OMAGH SCOOPS PRIZE FOR BEST IRISH MOVIE
Omagh scoops prize for best Irish movie
By Michael Brennan
PA News
RETELLING of the worst bombing atrocity in the Northern Ireland conflict won the award for best film at the Irish Film and Television Awards in Dublin at the weekend.
Omagh, which was developed in close cooperation with the relatives of those killed in the 1998 Real IRA bombing, beat off competition from other films such as Damian O'Donnell's Inside I'm Dancing and Lenny Abrahamson's Adam and Paul.
At the event in the Burlington Hotel Omagh producer Ed Guiney dedicated the award to the families of the victims. Twenty nine people including a woman pregnant with twins were killed and dozens injured.
The key character in the film is based on Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan died in the explosion and who became a member of the support group which campaigned for the bombers to be brought to justice.
"I guess its gratifying for the families and also the cast and crew of Omagh" Mr Guiney said.
"It was very much a film made with the families over a two-year period. The biggest day for us was showing the film to the families and they I think liked it a lot. We're delighted."
Mr Guiney said the Omagh film had shown the personal story behind the tragedies, which were often ignored by fast moving TV news.
"We all remember the Omagh bombing. It was one of those big moments for our generation, like the Kennedy assassination. But we tried to communicate the personal stories before and after the event. Those personal stories are often lost," he said.
Omagh-born actor Gerard McSorley, who played Michael Gallagher in the film, won the award for best actor. In his acceptance speech he dedicated the film to the families who had faced adversity with "courage, dignity and respect".
"It's about them and that's the reason why it was made. We were very tentative and sensitive to that because the film would never have been made without the approval of the families," he said.
Mr McSorley said the film was tough to do but had helped campaigners to keep Omagh in the public eye.
"The Belgian parliament apparently turned out in full to watch the film at a recent film festival. That's what it's achieving for them and it's great," he said.
JURY AWARDS:
Best Irish film Omagh
Best actor Gerard McSorley, Omagh
Best actress Eva Birthistle, Ae Fond Kiss
Best film director Lenny Abrahamson, Adam and Paul
Best TV drama Holy Cross
Best current affairs/news programme Primetime:
Intellectual Disability
Best entertainment programme The Bronx Bunny Show
Best lifestyle programme Show Me The Money
Best sports programme Final words; Hurling '03
Best documentary Battle of the Bogside
Outstanding Irish contribution to cinema Pierce Brosnan
Lifetime achievement award Maureen O'Hara
By Michael Brennan
PA News
RETELLING of the worst bombing atrocity in the Northern Ireland conflict won the award for best film at the Irish Film and Television Awards in Dublin at the weekend.
Omagh, which was developed in close cooperation with the relatives of those killed in the 1998 Real IRA bombing, beat off competition from other films such as Damian O'Donnell's Inside I'm Dancing and Lenny Abrahamson's Adam and Paul.
At the event in the Burlington Hotel Omagh producer Ed Guiney dedicated the award to the families of the victims. Twenty nine people including a woman pregnant with twins were killed and dozens injured.
The key character in the film is based on Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan died in the explosion and who became a member of the support group which campaigned for the bombers to be brought to justice.
"I guess its gratifying for the families and also the cast and crew of Omagh" Mr Guiney said.
"It was very much a film made with the families over a two-year period. The biggest day for us was showing the film to the families and they I think liked it a lot. We're delighted."
Mr Guiney said the Omagh film had shown the personal story behind the tragedies, which were often ignored by fast moving TV news.
"We all remember the Omagh bombing. It was one of those big moments for our generation, like the Kennedy assassination. But we tried to communicate the personal stories before and after the event. Those personal stories are often lost," he said.
Omagh-born actor Gerard McSorley, who played Michael Gallagher in the film, won the award for best actor. In his acceptance speech he dedicated the film to the families who had faced adversity with "courage, dignity and respect".
"It's about them and that's the reason why it was made. We were very tentative and sensitive to that because the film would never have been made without the approval of the families," he said.
Mr McSorley said the film was tough to do but had helped campaigners to keep Omagh in the public eye.
"The Belgian parliament apparently turned out in full to watch the film at a recent film festival. That's what it's achieving for them and it's great," he said.
JURY AWARDS:
Best Irish film Omagh
Best actor Gerard McSorley, Omagh
Best actress Eva Birthistle, Ae Fond Kiss
Best film director Lenny Abrahamson, Adam and Paul
Best TV drama Holy Cross
Best current affairs/news programme Primetime:
Intellectual Disability
Best entertainment programme The Bronx Bunny Show
Best lifestyle programme Show Me The Money
Best sports programme Final words; Hurling '03
Best documentary Battle of the Bogside
Outstanding Irish contribution to cinema Pierce Brosnan
Lifetime achievement award Maureen O'Hara
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0712
Published Date: 01-Nov-04
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