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.

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 [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
scheda film], a portrait of musician Sinéad O’Connor, was awarded Best Irish Documentary. Moreover, Malachi Smyth’s The Score [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Malachi Smyth
scheda film] (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 [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
scheda film] - Kathryn Ferguson (Ireland/UK)

Best International Film
The Score [+leggi anche:
recensione
intervista: Malachi Smyth
scheda film] - 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)