This year’s Rhode Island Film Festival saw many Irish filmmakers walk away as winners: Colin McIvor’s ‘Cup Cake’ was named Best Feature whilst Fastnet Film’s ‘The Chronoscope’ won Best Experimental Film and Conor Horgan’s ‘One Hundred Mornings’ picked up the event’s Vortex Sci-fi and Fantasy Award.
Colin McIvor’s Northern Ireland Screen funded ‘Cup Cake’ stars Adam Best (Holby City). The film was funded by Northern Ireland Screen as part of their Ultra Low Budget Fiction Fund. It tells the story of PJ who inherits the family bakery following the disappearance of his parents. In addition to Best, ‘Cup Cake’ also stars Michelle Fairley (Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows), Clive Russell (Jam And Jerusalem), Paddy Jenkins (Bel's Boys) Ian McElhinney (Single-Handed) and newcomer Kasia Koleczek as 'Gala', PJ's romantic interest
Furthermore, Fastnet Film’s ‘The Chronoscope’ scooped the Best Experimental Film title at the event with the festival's CEO George T. Marshall describing it as ”a brilliant film and original work that illustrates the creative genius of director, Andrew Legge. This is a filmmaker whom we expect to be hearing more from in the future.” Funded under the Wicklow County Council’s Per Cent scheme, the short tells the story of female inventor Charlotte Keppel who is kidnapped by the Third Reich after she invents a camera with the power to see into the past. Narrated by Jeremy Irons (The Merchant of Venice) and starring Serena Brabazon (The Tudors) the film was produced by Morgan Bushe and Ben Keenan.
Following on from news of its announcement of a US cinema release, Conor Horgan's ‘One Hundred Mornings’ also enjoyed success at the festival where it picked up the Vortex Sci-fi and Fantasy Award. ‘One Hundred Mornings’ is set in a world upended by a complete breakdown of society, where two couples hide out in a cabin hoping to survive the crisis. With resources running low and external threats increase, a suspected affair is driving a wedge between them all and finally, each of them faces a critical decision they never thought they'd have to make. The film stars Ciaran McMenamin (The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce, Outcast), Alex Reid (The Descent), Rory Keenan (Zonad, The Guard) and Kelly Campbell (Bachelors Walk, Sensation).
The Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIFF) this year showcased over 200 cinematic works, including 35 World and 23 US/North American Premieres. Following months of adjudication and review, the films were selected from a record entry base of over 4,200 international submissions. RIIFF is also one of only 65 qualifying festival for the Short Film Academy Award through its affiliation with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. For a full list of winners visit www.film-festival.org
