After a week of full houses, hundreds
of screenings, workshops, discussions, music, food events from local,
national and international filmmakers, IndieCork has come to a close
for the second year.
The second IndieCork awards are
primarily for short film. The sections, Creative Cork, Irish Shorts
and World Shorts, were more than ever, simply geographical
designations and are no reflection on the relative qualities of the
films in those sections.
Of the 50 Irish shorts screened there
were many that would play comfortably in any International selection
and it is expected that they will play successfully in festivals
outside of Ireland.
“We were deeply impressed by the
Irish shorts in the programme and have no doubt but that we will be
hearing a great deal more from the directors, producers, casts and
crews responsible for these films,” Mick Hannigan, festival co-founder, said.
“We congratulate them and thank
them most sincerely for the privilege of screening their work”.
Awards:
Creative Cork Award: All Mortal
Flesh by John Corcoran
In this technically accomplished
short, the director shows how by melding the suburban family life of
the protagonist with his sometime profession as a hitman, new
cinematic life can be breathed into a well-established genre.
Best Irish Short Film: Skunky Dog
by James Fitzgerald
Small-town lrish life can crush
fragile spirits, while others, through strength of character, can
refuse to be bowed. This film deftly depicts such characters who, in
their different ways, touch us deeply. Superbly shot, directed,
written and acted, the film creates art out of the familiar.
Special Mentions: In this Place by
Alec Moore and The Abandoning by Vanessa Gildea
The Ronan Phelan Script Award
This was won by John Corcoran, for his
script Pearl.
Best International Short Film:
A Million Miles Away by
Jennifer Reeder USA
It is not only youth who require
guidance. Sometimes adults rely on the wisdom of teenagers. The
filmmaker through her use of the signs and expressions of popular
culture, creates a timeless yearning space yet one rooted in
contemporary imagination.
Special Mention: Our Curse: Tomasz
Sliwinski, Poland
Cinema can serve as a bridge between
cultures and the filmmaker through his characters’ dilemmas shows
how the cruel realities of contemporary life can be ameliorated
through the kindness of human exchange. The film reminds us that
despite everything there is hope.
Spirit Of IndieCork Award: Kevin
Liddy for The Suffering Kind
As great admirers of Kevin Liddy’s
short films Horse and A Soldier’s Song and of his feature film
Country, we celebrate his return to filmmaking with The Suffering
Kind, a deeply impressive depiction of noble lives touched by
suffering. Recognising an independent spirit, it’s fitting that we
present Kevin with this year’s Spirit Of The Festival Award for his
short film The Suffering Kind.
Ó Bhéal Award for Best Poetry
Film: Wadland, Marleen van der Werf, The Netherlands
The Ronan Phelen Script Award: John
Corcoran for Pearl
Festival organiser Úna Feely
concluded that she was very satisfied with the outcome of the second
edition of IndieCork. "Great audiences came out every night for
indie films and at the weekend we had so many Irish filmmakers
travelling to Cork, introducing their films and taking part in
workshops. We're thrilled that IndieCork is truly on the map."
