FILM ON OMAGH ATROCITY SCOOPS BAFTA
Film on Omagh atrocity scoops BAFTA
by Karen McPhilemy
A FILM, depicting one of the most devasting acts of terrorism in Northern Ireland, has won its sixth award to date, at the British Academy Television Awards.
On Sunday night the film 'Omagh' -based on the events surrounding the 1998 Real IRA bomb which killed 29 people and unborn twins in Omagh -received the single drama accolade during the live broadcasting of the annual BAFTA ceremony.
The film tells the story of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, as they strive to find the truth of what happened that day.
At the heart of the film is the story of Michael Gallagher, who lost his 21-year-old son, Aidan, in the explosion, and who has become a key spokesman and lobbyist for the support group.
The film project was developed by UK-based Tiger Aspect and co-produced with Irish-based Hell's Kitchen International.
It was produced by Ed Guiney of Hell's Kitchen International and Paul Greengrass, and co-produced by his collaborator on Bloody Sunday, Don Mullan. The film was funded by Channel 4, RTE and the Irish Film Board with a cast drawn from north and south of the border.
The drama reunited Omagh's most distinguished actor Gerard McSorley with Paul Greengrass after his role in Bloody Sunday. Mr McSorley plays Michael Gallagher in 'Omagh'.
Speaking at the awards, producer Ed Guiney, said: "Omagh has been the result of nearly three years of research and consultation with the Omagh Support and Self Help Group.
"We hope we have done justice to their brave and remarkable campaign by telling their story."
'Tribute'
Meanwhile, Mr Gallagher, described the film's latest award as a tribute to those killed in the atrocity.
"This is a fantastic achievement for a film that was such low budget and a film that certain members of the local community were opposed to. It has out-stretched all that anyone could have expected of it. It is a tribute to the people who acted in it and to the technability of those who made it possible. But above all else it is a tribute to the people who died in the Omagh bomb and it means that the Omagh story will go around the world and people will be aware of the wickedness and evil of terrorism and how it affects the lives of ordinary people."
Icelandic festival
Mr Gallagher revealed the film was also shown at the first Icelandic Film Festival at the weekend.
"It was chosen from thousands of films by the festival organisers. There was a great amount of interest in the film there.
"Later this month the film will be released in Madrid and two weeks ago it won an award in Balenciennyes in Northern France during the 16th International Film Festival there," he added.
'Omagh' also appeared this year in the a local film festival in Belguim and opened the San Sebastian Human Rights Festival on March 11 and in November 2004 it was shown at the Stockholm Film Festival.
The film also won an award at the Toronto Film Festival last year, as well as at the San Sebastian International Film Festival Awards, the Irish Film and Television Awards in Dublin and the British Film Academy awards.
by Karen McPhilemy
A FILM, depicting one of the most devasting acts of terrorism in Northern Ireland, has won its sixth award to date, at the British Academy Television Awards.
On Sunday night the film 'Omagh' -based on the events surrounding the 1998 Real IRA bomb which killed 29 people and unborn twins in Omagh -received the single drama accolade during the live broadcasting of the annual BAFTA ceremony.
The film tells the story of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, as they strive to find the truth of what happened that day.
At the heart of the film is the story of Michael Gallagher, who lost his 21-year-old son, Aidan, in the explosion, and who has become a key spokesman and lobbyist for the support group.
The film project was developed by UK-based Tiger Aspect and co-produced with Irish-based Hell's Kitchen International.
It was produced by Ed Guiney of Hell's Kitchen International and Paul Greengrass, and co-produced by his collaborator on Bloody Sunday, Don Mullan. The film was funded by Channel 4, RTE and the Irish Film Board with a cast drawn from north and south of the border.
The drama reunited Omagh's most distinguished actor Gerard McSorley with Paul Greengrass after his role in Bloody Sunday. Mr McSorley plays Michael Gallagher in 'Omagh'.
Speaking at the awards, producer Ed Guiney, said: "Omagh has been the result of nearly three years of research and consultation with the Omagh Support and Self Help Group.
"We hope we have done justice to their brave and remarkable campaign by telling their story."
'Tribute'
Meanwhile, Mr Gallagher, described the film's latest award as a tribute to those killed in the atrocity.
"This is a fantastic achievement for a film that was such low budget and a film that certain members of the local community were opposed to. It has out-stretched all that anyone could have expected of it. It is a tribute to the people who acted in it and to the technability of those who made it possible. But above all else it is a tribute to the people who died in the Omagh bomb and it means that the Omagh story will go around the world and people will be aware of the wickedness and evil of terrorism and how it affects the lives of ordinary people."
Icelandic festival
Mr Gallagher revealed the film was also shown at the first Icelandic Film Festival at the weekend.
"It was chosen from thousands of films by the festival organisers. There was a great amount of interest in the film there.
"Later this month the film will be released in Madrid and two weeks ago it won an award in Balenciennyes in Northern France during the 16th International Film Festival there," he added.
'Omagh' also appeared this year in the a local film festival in Belguim and opened the San Sebastian Human Rights Festival on March 11 and in November 2004 it was shown at the Stockholm Film Festival.
The film also won an award at the Toronto Film Festival last year, as well as at the San Sebastian International Film Festival Awards, the Irish Film and Television Awards in Dublin and the British Film Academy awards.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1791
Published Date: 21-Apr-05
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