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Irish film wins Cannes award Cinema in Ireland received
a welcome boost this week when an Irish film won a prestigious award at
the 60th Cannes Film Festival in France.
Feature film Garage was selected for the Directors’ Fortnight, an
independent section held in parallel to the Festival de Cannes and organised
by the French Directors’ Society.
It was awarded the Prix Art et Essai by the International Confederation
of Art House Cinemas by a jury made up of representatives of its members.
The film is directed by Lenny Abrahamson, written by Mark O’Halloran
and stars Limerick-based comedian Pat Shortt in his first serious dramatic
role as a small-town outcast looking for love.
Director Lenny Abrahamson said: “I am totally delighted with this
award coming after such a fantastic reception for the film at Cannes.
It’s the best possible launch for its journey around the world.”
The film received over ?600,000 in round two of the Broadcasting Commission
of Ireland’s Sound and Vision Funding Scheme last year — a
programme that is designed to support the production of new television
and radio programmes in the areas of Irish culture, heritage and experience
and adult literacy.
Chief Executive of the BCI Michael O’Keefe said the award is a good
endorsement of the panel who picked the film for funding.
Garage tells the story about a misfit caretaker of a crumbling petrol
station in rural Ireland who finds his life changed forever over the course
of a summer and features Anne-Marie Duff from the TV show Shameless and
The Magdalene Sisters.
It is the second feature film from director Abrahamson and writer O’Halloran,
who were also responsible for the award-winning black comedy Adam and
Paul.
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