of what happened that day.
At the heart of the film is the story of Michael Gallagher (played by Gerard McSorley), who lost his 21-year-old son Aiden in the explosion, and who has become a key spokesman and lobbyist for the Support Group. The film was made with the full co-operation of the Support Group and of the Gallagher family.
“I would like to think Omagh shows that in the midst of evil and wickedness, ordinary people from a wide variety of backgrounds have come together in the fight for truth and justice. I hope this film will help bring our struggle to a wider audience who will get the message that hope comes out of despair,” says Michael Gallagher of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group.
Directed by Pete Travis (Henry VIII) and produced by Ed Guiney (The Magdalene Sisters) and Paul Greengrass, like Bloody Sunday, Omagh is an Anglo / Irish collaboration. The project was developed and produced by UK based Tiger Aspect (Billy Elliot, Murder, Teachers) and co-produced with Irish based Hell’s Kitchen International (In The Name of the Father, In America, The Boxer. Greg Brenman (Tiger Aspect) and Andrew Lowe and Arthur Lappin (Hell’s Kitchen International) are executive producers. Omagh was funded by Channel 4, RTÉ and the Irish Film Board.
The cast was drawn from all parts of Ireland, north and south of the border, and includes Omagh’s most distinguished actor Gerard McSorley, re-united with Greengrass after his role in Bloody Sunday and last seen on screen in Joel Schumacher’s film Veronica Guerin.