Film festival draws 1,700 as international filmmakers gather in Louth

The Boyne Valley International Film Festival welcomed over 1,700 audience members, including 100 filmmakers who had travelled from Europe, the USA and UK, including trailblazing filmmaker Shane Meadows.

Showcasing a wonderful array of films both local, national and international films, the festival creates an environment for filmmakers and audiences to connect and celebrate film in the historical medieval town of Drogheda, located in the heart of the Boyne Valley Region.

Award winners this year included Aisling Connolly Byrne as Filmmaker in Focus, Kate Gilmore as recipient of the Shane Meadows Short Film Bursary. Best International short went to Palestinian filmmaker Said Zagha for Coyotes, Best Animated short went to Róisín Kelly for Unanimated Strangers, Documentary went to David McDonagh for Queen Lizzy, Made in the Boyne Valley went to Conor McCormick for For the Cure and Best Irish Narrative Short went to Áine Ryan for Field Queens.

Curated by acclaimed filmmaker and Boyne Valley native Frank W. Kelly, and Director of Droichead Arts Centre Collette Farrell, the festival is funded by The Arts Council, Louth County Council Festival Fund, Love Drogheda BIDS, Meath County Council and The National Talent Academy for Animation. With sponsorship from Tom Clinch and Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, KMcN Ltd, Scotch Hall, Anglo Printers and Boann Distillery, with support from Scholars and The Marcy Hotel.