Irish Wins for ‘Off the Beaten Track’, ‘Jimmy Murakami - Non Alien’ and ‘Diabhal ag an Damhsa’.
‘Jimmy Murakami – Non Alien’
Loopline Films’ ‘Jimmy Murakami – Non Alien’ has won the Directors Choice Award at Sacramento Film and Music Festival. Sé Merry Doyle’s feature documentary tells the harrowing tale of acclaimed director Jimmy Murakami (The Snowman, When The Wind Blows) as he returns to the Japanese POW Concentration camp in Tule Lake California, where he and his family were held during World War Two.
The Sacramento Film and Music Festival took place from August 17th-21st. ‘Jimmy Murakami – Non Alien’ will screen at the Asian Pacific Festival in Washington DC on October 26th and at the Sottodiciotto Film Festival in Turin, Italy this December.
‘Off the Beaten Track’
Irish documentary ‘Off the Beaten Track’ nabs the Prize from the Council of Bosco Chiesanuova at the XVII Film Festival della Lessinia, Italy this weekend.
The doc was produced by Suin Ni Raghallaigh, Dieter Auner, and Cristian Mungiu for Ikandi productions with support from the Irish Film Board and Mobra Films. Directed by Dieter Auner, the documentary follows the changing world of shepherds in Transylvania, Romania. The film follows teenager Albin, a shepherd from a remote rural village over the course of a year, as the traditions and slow pace of routine are gradually being replaced by modern values. It has previously screened at festivals in Edinburgh, Rotterdam, Transylvania and Belfast.
The 17th annual Film Festival della Lessenia took place in Verona, Italy from 20th-28th August.
‘Diabhal ag an Damhsa’
West of Ireland based production company Magamedia’s documentary ‘Diabhal ag an Damhsa’ picked up the Social Commentary award at the Inaugural Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival in Waterville, Co. Kerry. The award was presented to director Paddy Hayes and producer Ciara Nic Chormaic at the Gala Awards Ceremony on Saturday night.
The dramadoc re-tells the story of the devil’s appearance at a dancehall run by clergy in Tooreen, Co. Mayo. With its tongue firmly planted in its cheek, it explores the Church’s attitudes to sexuality and control in the 1950s.
The Charlie Chaplin Film Festival was set up to reflect the courageous and pioneering spirit of Chaplin’s films in the town of Waterville where Charlie Chaplin and his family often holidayed. It took place in Waterville, Co. Kerry from 25th-28th August 2011. Other Irish winners at the inaugural festival included director Shaun O’Connor and Producer Alice O’Sullivan for their short ‘Tearing Strips’ and Mark Holland and Niamh Ryan winning Under 18’s The Chaplins of the Future Award for ‘Gaeilge Bhriste’.
