Omagh film makes prestigious shortlist

Feature film Omagh, based on the single worst atrocity of the North's Troubles, has been selected for official competition at the prestigious San Sebastian Film Festival, it emerged tonight.

The powerful drama is one of just 15 titles worldwide to be shortlisted for the festival’s Golden Shell prize. It examines the events and the devastating aftermath of the Real IRA attack which killed 29 people in August 1998.

Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aiden was killed in the blast, said the recognition was “absolutely fantastic.”

The film focuses on the Gallagher family’s struggle to come to term with the bombing and, in particular, Michael’s experiences as the reluctant spokesman for the Omagh relatives group.

He said the crew had done an extraordinary job in recapturing the atrocity.

“I am over the moon that the film is making its mark and I’m pleased that people across the world will have the opportunity to see how we dealt with the greatest tragedy of our lives,” he said.

The feature-length documentary was written by Guy Hibbert and Paul Greengrass, directed by Peter Travis and produced by Ed Guiney and Mr Greengrass.

Mr Guiney said he was delighted to have been recognised by one of the premier festivals of the Autumn season.

“San Sebastian is in the Basque region so it is even more relevant as local people will understand the context of the film,” he said.

“It is great to be coming from one country to be screened in another which has so recently suffered bereavement.

“Our plan with the film was always to get it out to an international audience. It’s such a powerful story which people in Ireland already know too well.”

The cast was drawn from all parts of Ireland, north and south of the border, and includes Academy Award winner Brenda Fricker and Omagh-based actor Gerard McSorley.

The Hell’s Kitchen International/Tiger Aspect production was co-financed by the UK’s Channel Four, Irish national broadcaster RTE and Bord Scannan na hEireann/the Irish Film Board (BSE/IFB).

The Donostia-San Sebastian International Film Festival will take place from August 16-25.

Meanwhile, two Irish short films, Tom Hopkin’s Close and Peter Foot’s The Carpenter and his Clumsy Wife, have been selected for the 61st Venice Film Festival in September.

Close, which was funded by RTÉ and Filmbase with the assistance of BSE/IFB, has also been selected for the Montreal International Festival in August.

Mark Woods, BSE/IFB CEO, said: “The selection of these films for the prestigious San Sebastian, Montreal and Venice film festivals is terrific news for Irish filmmakers as their content shall be screened in the company of some of the best new films in the world.

“The news only gets better for Omagh, which has just secured significant international sales to France and Benelux with other major European territories under offer.”