IFTA Winners and Nominees Compete for Celtic Media Festival Awards
Winner of five IFTA's, KINGS, produced by De Facto films and Newgrange pictures has been selected for competition in the feature length drama category at the Celtic Media Festival, which takes place in Galway from 16th to 18th April.Produced by Jackie Larkin, KINGS introduces us to a group of men who left the west of Ireland in the mid 1970's, bound for London, filled with ambition for a better life in a place when they could be Kings. Thirty years have passed when they meet again. For some of them those thirty years have been hard. As long-held secrets are laid bare, the men discover that ultimately it is your friends who break your heart - and your friends who can save it.
IFTA nominee Cré na Cille, a ROSG/ TG4/ BCI backed feature length drama has also been selected for competition. Produced by Ciarán Ó Cofaigh, Cré na Cille is a story of obsessive hatred that started as a case of jealous rivalry between two young sisters, when Neil got the upper hand on her sister, Caitríona, stealing away from her the man with whom she was in love. Caitríona never forgave her sister, nor would she forgive her as long as she lived, or indeed after that.
Also competing in this category are two English language films from Cornwall, The Midnight Drives and Dressing Granite, Calon Gaeth from Wales, and from Scotland, Gaidhlig language film Seachd - The Inaccessible Pinnacle and the 2007 Academy Award Winner, The Last King of Scotland.
In the short drama category, Rolla Saor from Fastnet productions makes the shortlist. Produced by Rachel Lysaght, Rolla Saor is the only short from Ireland in its category.
A chance snapshot Marc takes of Ruth at a family picnic sparks a new found interest in photographing each other. Their middle-aged, mundane relationship takes a dramatic turn until the local pharmacist calls... he needs to see them regarding their photographs.
The award winners will be selected by an international jury and announced on Thursday 17th April. Bronze Torcs of Excellence will be presented to the prize winners by RTE's Mary Kennedy and Daithi O' Sé of TG4.
For a full list of the Celtic Media Festival nominations please visit www.celticmediafestival.co.uk