Documentary by Cork teen up for national award 

A DOCUMENTARY by a Macroom schoolgirl is in the running for an award at an event celebrating the creativity of Ireland’s young film-makers.

Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of The Year Awards 2024 are being shown on RTÉ2 on Monday at 7pm.

Among the nominees is Nora Twomey, a Leaving Cert student at St Mary’s Secondary School in Macroom, for her 14-minute short film, called Devil May Care.

The factual documentary is about Nora’s great-grandmother and her covert activities for the Anti-Treaty side during the Civil War.  Her secret political life came to light from her military pension application, and the film has been compared to a version of the TV show Who Do You Think You Are.

Nora’s work won Best Documentary at the First Cut Youth Film Festival in Youghal last month, and she is now in contention for a Young Filmmaker of The Year Awards, hosted by actor and comedian Faye Shortt.

Now in its 28th year, the awards, part of the esteemed Fresh International Film Festival, continue to be a beacon for aspiring filmmakers worldwide. Notable alumni include Oscar-nominated director Vincent Lambe, acclaimed Irish filmmaker Dónal Foreman, and comedian and TV personality Justine Stafford.

With the spotlight firmly on young cinematic talent, this year’s event, broadcast from the Troy Studios in Limerick, promises to be a thrilling blend of creativity, inspiration, and a glimpse into the future of filmmaking.

Jayne Foley, Artistic Director of Fresh Film, said: “We are thrilled for this year’s awards with the largest number of entries ever – an exciting indicator of Ireland’s booming film industry. This marks just the start of an exciting journey for these young filmmakers, destined for a future filled with numerous accolades.”