Simon Fitzmaurice - London Screenwriters' Festival

#IrishAbroad: London Screenwriters’ Festival renames award to honour the late Simon Fitzmaurice

Two years ago the late Simon Fitzmaurice, writer/director of My Name is Emily, was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the London Screenwriters’ Festival. That same festival has now decided to rename that award from the Fucking Awesome Award to the Fitzmaurice Award, to keep his legacy and extraordinary spirit alive in their creative community as well as inspire all to do more, complain less and create with courage.

Fitzmaurice, who died last October, was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (ALS) in 2008. Although totally incapacitated, Simon managed to write and direct My Name is Emily, typing the script and communicating to his cast and crew solely through the movement of his eyes and iris recognition software. It’s Not Yet Dark is a companion documentary which charts Simon’s life up to and during the making that film.

In the words of the London Screenwriters’ Festival “The Fitzmaurice award acknowledges true grit, relentless resilience and through action, to unapologetically defy the odds – and that is truly fucking awesome.”

I think I can speak for all the family in saying that it is an award that Simon would be extremely proud to have his name attached to. Thank you all so much for the recognition you gave Simon in his lifetime, it meant a huge amount to him, and he would definitely be honoured to know his name was being carried forward.
Ruth Fitzmaurice

We would be so honoured on Simon’s behalf to have the Award named after him. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for this great honour.
Simon’s parents

The Fitzmaurice Award will be bestowed on a worthy recipient at the Fifth British Screenwriters’ Awards 2018 on September 8th.