OMAGH FILM WINS FESTIVAL HONOUR
Omagh film wins festival honour
By Darran McCann
Tyrone Correspondent
A FILM recounting the events of the Omagh bombing and experiences of victims' relatives has won a prestigious award at the Toronto film festival. Omagh, directed by Pete Travis and produced by Bloody Sunday director Paul Greengrass, was awarded the festival's Discovery award, voted for by 750 international film critics.
The film was specially screened for relatives of Omagh bomb victims earlier this year, before being broadcast on RTE and Channel Four.
Omagh concentrates on the story of Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden (21) was one of the 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, who died in the 1998 atrocity.
Mr Gallagher has been instrumental in the campaign of the Omagh Support and Self-Help Group in seeking justice and was played in the film by Omagh-born actor Gerard McSorley.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Gallagher said Mr McSorley had contacted him from Toronto with the-good news.
"Gerard McSorley texted me to tell me that the film had gone down very well," he said.
"He said it had had excellent reviews. This was the first time it had been shown in north America.
"A lot of credit goes to the people who worked together from across the community.
"Also a lot of credit has to go to the filmmakers who came along and recognised the uniqueness of the story.
"I am glad they have done such a good job and reflected it in the best way possible."
The SI.5 million film graphically recreated the bombing on location in Navan, Co Meath and was scathing in its treatment of the subsequent police investigation.
Mr Gallagher said the film was also in the running for a major Spanish award.
"Myself and Stanley McCombe (who lost his wife Ann in the bomb) are heading off to San Sebastian (today). The film has been nominated for a Golden Shell award there," he said.
Meanwhile, the People's Choice award at the Toronto festival went to Belfast writer-director Terry George for his film Hotel Rwanda.
It was described by judges as "the true story of an ordinary man whose love for his family inspired him to an extraordinary act of courage that saved the lives of more than 1,000 helpless Rwandans during the 1994 genocide".
New Zealand film In My Father's Den, made by Dublin-based production company Little Bird, also won the Fipresci prize, which is given to a feature film directed by an emerging filmmaker.
The Republic's arts minister John O'Donoghue last night paid tribute to the three Irish film-makers who enjoyed success at the Toronto International Film Festival at the weekend.
Mr O'Donoghue said: "It is a great honour three Irish-associated films have caught the public imagination at a prestigious international film festival."
By Darran McCann
Tyrone Correspondent
A FILM recounting the events of the Omagh bombing and experiences of victims' relatives has won a prestigious award at the Toronto film festival. Omagh, directed by Pete Travis and produced by Bloody Sunday director Paul Greengrass, was awarded the festival's Discovery award, voted for by 750 international film critics.
The film was specially screened for relatives of Omagh bomb victims earlier this year, before being broadcast on RTE and Channel Four.
Omagh concentrates on the story of Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden (21) was one of the 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, who died in the 1998 atrocity.
Mr Gallagher has been instrumental in the campaign of the Omagh Support and Self-Help Group in seeking justice and was played in the film by Omagh-born actor Gerard McSorley.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Gallagher said Mr McSorley had contacted him from Toronto with the-good news.
"Gerard McSorley texted me to tell me that the film had gone down very well," he said.
"He said it had had excellent reviews. This was the first time it had been shown in north America.
"A lot of credit goes to the people who worked together from across the community.
"Also a lot of credit has to go to the filmmakers who came along and recognised the uniqueness of the story.
"I am glad they have done such a good job and reflected it in the best way possible."
The SI.5 million film graphically recreated the bombing on location in Navan, Co Meath and was scathing in its treatment of the subsequent police investigation.
Mr Gallagher said the film was also in the running for a major Spanish award.
"Myself and Stanley McCombe (who lost his wife Ann in the bomb) are heading off to San Sebastian (today). The film has been nominated for a Golden Shell award there," he said.
Meanwhile, the People's Choice award at the Toronto festival went to Belfast writer-director Terry George for his film Hotel Rwanda.
It was described by judges as "the true story of an ordinary man whose love for his family inspired him to an extraordinary act of courage that saved the lives of more than 1,000 helpless Rwandans during the 1994 genocide".
New Zealand film In My Father's Den, made by Dublin-based production company Little Bird, also won the Fipresci prize, which is given to a feature film directed by an emerging filmmaker.
The Republic's arts minister John O'Donoghue last night paid tribute to the three Irish film-makers who enjoyed success at the Toronto International Film Festival at the weekend.
Mr O'Donoghue said: "It is a great honour three Irish-associated films have caught the public imagination at a prestigious international film festival."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0707
Published Date: 21-Sep-04
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