Dingle International Film Festival (Dingle IFF) 2017 held its 11th annual festival from Thursday, March 23rd through to Sunday, March, 26th. It was another great year filled with exceptional screenings and inspired guests, such as Ben Wheatley, Jack Reynor, Jim Sheridan, Pat Shortt, Dean DeBlois, and more amazingly talented Irish and International creatives. There was a full audience at every event, and Dingle IFF would like to express its enormous gratitude to the tremendous support of everyone who participated.
During this event, the festival screened 24 feature films and 51 shorts, all of which showcased the art of filmmaking. Animation Dingle screened 54 short animation films from Irish and international professionals and students; 18 of the World Tour shorts were showcased at the Toronto Irish Film Festival.
On Sunday, the festival presented the Dingle IFF Awards to celebrate the most promising and excellent selections at this year’s festival. The recipients of these outstanding awards have accomplished an incredible feat in this highly distinguished art form, and their potential in this industry is limitless. The Dingle IFF thank them for entertaining and enlightening audiences, and they wish them the very best of luck with future projects.
Director/writer/star Elaine Kennedy in her award-winning Uisce Beatha- The Young Animator of The Year (YAOTY) Award went to joint winners Donal Cotter and Kelly McCarvill. They were present at the Awards Ceremony, where they received a beautifully designed award by local jeweller, Brian de Staic. They were also offered a placement with JAM Media Studios, one of the leading creators of multi-award winning animated content for children and preschoolers in Ireland and the UK. Dingle IFF would like to thank Disney Channels, JAM Media, The Irish Film Board, the Creative Media Department of IT Tralee, and Brian de Staic for making this fantastic competition possible.
- Rath, directed by Mieke Vanmechelen won the Audience Choice Award for ‘Best Feature Film’, sponsored by Soho House. Mandy Kean, Head of Cinema for Soho House, was at The Phoenix Cinema to announce the award. Dingle IFF are delighted that this world premiere touched such a wide audience, and they congratulate Mieke on her exceptional filmmaking talent.
- Elaine Kennedy, director of Uisce Beatha, won the Audience Choice Award for ‘Best Short Film’. This magnificent local short has taken the international film festival circuit by storm, and they are very happy to be able to present this award to a filmmaker who has done so much for the Dingle community that generously hosts our festival every year. The film recently took home a similar prize at the Chicago Irish Film Festival, and heads next to the Newport Beach Film Festival in the U.S.
- Dingle IFF also congratulates Barry O’Donoghue, who received this year’s Físín Award for his pitched film script GAN CAOITIGH, GAN CHODLADH. The winner was announced by Art Parkinson, Games of Thrones star and Seachtain na Gaeilge ambassador. Barry will receive €5,000 in cash and €2,000 in equipment from Vast Valley Ltd to make his film. The festival welcomes Barry back to Dingle with open arms at next year’s festival for his premiere.
- Animation Dingle presented Aidan Hickey the prestigious Murakami Award, given to excellent industry leaders in the field of animation. During a long career in animation, Aidan provided TV series and short films that won various international awards. In 2005, he wrote and directed The Boy Who Had No Story, winning the IFTA prizes for ‘Best Animation’ and ‘Best Children’s Film’. This award is endorsed by the late Jimmy T. Murakami, a legendary international animator who based his studio in Ireland.
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Dingle IFF thanks their main funders—Údarás na Gaeltachta, Ealaín na Gaeltachta, The Arts Council, The Irish Film Board, Wild Atlantic Way, Screen Training Ireland—sponsors—Tor Cotton, Ethiopian Airlines, Vast Valley Ltd, Marc Flanagan, Brian de Staic, Dingle Distillery and Soho House—and cultural partners—The French Embassy of Ireland, Institut Francais and Institute Technology Tralee—for their generosity in supporting this festival.