18/07/2023 - The 35th edition of Ireland’s most prominent film gathering showcased 95 features and 102 shorts

It’s a wrap for the 35th edition of the Galway Film Fleadh, Ireland’s most prominent cinematic gathering which ran from 11-16 July this year. The festival showcased a total of 95 features and 102 shorts, closing with Let the Canary Sing (UK/US), which chronicles Cyndi Lauper’s meteoric ascent to stardom and her profound impact beyond her music and ever-evolving punk style. 

On this occasion, the prize for Best Irish Feature went to Apocalypse Clown [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (Ireland/UK/Belgium), helmed by George Kane. Penned by the director himself with Demian Fox, Shane O’Brien and James Walmsley, and produced by Morgan Bushe and James Dean, Apocalypse Clown zooms in on a troupe of failed clowns as they embark on a chaotic road trip of self-discovery after a mysterious solar event plunges the world into anarchy. 

Next, the Generation Jury Award went to Scrapper [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (UK) by Charlotte Regan. Toplined by Harris Dickinson (Triangle of Sadness [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ruben Östlund
interview: Ruben Östlund
film profile]), the movie centres on Georgie, a dreamy 12-year-old girl who lives happily alone in her London flat, filling it with magic. Suddenly, her estranged father turns up and forces her to confront reality. 

Meanwhile, Fisnik Maxville’s debut feature The Land Within [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Fisnik Maxville
film profile] (Switzerland/Kosovo) scooped the Peripheral Vision Award, whilst Celine Song’s Past Lives (USA) won the World Cinema Competition. Maxville’s drama won the prize for Best Film in the First Feature Competition at last year’s Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, whilst Song’s picture was screened at Sundance and the Berlinale before being released by A24 in the US on 2 June.

Among this year’s festival discoveries is certainly John Carlin’s Lie of the Land (UK/Ireland), winner of the prize for Best Irish First Feature. Carlin’s tense drama unfolds in this first feature as the Wards prepare to abandon their lives, escaping a dire financial situation when a last-minute change of heart leaves them fighting for survival. 

Finally, the prize for Best Irish Documentary was bestowed upon The Graceless Age – The Ballad of John Murry (Ireland/Canada). Penned and directed by Sarah Share, the picture is the story of the titular American singer-songwriter who was on the cusp of greatness after the release of his highly acclaimed album The Graceless Age when his world fell apart. 

The full list of this year’s winners below:

Best Irish Film
Apocalypse Clown [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]  - George Kane (Ireland/UK/Belgium)

Best Irish Documentary
The Graceless Age – The Ballad of John Murry - Sarah Share (Ireland/Canada)

Best Irish First Feature
Lie of the Land - John Carlin (UK/Ireland)

Best Cinematography in an Irish Film
Eleanor Bowman - Lies We Tell (Ireland)

Best International Film
Here [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Bas Devos
film profile] - Bas Devos (Belgium)

Best International Documentary
One Bullet - Carol Dysinger (Denmark/USA)

Best Independent Film Award
Verdigris - Patricia Kelly (Ireland)

Generation Jury Award
Scrapper [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Charlotte Regan (UK)

Peripheral Visions Award
The Land Within [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Fisnik Maxville
film profile] - Fisnik Maxville (Switzerland/Kosovo)

World Cinema Competition
Past Lives - Celine Song (USA)

Tiernan McBride Award for Best Short Drama
Two for the Road - Lochlainn McKenna (Ireland)

Best Short Documentary
Being Put Back Together - David McDonagh (Ireland)

James Horgan Award for Best Animated Short
Worry World - Jessica Patterson (Ireland)

James Flynn Award for Best First Short Drama
Baby Steps - Hannah Mamalis (Ireland)

Best First Short Animation Award
Pinokidoki - Jack C. (Ireland)

Donal Gilligan Award for Best Cinematography in a Short Film
Eoin McLoughlin - Two for the Road

Best International Short Fiction
Last Call - Harry Holland (UK)

Best International Short Documentary
Dipped in Black - Matthew Thorne and Derik Lynch (Australia)

Best International Short Animation
Globby the Dragon - Xin Sun and Yun Li (Hong Kong)

Bingham Ray New Talent Award
Agnes O’Casey - Lies We Tell, The Miracle Club

The Pitching Award
Eimear Morgan - Billy Ruben + The Shunts (Ireland)

The Galway Film Fair – Best Marketplace Project
Bridge Way Films, Chris Hees and Dan Thorburn – Barfly (UK)