The filmmaking work of young people aged 7 to 18 years from Ireland and across the world will be celebrated at Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards 2023, which will be broadcast on RTÉ2 on Wednesday April 12 from 7pm to 8pm. The awards will also be available to view on the RTÉ Player. The IYFTYs will be hosted by radio and television presenter Stephen Byrne and BBC Radio presenter Gemma Bradley, recorded live from Odeon Cinemas, Limerick.
Now in its 27th year, Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards, part of the Fresh International Film Festival, are globally regarded as one of the world’s leading annual film events for young people. Previous award winners and participants include Oscar-nominated director Vincent Lambe (Detainment), All-American High School Film Festival, New York ‘Best Director’ Seán Treacy, acclaimed Irish filmmaker Dónal Foreman, BBC presenter and author Nick Sheridan, IFTA nominated director Conor McMahon (Let The Wrong One In), comedian and TV personality Justine Stafford and countless more.
Film highlights from the shortlist include
Me and My Eleven Years War is a short film by 11 year old Ukrainian Marusya Shuvalova, a moving insight into one day in the life of a young Ukrainian girl filmed during bombing raids.
Shell by 17 year old Dubliner Eve Duffy, a sensitive portrayal of cross-generational friendship, that charts Eve’s relationship with her grandmother who suffers from dementia. Eve impressively wrote, directed and acted in her film.
Following hot on the heels of Irish language films such as An Cailín Ciúin and Arracht comes Nellie from 18 year old Kerryman Malachaí Ó Ciardhubháin, which tells the story of a dispute over the family farm, with a literal twist in the tail!
