A short film made by two Co Down filmmakers is set to make its Irish premiere next month at the at the Oscar & BAFTA-qualifying Foyle Film Festival – one of only three Academy Award accredited festivals on the island of Ireland.
Dear Imelda, which features Father Ted actor Rose Henderson in the title role, has already toured the US at a number of film festivals and been nominated for two awards.
The short film premiered at the Chicago Irish Film Festival earlier this year, where it was nominated for an award, and featured at the Craic Fest in New York a few days later.
The film was also screened at the Toronto Irish Film Festival, where it was up for the prestigious Best Short award.
The 17-minute-long film – which is made by cousins Aron Holden and Declan Curran – follows the story of grandson Ciaran (Curran) and grandmother Imelda (Henderson) as they navigate trying to live together for the first time.
Desperate to cling to her independence, Imelda disputes the need to have Ciaran dropped into her life, especially when he presumptively installs something which he requires to work from home — the internet.
In an attempt to mediate the ongoing friction, Ciaran demonstrates the benefits technology could contribute to his nanny’s off-the-grid lifestyle and, in doing so, discovers that he has the ability to play a vital role in rekindling a friendship on hiatus for some 60 years.
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Declan Curran, from Atticall in the Mournes, had written, directed and starred in his first ever film back in 2021, which won a number of awards nationally and internationally and was also screened at Cannes.
Shine tells the story of a young man (Curran) who struggles to express his dreams and ambitions to his family and friends.
Declan, whose ‘day job’ is working as a property manager, is well versed in the performing arts circles and had been treading the boards on stage for the two years prior to venturing into screenwriting and finding “his true calling”.
Cousin Aron Holden, director of Dear Imelda, previously worked on Shine with Declan, but this is their first joint creation.
Aron’s previous camera credits include the likes of Dungeons and Dragons and Blue Lights.
The Co Down men grew up together in the Mourne area and so said it was “only natural” that their films are shot there.
Dear Imelda was filmed in Kilcoo over three consecutive days last September.
The film’s soundtrack has been composed by traditional Irish musician and instrumentalist Tara Howley, from Co Clare.
Tara previously worked for seven years on the Grammy Award-winning Riverdance and has toured Europe, Asia, the US and Canada with the show.
The Foyle Film Festival runs from 22 November to 1 December.
To keep up to date with the latest news on Dear Imelda, follow @dearimeldafilm on Instagram.