25/07/2022 - The titles singled out for trophies this year include the short films An Irish Goodbye by Tom Berkeley and Ross White, and The Bridge by Mark Smyth

Directors Tom Berkeley and Ross White, on stage alongside Susanna Pellis at the Irish Film Festa closing ceremony (© Paolo D'Intino)

Yesterday, 24 July, marked the close of the Irish Film Fest in Rome, an annual gathering dedicated to Irish cinema and directed by Susanna Pellis. This year’s edition unfolded in two parts: the first took place 21 - 22 May, featuring several screenings at the Casa del Cinema and the presentation of the festival’s short film section, which was available to stream until 25 May, while the second unspooled between 20 - 24 July, boasting a weightier programme rounded off with an awards ceremony.

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July’s evening line-up notably provided an overview of new Irish genre film, ranging from thrillers to black comedy and from drama with dystopic undertones to comedy-style horror.

The various titles screened included Wolf by Nathalie Biancheri, Breaking Out by Michael McCormack, Nightride [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Stephen Fingleton, Boys From County Hell [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Chris Baugh and Redemption of a Rogue [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Philip Doherty.

A professional jury composed of Cineuropa journalist Davide Abbatescianni, academic Ciara Chambers, journalist Irene Rosignoli and director Nino Tropiano decided upon the winners of this year’s edition.

On 21 July, on stage at the open-air Ettore Scola Theatre, Pellis and Abbatescianni awarded the prize for Best Dramatic Short Film to Tom Berkeley and Ross White, who previously directed An Irish Goodbye. “With great lightness of touch and depth of soul, An Irish Goodbye tackles the tricky subject of a mother’s passing and the tighter bond which develops between her two sons. The brilliant performances delivered by the two protagonists enhance the authors’ fresh and poetic storytelling,” the jury’s official reasoning explains.

Memento Mori by Paul O’Flanagan, meanwhile, was awarded Best Animated Short. The jury described it as being “narrated with the rigour of a scientific treatise” and “hovering between science and superstition, and reality and mystery.”

For its part, Nothing to Declare by Garret Daly bagged the prize for Best Documentary Short. According to the jury, the film “brings an incredible true story to the screen,” in which “there’s no real emphasis in the author’s approach […], just great empathy and an extraordinary capacity to tell a story through pictures.”

Last but not least, the Audience Award was entrusted to The Bridge by Mark Smyth, which speaks of a man who is forced to return to his native village in Western Ireland following the sudden death of his parents.

The Irish Film Festa is produced by the Archimedia Cultural Association and is organised in collaboration with the Irish Film Institute, with the backing of Culture Ireland and Screen Ireland.

The winners of this year’s edition are as follows:

Best Dramatic Short
An Irish Goodbye - Tom Berkeley and Ross White (Ireland/UK)

Best Animated Short
Memento Mori - Paul O’Flanagan (Ireland)

Best Documentary Short
Nothing to Declare - Garret Daly (Ireland)

Audience Award
The Bridge - Mark Smyth (Ireland)