Irish film wins Czech award

OLIVIA KELLY

IRISH FEATURE film Eamon has received the Independent Camera Award at the 44th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic.

Directed by Margaret Corkery, the film stars Darren Healy, who appeared in RTÉ drama Love is the Drug and the award-winning film Once, and newcomers Amy Kirwan and Robert Donnelly.

The film, which received funding under the Irish Film Board’s (IFB) Catalyst Project tells the story of Eamon, a boy with behavioural problems and the destructive relationship of his parents.

Corkery, who received the award in the famous spa town of Karlovy Vary, said it was a testament to the hard work of the cast and crew. “We are absolutely thrilled that Eamon has received this prize . . . The festival is very impressive and audiences there really responded to the film. This award will mean a lot to the cast and crew who worked so hard.”

Eamon premiered at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival earlier this year, where Corkery won the IFB Talent Spotlight Award.

The Catalyst Project was devised by the IFB, Screen Training Ireland, Filmbase, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, TV3 and the Arts Council to mentor filmmakers in the art of low-budget film-making and fund successful participants to produce a feature film.