The physical part of the 2021 edition of IndieCork wrapped on 26 September. The event ran from 19-26 September at the historic Gate Cinema in Cork, but it is set to continue online at the Blacknight Hub (click here) until midnight on 3 October.

This year’s Spirit of IndieCork Awards went to US filmmaker Bill Morrison and emerging talent Niall Owens for his debut, Gatewa [+lire aussi :
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“Taking film reels found at the bottom of the sea and literally bringing them to light, he creates a new and profound narrative,” the jurors said. Meanwhile, Owens “has shown a true independent spirit of dogged persistence in getting his accomplished debut feature, Gateway, to the screen”. Owen’s compelling psychological thriller, set and shot in Cork, was made on a shoe-string budget and screened as the opening film of this year’s festival.

Moreover, the Award for Best Irish Film was bestowed upon Northern Irish filmmaker Matthew McGuigan’s Ruthless. The short was described as “a humorous, heart-warming story of how a prosthetic leg and a T Rex album become the conduit for overcoming grief”. The jurors stated, “From the opening images, this short but impressive film keeps its eye on the essentials, alternating between the playful and the tragic as we unearth the damage done to a father and son in 1970s Belfast.”

Speaking about the results of this year’s edition, festival co-director Mick Hannigan commented: “We’re grateful for the support and goodwill shown to IndieCork. We’ve had really strong audiences, and we thank the many filmmakers who travelled to Cork from Spain, the USA, the UK and from across Ireland to represent their films. Even a month ago, this isn’t something we thought would be possible. It’s shown us that there’s a great appetite from audiences and filmmakers for a festival such as IndieCork, and for our role of supporting and nurturing filmmaking talent.” Festival co-director Úna Feely added: “It’s been a strong and positive year for IndieCork: receiving the accolade of becoming a BAFTA-nominating festival, hosting many world premieres, and simply welcoming back audiences and filmmakers. We thank all our partners who support the festival: Blacknight Solutions, the Arts Office of Cork City Council, and our partner venue, the Gate Cinema, plus our creative partners MTU Crawford College of Art and Design and The Guesthouse.”

On this occasion, IndieCork welcomed filmmakers from Dubliln, Kildare, Derry, Donegal, Belfast, London, Barcelona and New York as well as a strong cohort of local filmmakers who convened every day at the Gate Cinema.

Here is the full list of award winners at the 2021 edition:

Best Creative Cork Short Film
Woodpeckers – Owen Warren (Ireland)

Art(ist)Film
The Clothes Wear You – Kitsch Doom (Ireland)

Special Mentions
May the Peacock Have its Call and Dance – Sofia Rudi (Ireland)
I Have Plants in Lonely Places – Elsie Van Dam (Ireland)

Best Irish Film
Ruthless – Matthew McGuigan (UK)

Honourable Mention (Documentary)
In Between Lands – Laura Griffin (Ireland/USA)

Honourable Mention (Fiction)
To All My Darlings – Lisa Campbell (Ireland)

Best International Short Film
High Sky Low Land – Maria Erikkson-Hecht (Sweden)

Honourable Mention
Cradle – Paul Muresan (Romania)

Best Emerging Irish Female Director Award
Eva Birthistle – Kathleen Was Here (Ireland)

Spirit of IndieCork Awards
Niall Owens – Gateway [+lire aussi :
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Bill Morrison

IndieCork Music Award
The Quiet Club