BSÉ/IFB and NIFTC Jointly Sponsor the IFTA BREAKTHROUGH TALENT AWARD
Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film board (BSÉ/IFB) and the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission (NIFTC) are delighted to announce their sponsorship of the Breakthrough Talent Award for the second year running at the Irish Film and Television Awards 2005.The nominees for the 2005 Breakthrough Talent are:
- Terry Loane for the feature film MICKYBO AND ME
- Martin McDonagh for the short film SIX SHOOTER
- Perry Ogden for the feature film PAVEE LACKEEN
- Daniel O'Hara for the short film FLUENT DYSPHASIA
In a year that has seen first time directors represent Ireland at all of the major international film festivals, including Lenny Abrahamson with his feature ADAM AND PAUL at Berlin, Perry Odgen with his feature PAVEE LACKEEN in Venice, Billy O’Brien with ISOLATION in Toronto and also Ken Wardrop with his short film UNDRESSING MY MOTHER at Cannes, the sponsorship of this award reflects the way in which both funding bodies have played a central role in the development of this talent.
Teresa McGrane, Deputy CEO at BSÉ/IFB commented "The continued growth of the film & television industry depends on the development of new talent. We are very proud to co-sponsor this award with the NIFTC, which highlights the potential of new emerging Irish talent. The Irish Film Board is committed to giving film-makers an opportunity to realise their ideas with our ongoing development of feature films and with a wide variety of short film schemes and low budget initiatives. We’d like to congratulate all of this year’s nominees, all of whose projects were produced with finance from BSE/IFB.”
“The NIFTC is delighted to continue its support of the burgeoning wealth of creative talent in the film and television industry. Our commitment to the development of a dynamic and sustainable sector in Northern Ireland can only be enhanced by nurturing new talent. It is through our various funding initiatives for the development and production of the moving image, that the NIFTC has assisted such films as Mickybo & Me and The Mighty Celt to make it onto the big screen. The NIFTC, in conjunction with the IFB, is proud to be associated with the Breakthrough Talent Award and sends congratulations to all the nominees”, said Richard Williams, CEO of the NIFTC.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Terry Loane
Terry Loane is a screenwriter and film director who lives and works in Belfast. He has production designed many short films including the Oscar-nominated short film DANCE LEXIE DANCE, and theatre productions for companies across Ireland. In 1998 he wrote and directed a short film comedy, CLUCK. Since then he has been directing commercials and developing various film projects. MICKYBO & Me is Loane’s debut as a feature film director which was produced by Working Title Films and Universal Pictures.
Martin McDonagh
Award winning Irish playwright Martin McDonagh made his directorial debut into the film world with an imaginative black comedy SIX SHOOTER. SIX SHOOTER is a short 30 minute piece which stars Brendan Gleeson (TROY, COLD MOUNTAIN), Ruaidhri Conroy (HART’S WAR, WHEN THE SKY FALLS), David Wilmot (LAWS OF ATTRACTION, INTERMISSION), and Aisling O’Sullivan (THE ACTORS, THE WAR ZONE) and was nominated for a BAFTA earlier this year, having already picked up the awards for Best First Film at the Cork Film Festival.
Perry Odgen
Internationally renowned photographer Perry Odgen made his remarkable cinematic debut with the feature film PAVEE LACKEEN, an intimate portrait of a resilient and spirited young girl, Winnie, and her proud and dignified family. Set in the Traveller community, the film presents a tough but luminous portrayal of a marginalised group often living in poverty in a modern, prosperous Ireland. PAVEE LACKEEN won the prize for Best First Film at the Galway Film Fleadh and was selected for competition at the prestigious Venice and Toronto Film Festivals.
Daniel O’Hara
FLUENT DYPHASIA is Daniel O’Hara’s second short film and follows up on the International success of YU MING IS ANIM DOM. The vision he shows in his short films marks O’Hara out as a seriously talented director. Having previously worked directing and producing factual programming for TV, Daniel is now currently co-writing a six part comedy drama series for TG4 with comedian Paddy C. Courtney.