On the closing night of the Galway Film Fleadh, a packed out audience at the Town Hall Theatre came to see which movies had won which awards over the course of the festival. In attendance were the likes of Saoirse Ronan, Will Forte, Fionnuala Flanagan, Zachary Quinto and the President himself, Michael D Higgins.
The big awards for the night were the Galway Hooker Awards, given to those who have supported and developed Irish cinema in their out individual yet outstanding way. This year's recipients were actress Saoirse Ronan, former Chair of the Irish Film Board James Morris, and a surprise award to Miriam Allen, the co-founder and managing director of the Galway Film Fleadh, which was presented to her by Michael D Higgins.
The fantastic Run & Jump went on to win Best First Irish Feature and the Feature Audience Award, which was richly deserved. A fantastically funny and emotional movie, we had the pleasure to interview one of its leading stars Will Forte, so check back in with entertainment.ie this week to read about that.
Full list of award winners are as follows:
GALWAY HOOKER AWARDS
Saoirse Ronan
James Morris
Miriam Allan
BEST IRISH FEATURE AWARD
Second place: Life's A Breeze
Director: Lance Daly
Producer: Macdara Kelleher
Winner: Run & Jump
Director : Steph Green
Producer : Tamara Anghie and Martina Niland
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
Second Place: Ernest et Celestine
Director: Benjamin Renner, Stephane Aubier, Vincent Patar
Producer: Didier Brumner and Stephan Roelants
Winner: Discoverdale
Director: George Kane
Producer: James Dean and Chris Carey
BEST FIRST IRISH FEATURE WITH CROWE HORWATH
Second Place: Out of Here
Director: Donal Foreman
Producer: Donal Foreman
Winner: Run & Jump
Director: Steph Green
Producer : Tamara Anghie and Martina Niland
BEST INTERNATIONAL FIRST FEATURE
In Second Place: Closed Season
Director: Franziska Schlotterer
Winner: Boy Eating The Birds Food
Directed: Ektoras Lygizos
BEST IRISH FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Second Place: Close To Evil
Director: Gerry Gregg
Producer: Gerry Gregg
Winner: Coming Home
Director: Vico Nikci
Producer: David Collins
BEST INTERNATION FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Second Place: The Search for Emak Bakia
Director: Oskar Alegria
Producer: Oskar Alegria
Winner: Plot for Peace
Director: Carlos Agullo' and Mandy Jacobson
Producer: Mandy Jacobson
BEST HUMAN RIGHTS DOCUMENTARY IN ASSOCIATION WITH AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Winner: Coming Home
Directed: Vicki Nikci
Producer: Viko Nikci & David Collins
GALWAY FILM FLEADH PITCHING AWARD
Winner: Jacinta Owens for her project, C-Me 2020.
THE BINGHAM RAY NEW TALENT AWARD IN ASSOCATION WITH MAGNOLIA PICTURES
Winner: Kelly Thornton for her portrayal of Emma in Life's a Breeze.
THE DONAL GILLIGAN AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A SHORT FILM
Winner: D.O.P. James Mather for The Girl
THE JAMES HORGAN AWARD FOR BEST ANIMATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH TELEGAEL
(Winner eligible to enter Short Film competition for Academy Award)
Special Mention: Coda
Director: Alan Holly
Producer: Ciaran Deeney
Winner: The Missing Scarf
Director: Eoin Duffy
Producer: Jamie Hogan
BEST FIRST ANIMATION AWARD IN ASSOCATION WITH CARTOON SALOON
Special Mention: The Ledge End of Phil (from accounting)
Director: Paul O Muiris
Producer: Pearse Cullinane
Winner: That's Not Supposed to Happen
Director: Rory Kerr
Producer: IADT
THE BEST FIRST SHORT DRAMA IN ASSOCIATION WITH MAZARS
Special Mention: Unfold
Director: Steven Daly
Producer: Oisin O'Driscoll
Winner: Rubai
Director: Louise Ni Fhiannachta
Producer: Gemma O' Shaughnessy
THE TIERNAN MCBRIDE AWARD FOR BEST SHORT DRAMA IN ASSOCIATION WITH NETWORK IRELAND TELEVISION
Special Mention: Rubai
Director: Louise Ni Fhiannachta
Producer: Gemma O'Shaughnessy
Winner: Mechanic
Director: Tom Sullivan and Feidhlim Cannon
Producer: Tom Sullivan, Suin O'Connor and Derek O'Connor
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY AWARD IN ASSOCIATION WITH TEACH SOLAS
Special Mention: Town
Director: Orla Murphy
Producer: Orla Murphy, Orla McHardy
Winner: The End of The Counter
Director: Laura McCann
Producer: Aisling Ahmed
The winner of the 30 Minute Film Festival, the minute-long shorts fest within the festival was won by Robert Gaynor for his film, The Canon.
The International Federation of Film Societies presented the Don Quijote Prize in the animation short film category to director Alan Holly and producer Ciaran Deeney for their short animation, Coda. There was a special mention for Two Wheels Good.
