Cork Film Festival announces winners of Academy Awards qualifiers

THE documentary short Horse Riders has won the inaugural Academy Awards qualifier at the 64th Cork Film Festival. 

The film, directed by Anna Gawlita, won the Grand Prix Documentary Short Award now joins the longlist for the Oscars in Hollywood in 2021. 

This brings to three Academy Awards qualifying awards at the Cork Film Festival, the only film festival in Ireland to have this trio. 

The awards were presented ahead of the Closing Night Gala at the Everyman tonight. 

The Festival’s further Academy Awards qualifying award, the Grand Prix Irish Short Award, went to Tristan Heanue’s Ciúnas (Silence). 

Also qualifying for the Academy Awards in 2021, Stalker, directed by Christopher Andrews took home the Grand Prix International Short Award.

Cork Film Festival Director and CEO Fiona Clark said: “Cork Film Festival’s awards demonstrate our commitment to presenting and celebrating excellence in filmmaking, championing new and emerging voices, as well as established filmmakers. 

"The Festival embraces features and short film with equal respect, and as a growing destination for feature documentaries as well as narrative work, we pride ourselves as the platform to showcase the very best of Irish and international film in Ireland. 

"Our Awards Ceremony honours the diverse talent presented during the 64th Cork Film Festival and this year’s winning films exemplify the quality and diversity we have showcased."