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Pictured at the opening of the Kerry International Film Festival on Thursday were Aileen Randles, Aine Moriarty, Grace O’Donnell, Marie Lenihan, Irene Cronin O’Reilly and Nicola O’Sullivan. Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD
KERRY International Film Festival (KIFF) celebrated its 24th Edition this past weekend and culminated in the awards ceremony on Sunday evening.
KIFF presented 46 screenings and events across several venues in Killarneyand it was the first year that they introduced live acts, along with traditional film screenings and industry events, which proved to be a phenomenal success.
There were a huge number of attendees across all KIFF screenings, live events, and film industry talks, and the engagement and support received by the local community was outstanding.
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Speaking about the success of KIFF 2023, Director of Programming, Declan Lynch said: ‘It’s been an amazing experience proving that Co. Kerry has a vibrant, dedicated, and growing film audience. As a team we have delighted in, and learnt so much from, our many conversations with local film fans and visiting filmmakers – all of which can be applied to next year’s very special 25th anniversary edition.’
This year’s KIFF 2023 Maureen O’Hara Award recipient was actress Eileen Walsh. Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD
A highlight of KIFF 2023 was the presentation of the Maureen O’Hara Award to actress Eileen Walsh. The award ceremony took place at Randles Hotel Killarney on Friday and was followed by a very special event ‘In Conversation with Eileen Walsh’ which was hosted by Derek O’Connor, editor, RTÉ Culture.
The KIFF 2023 Awards Ceremony took place on Sunday at The Great Southern Hotel, Killarney. The ceremony celebrated all aspects of film making and the awards were presented to outstanding film makers, directors, script writers and producers.
Basil Sheerin, Chief Financial Officer, at Kerry Airport Ireland, presented the KIFF 2023 Taking Flight Award, celebrating emerging talent in film.
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Sponsored by Kerry Airport, this year’s recipient was Hannah Manalis. The Best of Kerry Award, sponsored by Virgin Media, went to ‘Two for the Road’. This year’s Trua Award went to Miles O’Reilly for the short film The Street Where You Live.
FULL LIST OF KIFF 2023 AWARD WINNERS
1. TAKING FLIGHT, RISING TALENT AWARD, sponsored by KIFF’S headline sponsor, Kerry Airport Ireland – presented by Basil Sheerin, CFO, Kerry Airport Ireland. WINNER – Hannah Mamalis.
2. KIFF 2023 Maureen O’ Hara Award – WINNER – Eileen Walsh.
3. BEST OF KERRY, Sponsored by Virgin Media – WINNER – Two for the Road
4. BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORT – Sponsored by The Plaza Hotel – WINNER – Spoor
5. BEST ANIMATION – WINNER – Pinokidoki
6. BEST STUDENT SHORT – WINNER – Harvest
7. BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – sponsored by Randles Hotel – WINNER – Paddy Mulcahy for Songs of Blood and Destiny.
8. BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE – WINNER – Secrets From Putomayo.
9. BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT – WINNER – Echo.
10. BEST IRISH NARRATIVE SHORT – sponsored by the Great Southern Hotel – WINNER – Jill And Lill Do Knick Knacks.
11. BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE – Sponsored by Screen Ireland – WINNER – Verdigris.
12. SCREENWRITING AWARD – WINNER – Eyes to Listen, Hands to Speak (Cathriona Slammon), Honourable Mentions: Toucan (Eoin Joseph Duncum), Noa’s Place (Maria Romanova-Hynes)
13. TRUA AWARD – WINNER – Myles O’Reilly (The Streets Where You Live)
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