‘Yu Ming Is Anim Dom’ continues to blaze a trail of success around the festival circuit with another win at the Aspen Shortsfest Film Festival in Colorado.
Produced in association with TG4 & Filmbase (Lasair) in 2003, it was written and directed by Dubliner Daniel O’Hara. ‘Yu Ming’ tells the story of a young man from China who learns Irish in preparation for his trip to Ireland. On arrival in Dublin, he is puzzled to find that nobody understands him. The film features wonderful performances from newcomer Daniel Wu and Richard Morton, as well as special cameo appearances by Frank Kelly (from Father Ted) and comedian Paddy C Courtney.
The short picked up the award for Best International Comedy at the Aspen festival beating off worldwide competition (over 1,500 entries) to take the 2000 dollar prize money. The Aspen jury said of Yu Ming is Ainm Dom 'This is about being a stranger in a strange land. The loss of culture is happening in every state in the world. This short is about people and nations. It is storytelling at it's best.'
This news comes as no surprise as Yu Ming continues its success after picking up awards at the Celtic Film Festival and the New York Film Fleadh.
TG4 Ceannasaí Pól Ó Gallchóir, said that prizes such as those from Aspen and the Celtic Festival are of enormous significance for the channel. “It is heartening to know that our programmes have an international as well as national appeal,” he said. “Awards like these reaffirm our conviction that quality will travel well and appeal to a wider audience, irrespective of original language. Accolades such as these from an international jury of fellow professionals are the highest praise of all,” he said.
