On Sunday July 10th, 2022, the 34th edition of the Galway Film Fleadh ended after another outstanding year. This year’s Fleadh moved back indoors at the Town Hall Theatre and the Pálás, festival goers were also able to see the best of Irish and international film premieres back where they belong in cinema.
The annual awards ceremony took place before the closing film Ukrainian-made Carol of the Bells. Carol of the Bells is the story of three families – Ukrainian, Polish, and Jewish – who lived in the same building in Stanislaviv in Ukraine between 1938 and 1944. All three families disappeared one by one, leaving their children in the building. The last one to disappear was a Ukrainian woman who was a teacher of music.
The winner of Best Irish Film, in association with Danu Media was Lakelands, written, directed and produced by Robert Higgins & Patrick McGivney. Lakelands won the Fleadh’s Best Marketplace Project Award in 2021 and returned to the Fleadh this year for its World Premiere. Lakelands follows Cian, a young Gaelic footballer who struggles to comes to terms with a career-ending injury after an attack on a night out. Cian undertakes a search for his own identity in a small town where Gaelic football is a religion, and identity is defined by what you can do on the pitch. Featuring the directorial debuts of Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney, and a cast of emerging Irish stars including Éanna Hardwicke (Vivarium, Normal People) and Danielle Galligan (Netflix’s Shadow and Bone).
Winning Best Irish First Feature was The Sparrow, written & directed by Michael Kinirons produced by Alicia Ní Ghráinne. The Sparrow follows KEVIN COYNE (15) who lives in a dysfunctional household where grieving the death of his mother is forbidden by his father LARRY, an ex-soldier. Kevin is also used to living in his brother ROBBIE’s (18) shadow, so he is surprised when HANNA (16), a newcomer to this West Cork parish, seems to prefer his company
Nothing Compares, won the best Irish documentary award on the night, directed by Kathryn Ferguson. The film charts Sinéad OʼConnorʼs phenomenal rise to worldwide fame and examines how she used her voice at the height of her stardom. Focusing on Sinéad’s prophetic words and deeds across a five-year period (1987–1992), Nothing Compares presents an authored, cinematic portrait of a musical icon through a contemporary feminist lens.
The winners are as follows –
- BEST INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION SHORT
Zoon
Directed by Jonathan Schwenk
- BEST INTERNATIONAL FICTION SHORT
Too Rough
Directed by Sean Lionadh
- BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Nuisance Bear
Directed by Jack Weisman & Gabriela Oslo Vanden
- BEST FIRST ANIMATION SHORT in association with Brown Bag Films
Soul Office
Directed by Ryan Loughran
Produced by Fiona McLaughlin, Tom Getty and Grace Loughrey
- BEST IRISH FIRST SHORT FICTION
Homebird
Directed by Caleb J. Roberts
Produced by Brian J. Falconer, Callum Harrison and Jonathan Beer
- THE DONAL GILLIGAN AWARD FOR CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A SHORT FILM in association with the Irish Society Cinematographers (ISC) supported by Celtic Grips presented by JOHN LEAHY
Burn It All
Directed by Jack Hickey
Produced by Lara Hickey
Cinematography by Phillip Blake
7. BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN AN IRISH FILM in association with Teach Solais – presented BY CIAN DE BUTLÈIR
Tarrac
Cinematography by Patrick Jordan
- BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
The Score
Written & Directed by Malachi Smyth
- BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY
The Job of Songs
Directed by Lila Schmitz
Produced by Fengy Xu and Anika Kan Grevstad
- PERIPHERAL VISIONS AWARD
Bad Women
Directed by Niklas Lindgren
Written by Niklas Lindgren and Karolina Lindgren
Produced by Mila Haavisto
- BEST HUMAN RIGHTS FILM in association with Amnesty international Presented BY Siddhi Joshi
Afghan Dreamers
Directed by David Greenwald
Produced by Beth Murphy & David Cowan
- YOUNG AUDIENCE AWARD
Stay Awake
Director: Jamie Sisley
Writer: Jamie Sisley
Producers: Shrihari Sathe, Eric Schultz, Kelly Thomas & David Ariniello
- PITCHING AWARD
Haven by Maureen O’Connell
14. BEST MARKETPLACE PROJECT AWARD in association with Bankside Films
Shoal
Clare Strong, Director
Jeanie Igoe, Producer
15. THE BINGHAM RAY NEW TALENT AWARD: in association with Magnolia Pictures PRESENTED BY KATE O’TOOLE
Joint Winners: Éanna Hardwicke and Danielle Galligan, Lakelands
16. BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY in association with TG4 Presented by –
Special Mentions:
Where Do All the Old Gays Go
Directed by Cathy Dunne
Produced by Maggie Ryan and Cathy Dunne
For the Birds
Directed by Ciarán O’ Connor
Produced by Nuala Cunningham and Jen Dunbar
Winner:
Call Me Mommy
Directed by Tara O’Callaghan
Produced by Aaron McEnaney, Louise Byrne and Ross Killeen
17. THE JAMES HORGAN AWARD FOR SHORT ANIMATION
Soul Office
Directed by Ryan Loughran
Produced by Fiona McLaughlin, Tom Getty and Grace Loughrey
18. THE TIERNAN MCBRIDE AWARD FOR BEST FICTION SHORT Drama in association with Network Ireland Television PRESENTED BY DERRY O’BRIEN
Wednesday’s Child
Directed by Laura O’Shea
Produced by Caroline Harvey and Charleigh Baileigh
19. BEST IRISH DOCUMENTARY
Nothing Compares
Director: Kathryn Ferguson
Writers: Kathryn Ferguson, Eleanor Emptage & Michael Mallie
Producers: Eleanor Emptage & Michael Mallie
20. BEST IRISH FIRST FEATURE in association with Saffery Champness – PRESENTED BY John Gleeson
The Sparrow
Written & Directed by Michael Kinirons
Produced by Alicia Ní Ghráinne
21. BEST IRISH FILM in association with Danu Media – PRESENTED BY SIOBHAN NI GHADHRA
Lakelands
Written, Directed and Produced by Robert Higgins & Patrick McGivney
Photos by Claire Sheehan & Lorg Media
