Major success for Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland titles at the 31st Galway Film Fleadh
Posted: 16th July 2019
The 31st Galway Film Fleadh came to a close last night after another outstanding year of Irish and international film premieres, screenings, workshops and discussions. Enda Loughman and Mike Ahern's Extra Ordinary, Michael McCormack's Breaking Out, Dathaí Keane's Finky, Jack Reynor's Bainne and Adam H. Stewart's short animation Abe's Story were among the Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland-supported winners at the Fleadh.
Winning the top prize at the Fleadh for Best Irish Film was the first feature from Enda Loughman and Mike Ahern with Extra Ordinary. A supernatural comedy filled with twists, turns, hilarity, exorcisms and haunted wheelie bins, starring Maeve Higgins, Barry Ward and Will Forte. Rose is a sweet, lonely driving instructor with supernatural abilities called ‘The Talents’ that allow her to communicate with spirits. Rose has a love/hate relationship with her gifts and ignores the community’s requests to investigate bizarre happenings in town. When widower Martin, haunted by his ex-wife Bonnie, contacts her for help she has to at least consider the job. Meanwhile, aging rock star Christian Winter has a sinister plan for success – virgin sacrifice. Extra Ordinary was produced by Katie Holly and Ailish Bracken for Blinder Films.
Taking home the accolade for Best Irish Documentary was Michael McCormack's Breaking Out. Suffering all his life from muscular dystrophy, Irish musician Fergus O’Farrell found his release through music and his ever-changing band of musicians. Filmed over a decade, charting his first tour to the Czech Republic, to Radio City Music Hall and to his last days of recording his final album at his home in West Cork, Breaking Out is a love story about music, family and friendship. The documentary is produced by Aideen O'Sullivan and Michael McCormack for Silver Moonbeam.
Dathaí Keane's Finky was awarded Best Cinematography in an Irish Feature for cinematographer Cathal Watters' work on the visually arresting film. Produced by Eileen Seoighe at Abú Media, Finky is a psychological drama telling the story of Micí Phincí Ó Foghlú, a young musician with a tragic past who is crippled in a car accident. He is given a chance at redemption when he is recruited by a violent avant-garde circus.
The success continued for short films, with 7 of Screen Ireland's New Irish Shorts receiving their World Premiere at the Fleadh. The Sky Arts and Screen Ireland co-production Bainne, directed by Jack Reynor and produced by Lara Hickey and Emer O'Shea, was awarded Best First Short Drama. During the last year of The Great Famine in Ireland, a farmhand working for the local landlord has hardened his heart against his countrymen to ensure his own survival. But when he encounters a ghostly female figure stealing milk from the landlord’s barn his resolve is tested and he is beguiled on a journey towards hope.
For Best Animated Sequence in a Short Film, Adam H. Stewart's Abe's Story collected the prize. Produced by Eilish Kent for Snackbox Films, Abe's Story is set in Victorian London, where overworked Irish writer Abe is inspired by his day job in the theatre to create a bloody brilliant novel.
You can find the full list of winners from the 31st Galway Film Fleadh here.