John Michael McDonagh’s buddy-cop film stars Brendan Gleeson as the eccentric West of Ireland Sergeant Gerry Boyle who is paired up with straight-laced FBI agent Wendell Everett, played by Don Cheadle, to stop a drug-smuggling operation in the West of Ireland. The film was produced by Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Chris Clark and Flora Fernandez Marengo.
The opening film of the Fleadh, Darragh Byrne’s ‘Parked’ scooped Best First Feature along with the Terry McMahon’s ‘Charlie Casanova’ which screened Saturday. ‘Parked’, starring Colm Meaney and Colin Morgan (Merlin) and tells the story of Fred Daly, a proud man living in his car who’s lonely world is brightened up when he meets young dope-smoking Cathal (Morgan). ‘Charlie Casanova’ stars Emmett J. Scanlan as a ruling class sociopath who knocks down a working class girl in a hit-and-run and then uses a deck of cards to determine his fate.
Best Feature Documentary went to Lelia Doolan’s ‘Bernadette: Notes on a political Journey’ which follows the story of political activist Bernadette McAliskey for nine years.
Awards for short films at the Fleadh include Best Cinematography on a Short Film which Kate McCullough who shot Michael Lavelle's film 'Mummy's Little Helper'; Best First Animation Award which went to Vincent Gallagher’s ‘Signs’; with the James Horgan Awards for Best Animation and the International Federation of Film Societies’ Don Quijote Award going to Kealan O’Rourke’s ‘The Boy Who Lived in a Bubble’.
Best Short Drama went to Tom Sullivan’s ‘ASAL’ and Phil Harrison’s ‘Even Gods’ with Best First short drama going to Peter McDonald’s ‘Pentecost’. Best short Documentary went to Colm Quinn’s ‘Needle Exchange’. Winner of the 30 Minute Film Festival went to Ruth Meehan and the winner of this years pitching award was Riognach Ni Ghrioghair for ‘Death Rattle’.
The 23rd 2011 annual Galway Film Fleadh took place from the 5th – 10th July with the awards being presented at a special ceremony on Sunday 10th July in the Town Hall, Galway.
The Winners in Full:
SHORTS JURY AWARDS
The Best First Animation Award in association with the Cartoon Saloon – Presented by Paul Young
Winner: SIGNS
Directed & Produced by Vincent Gallagher
Second Place: The Art of Making Friends
Directed & Produced by Paul McNulty
The James Horgan Award for Best Animation in association with Telegael
Winner: THE BOY WHO LIVED IN A BUBBLE
Director: Kealan O’Rourke
Producer: Brian Willis
Second Place: The Gentleman’s Guide to Villainy
Director: Aidan Mcteer
Producer: Aurelie Gauthier
Special Mention: Children in Direct Provision
Director – Galway Refugee Support Group
Producer – Sharon Lynch and children resident in Direct Provision Centre’s
The Tiernan McBride Award for Best Short Drama sponsored by Waveform Studios:
THIS IS JOINTLY AWARD TO :
ASAL
Director: Tom Sullivan
Producer: Aislinn Ni Chuinneagain
and
EVEN GODS
Director: Phil Harrison
Producer: Lisa Barros D’Sa, & Phil Harrison
The Best First Short Drama in association with Mazars presented by Paul Mee:
Winner: PENTECOST
Direcctor: Peter Mc Donald
Producer: Eimear O’Kane
The Best Short Documentary Award in association with Studio Solas Teo
Winner: NEEDLE EXCHANGE
Director – Colm Quinn
Producer – Andrew Freedman
Special Mention:
Halls Without Walls
Directed & Producer by Mia Mullarkey
Donal Gilligan Award for Best Cinematography in a Short Film
presented by Charlotte Sommers, Michael, Joe & Finn Gilligan
KATE MCCULLAGH for her work on Michael Lavelle's 'Mummy’s Little Helper'
The International Federation of Film Societies Don Quijote Award:
Winner: THE BOY WHO LIVED IN A BUBBLE
Director: Kealan O'Rourke
Producer: Brian Willis
Special Mention: Cured
Director: Mary Redmond
Producer: Laura Ní Cheallaigh
30 Second Film Festival Judges Award
Winner: RUTH MEEHAN
FEATURES AUDIENCE AWARDS
The Best Irish Feature Award:
Winner THE GUARD
Director John Michael McDonagh
Producer Andrew Lowe & Ed Quiney
The Best Feature Documentary in association with Eugene F. Collins presented by Andrea Martin
Winner: BERNADETTE NOTES ON A POLITICAL JOURNEY
Directed & Produced by Lelia Doolan
In Second Place: Don't Ask Don't Tell
Director: John C Walsh
Producer: Tara Power, Joselyn Allen, Daryl Roth
The Best First Feature as been awarded to joint winners
PARKED
Directed by Darragh Byrne
Produced by Jacqueline Kerrin & Dominic Wright
CHARLIE CASANOVA
Directed & Produced by Terry McMahon
Winner of the Galway Film Fleadh Pitching Award
Rioghach Ni Ghrioghair DEATH RATTLE
