The Irish directors are getting ready to dish out some bling!
Heavyweight Irish directors Jim Sheridan and Neil Jordan are to co-host the Directors Finders Series awards ceremony on July 16th
The gala event will be attended by stars and industry alike, alongside some of the most creative and talented voices in Irish filmmaking today.
Ken Wardrop and his stunning feature documentary ‘His and Hers‘ was announced as the winner of the Directors Finders Series, providing this acclaimed Irish filmmaker with the opportunity to showcase his feature at the Directors Guild of America Theatre in L.A. in August. Ken will be presented with his award at this ceremony at the Morrison Hotel. The showcase in L.A. will take place in front of an invited audience of American distributors, filmmakers, and key industry personnel, with the aim of securing a US distribution deal for the film.
The initiative, conceived by the Directors Guild of America and facilitated by the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland (SDGI), presents an Irish director with an opportunity to showcase their film and to have direct access to decision makers in the film distribution process in the US. The awards spotlight works of fiction, documentary or drama feature submissions from Irish directors who have not secured U.S distribution for their films.
“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity, and am really excited about the awards ceremony, coming hot on the heels of what will be the first public screening of ‘His and Hers’ at the Galway Film Fleadh,” commented Ken Wardrop. “And of course it’s such an honour to be presented with the award by Neil Jordan and Jim Sheridan,” he continued.
Selected by an international panel of experts His and Hers is a beautifully observed and innovative documentary that combines observation and imagination to illustrate a universal love story. The film explores woman’s relationship with man by visiting moments from the lives of 70 female characters. Shot in the hallways, living rooms and kitchens of the Irish Midlands, the story moves sequentially from young to old to deliver a unique and touching insight into sharing life’s journey.
Previous winners of the Directors Finders Series have gone on to make a significant impact on the international film stage, with last year’s winner Tomm Moore’s The Secret of Kells recently securing US distribution, and winning numerous awards at festivals across the world. This is the second year in a row that the winning film has gone on to secure US distribution, highlighting the importance of the Directors Finders Series for Irish filmmakers and the impact it can have on their careers in the industry.