Work of film Fleadh director recognised by UK university

BY CIARAN TIERNEY

 The 25th annual Galway Film Fleadh promises to be even more hectic than normal for co-founder and managing director Miriam Allen next month when she will have to travel to the UK in order to pick up an honorary degree at the height of the festival.

Miriam will receive an honorary doctorate from Staffordshire University on Friday, July 12, in recognition of her contribution to Irish cinema by providing a platform to independent film-makers every year.

The award follows a successful 72 hour film project which the Galway Film Fleadh ran in conjunction with Staffordshire University last year. It recognises her role in collaborating with the University and boosting the careers of aspiring film-makers.

It leaves Miriam with something of a logistical dilemma as she will fly out to England to collect the award while hoping to be back at the Town Hall for some of the later screenings on the Friday night of the six day festival.

“I have enjoyed working with Staffordshire University and I am truly stunned and very honoured to accept this award,” she told The Sentinel yesterday.

“The festival has given me a chance to mix and mingle with some of the great film-makers of our time while also observing and nurturing new talent.”

The Galway Film Fleadh is now seen as the best platform in Ireland to showcase new releases, both documentaries and features, and the 25th edition of the event opens on July 9 next.

It will include the world premier of ‘Life’s a Breeze’, a new Irish feature which stars comedian Pat Shortt and Fionnula Flanagan, who will both be in attendance at the Town Hall Theatre screening.

It’s been described as a feel-good “recession comedy” about a family which is struggling to stay afloat in a harsh economic climate.

It follows the massive success of three Irish features, ‘Pilgrim Hill’, ‘King of the Travellers’, and ‘Good Vibrations’ which went on general release throughout Ireland after receiving their first public screenings at last year’s Film Fleadh.

Other world premiers in the festival programme, due to be released at the end of this week, include ‘Run and Jump’ and ‘Cold’.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.