Awards announced at 37th Galway Film Fleadh, with Brendan Canty’s Christy awarded Best Film
Posted: 14th July 2025
The 37th Galway Film Fleadh drew to a close last night after the presentation of this year's prestigious awards, recognising the exceptional achievements in Irish and international filmmaking across the festival programme. Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland was delighted to support the Festival and to see several Screen Ireland supported films amongst the winners.
Over six days, the Fleadh screened 97 feature films and more than 100 shorts, welcoming filmmakers and audiences from around the world to celebrate bold storytelling, new voices, and cinematic excellence.
The Best Irish Film, in association with Element Pictures, was awarded to Christy, written by Alan O’Gorman, directed by Brendan Canty and produced by Marina Brackenbury, Meredith Duff and Rory Gilmartin.
The Best Irish First Feature went to Horseshoe, directed by Edwin Mullane and Adam O’Keeffe, written by Adam O’Keeffe and produced by Mo O’Connell, Edwin Mullane and Adam O’Keeffe.
The Best Irish Feature Documentary, supported by Danú Media, was awarded to Sanatorium, directed by Gar O’Rourke and produced by Andrew Freedman, Ken Wardrop and Samantha Corr.
The Bingham Ray New Talent Award, supported by Magnolia Pictures, was awarded to Jessica Reynolds for her role in The Wolf, The Fox & The Leopard.
The Best Irish Language Feature Film was awarded to Báite, directed by Ruán Magan, written by Sheena Lambert and produced by Siobhán Ní Ghadhra and John Brady.
The James Horgan Award for Best Animation Short, supported by Animation Ireland, was awarded to Éiru, written and directed by Giovanna Ferrari and produced by Nora Twomey.
The Best Independent Irish Film, supported by Moore Ireland, was awarded jointly to Donncha Gilmore's Girls & Boys and Eamonn Murphy's Solitary.
The Audience Award went to Lance Daly's Trad.
Several awards were also given to projects presented at the Galway Film Fair, including Gary Lennon's John Lennon's Island (Best Documentary Project, supported by Impronta Films) and Fiona Ashe's Beneath the Surface (Audience Design Award, supported by Síle Culley), both proudly supported by Screen Ireland.
All other awards given by the Galway Film Fleadh on the night can be found below:
- Best International Short Animation – LUZ DIABLA
- Joe McMahon Award for Best International Short Drama/Fiction – HEAT ME
- Best International Short Documentary – THE MIRACLE OF LIFE & WE WERE THE SCENERY (Joint Winners)
- Best First Short Animation (Brown Bag Films) – ONE TRACK MIND
- James Flynn Award for Best First Short Drama – INTERNAL BLEEDING
- Best Cinematography in a Short Film (ISC Award) – THE AXE FORGETS
- Peripheral Visions Award – VITRIVAL – THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE IN THE WORLD
- Generation Jury Award – WHERE THE WIND COMES FROM
- Best International Feature Film – DRAGONFLY
- Best International Documentary – GERRY ADAMS – A BALLYMURPHY MAN
- Best International Independent Film – ADULT CHILDREN
- Best Cinematography in an Irish Film (Teach Solais Award) – LISTEN TO THE LAND SPEAK
- Best Marketplace Project (Bankside Films) – Ten Mickeys, Cristian Nicolescu
- The Pitching Award (Wild Atlantic Pictures) – The Body + Blood, Carol Murphy
- Best Short Documentary (TG4) – DRAGON’S TEETH
- Tiernan McBride Award for Best Short Drama – THREE KEENINGS
- World Cinema Competition – WINTER IN SOKCHO, directed by Koya Kamura
The Galway Film Fleadh proudly acknowledges the continued support of The Arts Council of Ireland, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, TG4, Coimisiún na Meán, Galway City Council and Fáilte Ireland.