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Tuesday January 29, 2013

Two Irish Movies Win Awards At Sundance

K2 - one of the most dangerous mountains in the world is the scene for 'The Summit'

Two Irish movies have won top awards at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

"The Summit", a film about a climbing tragedy on K2 mountain in which 11 moutaineers, including Limerick man Ger McDonnell, died, won the Editing Award: World Cinema Documentary.

And a short stop motion movie called "Irish Folk Furniture" picked up the prize for Best Animation.

The Summit was edited by Ben Stark, and made by Image Now Films and Pat Falvey productions.

It details the deadliest day in modern mountain climbing history.

Twenty-four climbers from several international expeditions originally on High Camp of K2, the last stop before the summit of the most dangerous mountain on earth, but within 48 hours later, 11 had been killed or had vanished, making it the worst K2 climbing disaster in history.

The movie includes never before seen footage of the climbs.

It also features interviews with Sherpa Pemba Gyalje, who was awarded the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year for his heroic deeds on K2; Norit team leader Wilco van Rooijen, who survived three days in the death zone; and Marco Confortola, the last man to speak to Ger McDonnell.

"This is a great honour for Ben and I would like to thank the jury and the organisers of the Sundance Film Festival for this accolade," said producer and director Nick Ryan of Image Now Films following the presentation of the award.

Executive producer Darrell Kavanagh said: "At the heart of this film is a human tragedy and I would particularly like to pay tribute to Ger McDonnell and the other climbers who lost their lives on K2."

The Summit was snapped up last weeks by Sundance Selects, a new theatrical and video-on-demand film label that provides a national platform in the US for independent films and documentaries.

Sundance Selects, a subsidiary of IFC which is owned by American media giant AMC, will be available in approximately 40 million homes throughout the US.

Irish Folk Furniture is an unusual and charming short movie, that combines live action and stop motion footage.

The Sundance program describes it as follows: "In Ireland, old hand-painted furniture is often associated with hard times, with poverty, and with a time many would rather forget.

"In this animated documentary, 16 pieces of traditional folk furniture are repaired and returned home."

Director Tony Donoghue said he was shocked that his quirky eight minute movie had won the prize.

"I wanted people to look at it (folk furniture) in a new way so had to find a new way to do it," he said.

The jury said they found the film "full of life and told with simplicity."

James Hickey, chief executive of the Irish Film Board, said: "Tony is a very talented filmmaker and we are delighted to see him receive the international recognition he deserves for his short film. We look forward to working with him in the future as he develops his career further."

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