galway film fleadh 2007

The 2007 Galway Film Fleadh kicked off in style with Cristiano Bortone’s Red Like The Sky – by the time the two main actors walked up on the stage, the Galway audience were on their feet, demonstrating their appreciation.

Such a response was the theme for the week, in a year where we proudly hosted a magnificent year of Irish cinema. Scripted by Mark O’Halloran & directed by Lenny Abrahamson, Garage – featured a revelationary performance by Pat Shortt and dealt a powerful blow to those who were there for its Irish premiere. Another Irish feature, which had particular resonance for a west of Ireland audience was Tommy Collins’ Kings. Brendan Grant’s Tonight Is Cancelled demonstrated a director who displays visual style, while Marian Quinn’s delightful coming of age drama, 32A won over the audience award for Best First Feature.

Tributes were paid to the contribution made to the craft of cinema acting by one of cinema’s ultimate shape-shifters, Jeremy Irons. As well as meeting emerging Irish actors to impart some of his vast and varied experience in the acting business, he cajoled and entranced the audience of the Town Hall theatre on the closing Sunday afternoon; he was effortlessly charming, self-effacing and generous.

Fionnula Flanagan was another welcome guest to the Fleadh, she was hosted by the IFTN, where she discussed the many milestones in her vast and varied career. Fionnula’s wit and intelligence made for a wonderful afternoon’s conversation.

The screenwriter’s masterclass was hosted by the writer of Hotel Rwanda & In The Name Of The Father – Terry George, while the director’s masterclass was hosted by the legendary Volker Schloendorff – The Tin Drum, Swann In Love. Both were craftspeople with impeccable taste from whom much could be learned.

The documentaries were varied and colourful this year. From Julian Temple’s Joe Strummer, to the shocking The War Tapes, to the memorable Nomadak TX & the wonderful The Monastery: The Nun and Mr. Vig.

Standout documentaries this year, according to our audience were Linda Hattendorf’s The Cats Of Mirikitani & Christopher Dillon Quinn’s God Grew Tired of Us. Both films were awash with humanity and made a powerful connection with our audience. The voting slips from both films were so universally positive that the award was shared by Linda and Christopher. Linda’s documentary concerned itself with the friendship she made with an 83 year old Japanese homeless man she met on the streets back in 2000. After 9/11, Linda opened the doors of her small Manhattan apartment to Jimmy, they lived together for two years. Coincidentally, Christopher had grown accustomed to seeing the unusual figure of Jimmy Mirikitani on the streets on his way to work. After 9/11, Christopher considered that perhaps Jimmy died, he was delighted to hear the full story from Linda – another mystery solved at the Fleadh.

World cinema offered riches in 2007 – The Singer, Away From Her, On Broadway, The Paper Will Be Blue, Kabul Transit – all gave a rewarding experience to audiences.

The 30th anniversary screening of Poitin saw the Omniplex full to capacity. Anxious filmgoers clustered around the entrance in an effort to be accommodated. Someone †inside the cinema, seeing Niall Tobin standing, offered him their seat. Eventually everything settled, and everyone in that stuffed room were transported by the magic of film.

That kind of evening is what the Fleadh is all about.

The Shorts section was a hotly contested battle as over 100 short films competed for the various awards on offer included in the full list of winners presented below:

The full list of Winners is presented below:

2007 Award winners

Best First Feature
1st   32A - Dir. Marion Quinn | Prod. Tommy Weir
2nd  On Broadway - Dir. Dave McLaughlin | Prod. Mark Hankey, Charlie Harrington

Best Feature Documentary - Joint First Place
God Grew Tired of Us - Dir. Christopher Dillon Quinn
The Cats of Mirikitani - Dir. Linda Hattendorff

RTÉ Two Best First Irish Short
1st   Hesitation – Dir. Virginia Gilbert | Prod. Julien Berlan and Michelle Eastwood
2nd  The 18th Electricity Plan – Dir. Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D’sa | Prod. David Holmes and Brendan Byrne
Special Mention Frankie – Dir. Darren Thornton | Prod. Collette Farrell

Best Irish Shorts -Tiernan MacBride Award
1st   Teeth – Dir. John Kennedy and Ruairi O’Brien | Prod. Noreen Donohoe
2nd  Scumbot – Dir. Ciar·n Foy | Prod. Philip Rogan
Special Mention The Missing Link – Dir. Cecelia McAllister | Prod. Bronagh McCartan

Best Irish Short Documentary
1st   The McDonagh Pictures – Dir. Ian Palmer | Prod. Ian Palmer
2nd  Saol an Mhaor – Dir. Sean O Cualain | Prod. Sean O Cualain

Best Irish Short Animation
1st   The Red Ball – Dir. Alan Holly | Prod. Barry O’Donoghue
2nd  The Crumblegiant – Dir. John McCloskey | Prod. Pearse Moore
Special Mention Ding Dong Denny’s History of Ireland – Dir. Cathal Gaffney | Prod. Brian Gilmore

RTÉ Two Best First Irish Short Animation
1st   The Red Ball – Dir. Alan Holly | Prod. Barry O’Donoghue
2nd  Getting Round – Dir. Chris O’Hara | Prod. IADT
Special Mention Cupla – Dir. Eamonn O’Neill | Prod. IADT