11/07/2022 - Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney’s Lakelands has won Best Irish Film, whilst The Sparrow was awarded Best Irish First Feature, and The Score was crowned Best International Film

The directors of Lakelands, Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney, collecting their award (© Galway Film Fleadh)

It’s a wrap for the 2022 edition of the Galway Film Fleadh, Ireland’s leading film festival. This year, the gathering ran from 5-10 July, and saw the eventual triumph of Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney’s Lakelands, crowned Best Irish Film. Set in the Irish midlands, the movie revolves around a young Gaelic football player struggling with the aftermath of a head injury (see the news). The two lead actors, Éanna Hardwicke and Danielle Galligan, also received the Bingham Ray New Talent Award.

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Michael Kinirons’ The Sparrow scooped the Award for Best Irish First Feature. The picture centres on a troubled teen living in West Cork, who is involved in a tragic accident and must deal with the consequences of a secret he keeps.

Meanwhile, Kathryn Ferguson’s Nothing Compares [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], a portrait of musician Sinéad O’Connor, was awarded Best Irish Documentary. Moreover, Malachi Smyth’s The Score [+see also:
film review
interview: Malachi Smyth
film profile] (UK) and Lila Schmitz’s The Job of Songs (USA) were awarded Best International Film and Best International Documentary, respectively.

Here is the full list of this year’s award winners:

Best Irish Film
Lakelands – Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney (Ireland)

Bingham Ray New Talent Award
Eanna Hardwicke and Danielle Galligan – Lakelands

Best Irish First Feature
The Sparrow - Michael Kinirons (Ireland)

Best Irish Documentary
Nothing Compares [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Kathryn Ferguson (Ireland/UK)

Best International Film
The Score [+see also:
film review
interview: Malachi Smyth
film profile] - Malachi Smyth (UK)

Best International Documentary
The Job of Songs - Lila Schmitz (USA)

Peripheral Visions Award
Bad Women - Niklas Lindgren (Finland)

Best Cinematography
Declan Recks – Tarrac! (Ireland)

Best Human Rights Film
Afghan Dreamers - David Greenwald (USA)