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2004 galway film fleadh

The 2004, 16th Galway Film Fleadh continued in its tradition of encouraging diversity and originality in film-making, while celebrating the best in new and classic Irish and World Cinema, including an Irish retrospective and a British and Latin American focus.

The Fleadh opened with Ken Loach’s new feature, Ae Fond Kiss, a film which explores inter-racial relationships in contemporary Britain. The screening was followed with a Q&A session with writer Paul Laverty, and principal actors Eva Birthistle and Atta Yaqub. Paul Laverty, renowned for his work with Ken Loach on films such as My Name is Joe, also hosted this year’s Screenwriters Workshop.

The Fleadh’s cinema-in-focus for 2004 paid special tribute to the film-makers who laid the foundation for an authentic, indigenous cinema in Ireland. The 16 th Fleadh facilitated a retrospective programme which paid tribute to the forerunners of Irish cinema. The Fleadh acknowledged the contributions of Bob Quinn, Thaddeus O’ Sullivan, Cathal Black, Kieran Hickey, Pat Murphy, Joe Comerford and Vivienne Dick to Irish Cinema.

Continuing the theme of those founders of our indigenous film industry, the 2004 Fleadh paid tribute to two Irish women who became leading lights in World Cinema. Dublin-born Josie MacAvin, Oscar-winning set decorator, gave a very special talk about her experiences on the international film scene. The talk focused on her work, especially on Out of Africa, for which she won her Academy Award. The Fleadh also welcomed another pillar of the international film community in the shape of Maureen O’Hara, who was the subject of the public interview. The Fleadh, as always, played host to a bevy of Irish and International talent, with John Lynch hosting the Actor’s Masterclass and Stanley Tucci visiting from New York in order to give the Director’s Masterclass.

The Fleadh’s special focus in 2004 concentrated on New and Classic British Cinema. In association with the BFI, the Fleadh screened a number of low-budget, first features including Alison Peeble’s Afterlife and Susanna Gent’s Jelly Dolly. As well as promoting New British Cinema, the Fleadh paid homage to Classic British films such as Brighton Rock and Gaslight. The Latin American Focus included a number of impressive debuts from Brazil, including Vincent Amorim’s The Middle of the World and Roberto Moreira’s Up Against Them All, and from Argentina, Santiago Loza’s Extrano and Celina Murga’s Ana and the Others.

And so after a jam packed six days of films, interviews, seminars, masterclasses, debates and discussions the 16 th Galway Film Fleadh drew to a close, but not before ending with the annual Awards Ceremony, followed by a screening of Paddy Breathnach’s latest film, Man About Dog.

A full list of that year’s Award winners is available below.

BEST FIRST IRISH SHORT
1st    NOSTRADAMUS & ME Dir. Eilis Kirwan, Prod. Trinity Films / Samson Films
2nd  NEWS FOR THE CHURCH Dir. Andrew McCarthy, Prod. Andrew McCarthy / Jack Armstrong / John Scaccia
3rd   BEHIND THE MUSIC Dir. Colm Russell, Prod. Gerard Gerard Gilvary

BEST IRISH SHORT DOCUMENTARY
1st    UNDRESSING MY MOTHER Dir. Ken Wardrop, Prod. Andrew Freedman
2nd  I WAS YOU Dir. Keith Walsh, Prod. Paddy O'Connor
3rd   USELESS DOG Dir. Ken Wardrop, Prod. Andrew Freedman

BEST IRISH SHORT ANIMATION
1st    SKELETON WOMAN Dir. Edith Pieperhoff, Prod. Mary Morrison
2nd  GOD'S EARLY WORK Dir. Rory Bresnihan, Prod. Martin Keegan
3rd   DUBLIN 1 Dir. Jason Tammemagi, Prod. Gerard O'Rourke

BEST IRISH SHORT / THE TIERNAN MCBRIDE AWARD
1st    THE LOVE BITE Dir. Macdara Vallely, Prod. Ramon Wilson / Samuel Crow
2nd  A FERRET CALLED MICKEY Dir. Barry Dignam, Prod. Siobhan Bourke
3rd   AN DIOG IS FAIDE Dir. Hugh Farley, Prod. Karen Edmonds

BEST FIRST IRISH SHORT ANIMATION / THE JAMES HORGAN AWARD
1st    COLD PURSUIT Dir. Conor Ryan, Prod. National Film School IADT Dun Laoghaire
2nd  TOGTHA Dir. Alan O'Cuilinn, Prod. National Film School IADT Dun Laoghaire
3rd   PUCKER UP Dir. Ciara McClean, Prod. National Film School IADT Dun Laoghaire

BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
1st    CINEGAEL PARADISO Dir. Robert Quinn, Prod. David McLoughlin / Claire Scully
2nd  FESTIVAL EXPRESS Dir. Bob Smeaton, Prod. Gavin Poolman / John Traeman
3rd   FRANK NED & BUSY LIZZIE Dir. Neasa Ni Chianain, Prod. David Rane

BEST FIRST FEATURE / THE PAT SHEERAN AWARD
1st    ADAM & PAUL Dir. Lenny Abrahamson, Prod. Johnny Speers
2nd  CAPITAL LETTERS Dir. Ciaran O'Connor, Prod. N.Cunningham / Ciara O'Connor
3rd   OMAGH Dir. Peter Travis, Prod. Ed Guiney / Paul Greengrass

THE KODAK AWARD
1st    A FERRET CALLED MICKEY Dir. Barry Dignam, Prod. Siobhan Bourke