A LOCAL filmmaker is celebrating after he picked up the prestigious Audience Award for Best Short Film at the recent Clones Film Festival.
Having previously drawn on his experience growing up in rural Fermanagh in the well-received short ‘The Butter Border’, ‘Day in the Sun’ is Ciaran Crudden’s third film.
It is a touching tale of the life-long friendship between Peter and Brian.
Scores of local people helped in the making of the film, lending their time as extras as Fermanagh fans at St Tiernach’s Park in Clones earlier this year.
“When lifelong GAA supporter Brian, who is battling advancing Dementia, begins to proclaim that Fermanagh are in the Ulster Final versus Armagh, Peter realises that his friend is living in 1982, and despite his best efforts, can’t be convinced otherwise,” Mr Crudden told the Herald.
“Heartbroken, Peter hatches a plan, rallying the local community to recreate the match day atmosphere of an Ulster Final – so that his old friend can experience it one last time.”
Mr Crudden said the film was loosely inspired by his own grandfather, “who despite battling Alzeimher’s disease in his later years, never lost his humour or that glint in his eye.” He added, as a Fermanagh fan, he also drew on his own memories of Clones, “good and bad.”
“I wanted to write a story that embodied the power of sport, hope and human kindness,” he said.
After a busy-month in post-production, getting the film ready for the festival, Day in the Sun had its world premier at Clones Film Festival on October 27th.
Watch this space for news on any upcoming local screenings.
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