Ian Fitzgibbon’s black comedy ‘A Film With Me In It’ has picked up the Special Jury Prize at the 28th International Istanbul Film Festival in Turkey.
The jury, comprised of film-makers Goran Paskaljevic, Christian Mungiu and Umit Unal, Holland Film and European Film Promotion head Claudia Landsberger and Screen International’s Mike Goodridge, described the Irish feature as “a rare comedy which keeps you laughing from beginning to end with its unusual story and dark, dark humour.”
Starring Dylan Moran, Mark Doherty, Amy Huberman and Aisling O’Sullivan, the story follows Mark, a struggling actor, who has just been through the ordeal of yet another fruitless audition. With his girlfriend about to walk out and his landlord ready to evict him, Mark has only his friend Pierce and their joint ambition of writing a career-breaking film to keep him going.
Producer, Alan Moloney of Parallel Films, said of the win: “it is quite a coup for a small Irish film to be awarded the top prize in Istanbul. Its great to know that Irish humour has an international appeal.”
The Istanbul Golden Tulip was awarded to Chilean director Pablo Larrain for his feature ‘Tony Manero’.