Now in its second year, the Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) Film Festival announced its award winners at a ceremony on Friday, April 15th. Held in association with Sony Professional and hosted by radio personality, Michelle McMahon, the ceremony took place in the Millennium Theatre at LIT. Boasting over 70 entrants this year, the Festival seeks to showcase talent using cutting-edge technology for students of film.
Founded by Limerick Institute of Technology’s Audio Video Department to promote video production in the mid-west region of Ireland. Initially only open to third level students of Limerick Institute of Technology and Limerick College of Further Education, this year the competition opened up to the general public
The judging panel consisted of members of the media industry, both from technical and non-technical backgrounds. There were twelve categories in all at the event, which were presented by members of staff from Limerick Institute of Technology and Limerick College of Further Education alongside Patrick Hogan of Limerick City VEC, Film Ireland’s Eleanor McSherry and star of Storyland’s ‘The Outcast Concy Ryan’, Francis Ryan.
The winning projects on the night included ‘Forgiven’ for Best Camera (Darren O’Connor); ‘Dear Air’ for Best Lighting (Brian Lavelle); ‘Walsh’ for Best Sound (Michael Kelly); ‘Alfred’ for Best Editor (Triu Shiul Productions); ‘Freebound’ for Best Acting’ (Tendai Manuel). Further awards saw ‘He Waits’ scoop the title of Best Script (Pauric Brennan) whilst ‘Police Cops’ took Best Director (Dara Greaney). ‘Leslie Carter, Irish Muslim’ won in the category of ‘Best Factual’ (Ronan Cassidy); ‘Once Upon a Time in Serbia’ took Best Artistic (Elena Bezborodova ) and ‘Starstruck’ won Best Drama’ (Emma Lee Teck). Finally, ‘Tost Dorcha an Gheimhridh’ nabbed the evening’s Adjudicators Award (Vadzim Sasnouski) whilst the prize of Best Overall Film went to ‘In the Open’ (Kevin Glynn).
Along with a specially designed award, each winner picked up a Sony Vegas Pro 10 software package, courtesy of the main sponsor Sony. Danielle Couch, UK & Ireland Marketing Communications Manager, commented that Sony Professional were eager to “form strong links with the film-makers of tomorrow.”
This year, the LIT Film Festival went from a one-day to a five-day event and the organisers already have ambitious hopes for the next year’s event. Director of the LIT Film Festival, Simon McGuire, announced that the Festival had been greenlit for another year in 2012, which will be run by a “new committee, consisting of members from LIT and exterior organizations from the media industry.”The industry exhibition will make a return to the Millennium Theatre and there are hopes to include a wider audience through a country-wide network. Mr. McGuire said that “although the festival is an outlet for students attending video and sound courses, we hope to create something for the film industry in Ireland which will have different events involving the wider film community.”
For more information about the awards and other upcoming events visit www.lit.ie
