'One of the most inspirational people in film': David Puttnam receives Lifetime Achievement Award at Cork Film Fest
David Puttnam, Festival Patron, receiving the Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award from Gabriel Byrne, with Fiona Clarke, CIFF CEO and Festival Director, at the Irish Premiere of Saipan at the Opening Night Gala of the 70th Cork International Film Festival. Picture: Bríd O’Donovan.
Film producer David Puttnam has been awarded the Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award at the opening gala of this year’s Cork International Film Festival.
The award was presented to Puttnam by Irish actor Gabriel Byrne at the opening gala of the 70th edition of the film festival at The Everyman Theatre on Thursday last.
Byrne, who described the film producer as someone who has had a significant impact on the world of film and culture, said on stage, “David Puttnam changed my life. He gave me a role in a film that changed my career and consequently my life.
“And after that film, it opened up a career for me in America, and I was thinking today as I came here, that's what David Portman did for me — changed my life. And I thought to myself, how many lives has he changed? How many perspectives has he altered? His contribution to the world of culture and film is enormous.”
Byrne also highlighted Puttnam's passion and curiosity as key qualities that make him an inspirational figure, praising him for his contributions to Irish culture and his role as an educator, fostering critical thinking through film discussions.
“David Puttnam is, to me, one of the most inspirational people in film, because he has guided so many people. Leaving aside the BAFTAs, the Oscars, the Donatello, the prize he won last week in Rome, which is so big, I believe it has to be brought by special carrier to him in West Cork, but, for the people who have been changed by him as a teacher, we owe him a profound thanks for his contribution to Irish culture as well,” he said.
“He came over from London, and he became an Irish citizen, and he has contributed so much to us. I just wanted to say that he and his wife, Patsy, are an incredible team, and to watch them relate to each other is a very moving thing.”
Accepting the award, Puttnam reflected on the changing nature of the film industry, emphasising its youthful spirit and the potential for young filmmakers to drive positive change within the industry.
Puttnam said that what the industry is going through at the moment is “not that pretty” and that while people would be foolish not to be concerned, he believes young people in the industry can have a positive influence.
He said that the future of the industry is “most likely to be altered, amended or improved by a generation of young people who understand the mistakes that the generation like mine have made”.
“So, it's really to try and reassure young people. I came into a world knowing that it was ready for change. It was obvious," he said.
"And I think we're at that point again. I urge really good, energetic filmmakers, and I'm lucky enough to work with many of them, to help change that world,” he continued.
Wrapping up his speech, he said: "Thank you very, very much for this. Thank you for having me, and thank you for everything Cork has given Patsy and I."
The 70th Cork International Film Festival continues until Sunday, November 16.
The opening gala on Thursday night saw Cork actors Éanna Hardwicke and Alex Murphy attend the Irish premiere of the film at The Everyman Theatre alongside fellow actors and wife-and-husband film-making duo Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn.
Among the other industry figures attending the festival are Irish film producer Ed Guiney, multi-award-winning Irish costume designer Joan Bergin, and filmmaker Hannah Quinn.
This year, the supports the Best New Irish Feature Award, which showcases acclaimed Irish filmmakers and films that are either fully Irish in story and production or in collaboration with talent from across the world.
Tickets are on sale at corkfilmfest.org and the MyCIFF app.
