Film Festival unveiles its honours list

Deirdre O’Kane was presented with the Maureen O’Hara Award at the Kerry Film Festival.

ACTRESS, comedian and, more recently, Dancing With The Stars runner-up Deirdre O’Kane has received the top honour the Kerry Film Festival can bestow when she was presented with the Maureen O’Hara Award in Killarney.

She was recognised for her contribution to the film and television industry and she follows in the footsteps of previous recipients Saoirse Ronan, Fionnula Flanagan, Juliette Binoche and costume designer Consolata Boyle.

The Kerry Film Festival inaugurated the Maureen O’Hara Award in 2008 in memory of one of Hollywood’s best-loved actresses who was a regular visitor to Killarney.

O’Kane won an IFTA for Best Actress for her portrayal of humanitarian Christina Noble in Noble and, in addition to her film and television career, she is one of Ireland’s most successful stand-up comedians.

Actress Deirdre O’Kane (third from left) with Kerry Film Festival officials Grace O’Donnell, Kate Kennelly Kerry County Council, Maeve McGrath, Artistic Director, Tom Randles, sponsor, Áine Moriarty CEO of the Irish Film and Television Academy and Aileen Randles sponsor.
Pictures: Sally MacMonagle

The annual awards ceremony took place Plaza Hotel, Killarney on Saturday evening with the 19th edition of the festival featuring short and feature films from around the globe and many homegrown selections.

Artistic Director, Maeve McGrath, remarked: “The Kerry Film Festival presents films that challenge and inspire, that win awards and begin new journeys for the film makers involved”.

She added: “In 2018 the festival saw a significant increase in films directed by women and we hope to build on that as the festival moves into the 20th edition in 2019.”

The awards are judged by a private industry jury panel that included Adrian Barber, Eleanor McSherry, Elling Lien, Phillip Doyle and Giedre Bumbuyte.

Black 47 actors Freddie Fox and Barry Keoghan with Kerry Film Festival Artistic Director Maeve McGrath at Killarney Cinema

The 2019 winners were
Best International Short: Seven
Best Documentary: The Reek
Best Animation: Yǔnshí
Best Student: Day of Reckoning
Best Score: The Fruitful
Best Irish Narrative: Detainment
Best Kerry Short: Take Me Swimming
Best Feature: Joint Winners – Thunder Road and When All Is Ruin Once Again (presented by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce)
Maureen O’Hara Award: Deirdre O’Kane

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