Irish language films An Cailín Ciúin and Róise & Frank have won prestigious awards at this year's Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival.
Coming of age drama An Cailín Ciúin has been awarded Best Irish Film, while Róise & Frank, which tells the story of a woman who believes her late husband has been reincarnated in the form of a stray dog, has been awarded Best Ensemble.
Both films were made under the TG4, Screen Ireland and BAI scheme CINE4 and are due to be released in cinemas later this year.
An Cailín Ciúin is the feature film debut of writer/director, Colm Bairéad and producer, Cleona Ní Chrualaoi of Inscéal and Bairéad was also awarded the Aer Lingus Discovery Award at DIFF earlier this week.
The film, which stars newcomer Catherine Clinch, Andrew Bennett and Carrie Crowley, debuted at the Berlinale Film Festival last month, becoming the first Irish Language feature film to feature at Berlinale, and was awarded the Grand Prix of the Generation Kplus International Jury for Best Film and received a special mention from the children's jury after its world premiere at the festival.
Róise & Frank, directed by Rachael Moriarty and Peter Murphy and produced by Cúán Mac Conghail of Macalla Teo, follows Róise (Bríd Ní Neachtain) who lost the love of her life, husband Frank, two years previously but begins to be believe that he may have come back to life when a mysterious dog arrives and seems intent on connecting with her.
Cleona Ní Chrualaoi, Producer of An Cailín Ciúin said, "It is a huge honour to receive the award for Best Irish Film. We're very humbled to have been chosen from a host of fantastic Irish films.
"This award is a ringing endorsement of the Cine4 scheme, under which An Cailín Ciúin was made, and of the vision of TG4, Screen Ireland and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to develop and fund feature films in the Irish language.
"Go raibh míle maith agaibh to these funders, to our extraordinary cast and crew, to the Dublin Film Critics Circle and to Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival for believing in our film and bringing it to an Irish audience for the first time."
Rachael Moriarty, Director, Róise & Frank said, "I am delighted that Róise & Frank was well received at DIFF! It was brought to the big screen by a team of excellent actors who undoubtedly deserved recognition and we are delighted to receive the Best Ensemble Award.
"Róise & Frank is a fascinating and humourous story. The film is currently being screened at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, in California and the audience here is really enjoying it too. For many here this is the first time they have heard Irish and seen hurling!"
An Cailín Ciúin and Róise & Frank will be released in cinemas later this year.
Best Screenplay goes to Terence Davies, for Benediction. Congratulations! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/Jy5WF7nt5t
— Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival (@DublinFilmFest) March 6, 2022
The curtain came down on the 20th Anniversary Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival last night with the Irish premiere of My Old School, director Jono McLeod’s look at the 1990’s Brandon Lee story, one of the strangest and most notorious imposter cases of modern times.
McLeod and fellow Scot, actor Alan Cumming. Were among those in attendance at closing ceremony of the 12-day festival.
Also last night, the Dublin Film Critics Circle (DFCC) Awards named Vortex as Best Film, with the Best Irish Film award going to An Cailín Ciúin.
Speaking about this year’s festival, Gráinne Humphreys, Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival Director, said "There have been an extra special intensity to the audience responses to the screenings in this year’s festival.
Udo Kier takes home the DFCC Best Actor Awards for his show stopping performance in Swan Song 👏 🎉 pic.twitter.com/CwEZc6J7BW
— Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival (@DublinFilmFest) March 6, 2022
"From the tears flowing after our Opening Night film An Cailín Ciúin to the laughter of our comedy strand (Róise and Frank, The Good Boss amongst others) to the emotional drain of Gasper Noe's Vortex to the nerve shredding horrors You Are Not My Mother and The Feast.. it has been a roller coaster!
"I must pay credit to the tireless festival team who have worked so hard to bring this year’s film show to life - to the filmmakers whose work we celebrate and the audiences who joined us, we are tired but very happy"
This year’s winners at the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival:
Best Film: Vortex
Best Director: Laura Samani, Small Body
Best Screenplay: Terence Davies, Benediction
Best Actress: Anamaria Vartolomei, Happening
Best Actor: Udo Kier, Swan Song
Best Debut Feature: Blerta Basholli, Hive
Best Editor: Sean Baker, Red Rocket
Best Cinematography: Frédéric Noirhomme, Playground
Best Ensemble: Roise & Frank
Best Documentary: Maisie
Best Irish Film: The Quiet Girl
Best Irish Documentary: Vicky
Special Jury Prize: Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest
George Byrne Maverick: Tristan Heanue (Harvest - short)
Michael Dwyer Discovery: Kelly Campbell (An Encounter - short)
