'Authentic' Somalian tragedy and O’Brien biopic best of film festival

'All films in competition for best new Irish feature this year were testaments to the world-class stories being told by Irish filmmakers at this moment,' festival director Fiona Clark said

'Blue Road' director Sinéad O'Shea, producer Claire McCabe, Irish Examiner features editor  Vickie Maye, and judge Hilary Rose at the gala awards night for the Cork International Film Festival which took place at The Everyman, Cork, on Saturday. Picture: David Creedon

The 69th Cork International Film Festival came to an end on Sunday night after 10 days of screenings and events, with an African drama emerging as the festival’s best film.

Just under 200 events were held across the breadth of the competition, Ireland’s first film festival, ranging from the best new international filmmaking, to short films, to question and answer sessions, to screenings of older classics, and even a pub quiz.