It has been announced that IFTA’s Outstanding Contribution to Industry Award will this year be presented to Irish film producer, Morgan O’Sullivan. Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin T.D. this morning unveiled details of the selection at a press launch held in Dublin’s Mansion House.
The Minister mingled with members of the Irish Film and Television Academy and congratulated a number of IFTA 2011 nominees who were also in attendance. She then announced that producer Morgan O’Sullivan is to be the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Industry Award at this year’s award ceremony which will be held in the Dublin Convention Centre on Saturday, February 12th.
Born in 1945, Morgan O'Sullivan is the Managing Director of World 2000 Entertainment Ltd, and has been responsible for bringing several big budget features such as 'King Arthur', 'Veronica Guerin' and 'Braveheart' and the mammoth television series 'The Tudors' and ‘Camelot’ to shoot in Ireland. He has also produced dozens of other features including ‘P.S. I Love You’, ‘Angela’s Ashes’, ‘Reign of Fire’ and ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ alongside many TV dramas such as ‘RAW’, ‘Father and Son’, ‘My Boy Jack’ and ‘Northanger Abbey’.
In her speech Mary Hanafin spoke of Morgan’s huge contribution to the Irish film industry, saying: “He has nurtured the best creative talent in the business and brought international recognition of that talent and Ireland as a viable international production location to the international stage. We owe him a debt of gratitude.”
IFTA CEO Áine Moriarty also praised Morgan’s hard work in promoting the Irish film industry, saying: “Without Morgan’s vision, ambition, spirit and determination to succeed, the Irish film industry simply would not exist as it does today,"she explained. "He is an inspiration to us all.”
In her speech Minister Hanafin also thanked the IFTA nominees present and praising the important contribution that the Irish TV and Film industry has made to the Irish economy in recent years, saying: “You are members of a key industry which gives us international credibility,"she said. "The media industry really does act as the face of Ireland abroad and you do it very well.”
Among those attending the launch were IFTA-nominee Saoirse Ronan who is shortlisted in the category of Actress in a Supporting Role – Film for her role in the Peter Weir film, ‘The Way Back’. The multi IFTA nominated film ‘Swansong: Story of Occu Byrne’ was also well represented by actress Marcella Plunkett, Make Up and Hair nominee, Gill Brennan and producer, Edwina Forkin. Also present were ‘The Pipe’s Rachel Lysaght, ‘Burma Soldier’s Julie leBrocquy and ‘Pyjama Girl’s Maya Derrington, all of whom are nominees this year in the George Morrison Feature Documentary Award category.
‘Fair City’ nominees, Sarah Flood and Eamonn Morrisey were also in attendance along with Ian Power and Macdara Kelleher, director and producer of shortlisted feature film, ‘The Runway’. Nominated TV dramas, ‘RAW’ and ‘Love/ Hate’ were represented by producer Suzanne McCauley whilst Larry Bass, Bill Cullen and Jackie Lavin were all present to represent ‘The Apprentice’. TV3’s Sinead Desmond and Alan Hughes were present to represent ‘Ireland AM’.
Other industry members who attended the launch included the BAI’s Brian Furey; TG4’s Michéal Ó Meallaigh; Ardmore Studio’s Kevin Moriarty; former Irish Film censor Sheamus Smith and IBEC’s Tommy McCabe.
Commenting about his Outstanding Contribution to Industry IFTA Award Morgan O’Sullivan said, ‘I would like to dedicate this award to all of the people who have supported me down through the years but particularly the Irish Film and Television community.’
The 8th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards take place in Dublin on Saturday, 12th February and will broadcast Live on RTÉ One at 9.30pm.
Those interested in attending the IFTA ceremony can find more information on the IFTA website http://www.ifta.ie/news/ceremonytickets.html. Here you can apply to purchase tickets for the full awards ceremony and aftershow party.
