The 11th Richard Harris International Film Festival concluded with a red-carpet gala awards ceremony at the iconic Thomond Park Stadium in Limerick on Sunday, October 29th. 27 awards were handed out on the night, hosted by actors Sean Treacy and Maksuda Akhter.
Among the big winners on the night was Bucky F*cking Dent, taking home both Best Director and Best Actor for David Duchovny, following its international premiere at the University Concert Hall on 26th of October, with awards accepted on his behalf by Oscar-nominated director Vincent Lambe (Detainment) and Irish actor Aoife Commons.
Advent won two awards: Best Actor in a Female Role went to Bríd Ní Neachtain, and Advent took home the Judges’ Special Mention Award.
Matthew Holmes’ Australian indie revenge-thriller The Cost won Best Feature, which was accepted on his behalf by Lambe.
Caolan Robertson’s The Eastern Front (aka Under Deadly Skies) documentary, featuring war correspondents John Sweeney and Paul Conroy on the war in Ukraine, won in the Feature Documentary Category.
The international jury had the task of choosing nominees and winners among 94 international and Irish shorts screened at the festival. In Too Deep directed by Chris Overton was the winner in the Best International Short category, and We Were There directed by Leah O’Toole & Noah Santana was awarded Best Overall Short. O’Toole & Santana also received the Best Director(s) award in the Shorts Category. Jamie O’Rourke’s Calf won Best National short, with Isabelle Connolly winning Best Actor in a Female Role (Short Film) for Calf. One Note Man took home the awards for Best Actor in a Male Role (Short Film) for Jason Watkins and Best Music/Score (Shorts) for Oscar-winning composer Stephen Warbeck.
Other winners on the night included Canine in the short Documentary section, Michael David McKernan for Best Editing (Bean Feasa/Wise Woman), Colm Whelan for Cinematography (Postpartum), Will McConnell for Best Writing for Three Wishes. Movers and Shapers directed by Ciara Kelleher and Alanna McNamee was awarded the Judges’ Special Mention for Shorts. Snow (dir. Daragh O’Flanagan) and Knick Knack (dir. Emer Hussey) received the Best Mid-West & Best Student Film categories respectively.
Laura Whelan’s Stable received the Audience Award. The newly inaugurated Sports Documentary Award went to Martin Donnelly: Life on The Edge, following earlier screenings at the first RHIFF Sports Documentary Day in the International Rugby Experience.
The awards show was directed and produced by Zeb Moore and Rob Gill of Emerald Giant Productions, with entertainment provided by singer/songwriter Hannah Kathleen.
