galway film fleadh 2003

The 15th Galway Film Fleadh was the perfect mix of World and Irish Cinema that one can expect of the Galway Fleadh. A season of German and South Korean films delighted audiences at the 15th Film Fleadh.

Wolfgang Becker’s wonderful Good Bye Lenin was the centrepiece of this year’s exciting German programme. A charming story about a son’s unconditional love for his mother, this is a big hearted comedy that is one of the most successful German films ever made. There was also the outstanding Grill Point, a comedy about two married couples who discover that life is still full of surprises. It was awarded best feature film of the year in 2002 by a panel of German film critics.

Im Kwon-teak is the most experienced and celebrated director in Korea, and the Galway Film Fleadh was proud to be able to show his film Chihwaseon that shared the Best Director Award at Cannes in 2002. The film recreates the life of maverick nineteenth century painter “Ohwon” Jang – who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most renowned artists of his era.

The Fleadh Fair, Ireland’s only film market, was in full swing over the weekend, with some 600 meetings held in three days. Financiers from United Artists, Miramax, HBO Films, UK Film Council, Ingenious Films, Nexus, NDR, Irish Film Board, TG4 and RTE were out in force meeting with Irish directors and producers.

Staying international, Agnieszka Holland who ranks as one of Poland ’s most prominent filmmakers and provided the Director’s Masterclass for 2002. The Actor’s Masterclass was given by Irish guy, and current Mr Bond, Pierce Brosnan. Pierce whose acting credits include Evelyn (2002), Tailor of Panama (2001), The Nephew (1998), Dante’s Peak (1997), The Lawnmower Man (1992) and of course the James Bond titles: Golden Eye (1995), The World is Not Enough (2000) and Die Another Day (2002).

The 15th Galway Film Fleadh came to a dramatic end as the award winners were announced to a packed auditorium in Galway ’s Town Hall Theatre immediately before the World Premiere of Ian Fitzgibbon and Michael McElhatton’s hilariously funny Spin the Bottle. This year’s Audience Award for Best First Feature went to John Crowley’s Intermission, which wowed audiences on Friday night with cast members Colm Meaney, Cillian Murphy and Kelly McDonald, amongst others, in attendance. Shimmy Marcus’s feature debut Headrush won second prize and Polish director Gyory Palfi’s Hukkle, which is the first theatrical release from a new distribution company Tribal Films, headed by Galway-man Will Silke, won third prize.

The hugely popular The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, Power Pictures documentary about the attempted coup d’etat in April 2002 on President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela , won the Best Feature Documentary Award. Pat Collins and Fergus Daly’s Kiarostami The Art of Living won second prize and Raise The Roof, the fly on the wall documentary on the building of GLóR, the centre for traditional music in Ennis, came third. The Shorts section was a hotly contested battle as over 100 short films competed for the various titles on offer. Yu Ming is Ainm Dom emerged the clear winner as it won first prize in both the Best First Irish Award and the Best Irish Short categories.

Another double winner was Catherine Little’s Wobbly Land which took first prize in both the Best First Irish Short Animation and Best Irish Short Animation sections. Finally, Caroline Jacobs and Florence Brument’s Shelter From the Storm won the Best Irish Short Documentary Award. With over 70 feature films, over 100 shorts and various documentaries, animations, seminars, debates and discussions, the 15th Galway Film Fleadh programme was designed to suit every palate. Guests of the Fleadh during the week included Pierce Brosnan, who gave an Actor’s Masterclass and was the subject of a Public Interview, Agniezska Holland, broadcaster Gay Byrne, Brenda Fricker, Colm Meaney, Huey Morgan from the Fun Loving Criminals, Cillian Murphy, Angeline Ball, Hugh O’Connor and many, many more.