Glasnevin Cemetery film wins major award in Boston

Dublin People 07 Mar 2015
BADLY MISSED: the late Shane MacThomáis

THE award-winning documenatry about Glasnevin Cemetery,

‘One Million Dubliners’, has won the prestigious Directors’ Choice Award at the 2015 Irish Film Festival in Boston.

The award will be presented to the film’s makers, Aoife Kelleher and Rachel Lysaght, on March 20 at its international premiere in the historic Somerville Theatre in Boston.

‘One Million Dubliners’ has already received national acclaim, winning both The Irish Times Best Irish Film 2014 and Best Feature Documentary Award at the Galway Film Fleadh last year.

Producer Rachel Lysaght noted the profound public engagement with the film in Ireland.

“We have been delighted by the massive public response to the film here,

? she said.

“People of all ages engaged with the story on a profound level, sharing personal stories online on Twitter.

“We are excited to bring the film to American audiences and are honoured to receive this award in advance of our international premiere at the iconic Somerville Theatre, Boston.

‘One Million Dubliners’ is a documentary like no other, touching on stories celebrating life, mourning death, examining belief and exploring love and loss. The film introduces the audience to a range of extraordinary characters, both living and dead. With a firm focus on life, it delves into the business of death.

Commenting on the positive effect the documentary has had on the cemetery, George McCullough, CEO of the Glasnevin Trust, said:

‘One Million Dubliners’ truly captured what is great about Glasnevin Cemetery and ignited a passion for history in Ireland.

“Since the film was released we have seen an overall 30 per cent rise in the number of people coming to the cemetery and availing of the tours and exhibitions we have on offer. Just last month we saw those figures jump by 83 per cent.

The film is the feature directorial debut of Aoife Kelleher, who stated:

“We’re very grateful to the staff of Glasnevin, without whom the film could not have been made, and to the family and friends of Shane MacThomáis.

“Making this film, with its remarkable subject and such a brilliant team, has been a privilege and it’s wonderful that audiences outside of Ireland will now have an opportunity to engage with the film.

Glasnevin Cemetery is Ireland’s national necropolis, home to over one million people who, by their final resting place, are honorary Dubliners.

The cemetery has a remarkable history that makes it one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions.

The late Shane MacThomáis, the historian who gave entertaining and insightful guided tours of the cemetery, features prominently in the film and was central to its success.

The screening of the documentary in Boston will coincide with the first anniversary of Shane’s death.

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