Irish Screen America

#IrishAbroad: Irish Screen America festival closes with Rising Star Awards

On Sunday, October 2nd the 2016 edition of Irish Screen America came to a close, following another successful year of debuting Irish media to U.S. audiences. As part of its mission statement to support Irish talent in the U.S., the festival bestowed its Rising Star Awards to emerging Irish talents who featured in this year’s programme.

Th festival awarded Rising Star Director to Tom Ryan for his sensitive and engaging Twice Shy, with lead Iseult Casey winning Rising Star Actor. Handsome Devil stand-out Fionn O’Shea also picked up Rising Star Actor, with a third being awarded to Nika McGuigan for her role in hit new comedy Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope. Screenwriter Stefanie Preissner received Rising Star Writer for her work on the same 6 part series. Writer/director Linda Bhreathnach took home an award for Rising Star Short Filmmaker, for her short drama Adulting, which premiered tat the Galway Film Fleadh earlier this year.

The Irish Screen America festival hosted New York and Los Angeles premieres of Irish features Mammal (starring previous ISA award winner Barry Keoghan), Tiger Raid and The Queen of Ireland, as well as the North American premiere of RTE’s new darkly comic sensation, Can’t Cope Won’t Cope, directed by last year’s ISA award winner, Cathy Brady.

The bi-coastal festival takes place in September of each year to support and guide Irish media-makers by showcasing their work and fostering partnerships in the two largest cities for the entertainment industry in the United States. See www.irishscreenamerica.com for more information.