The win is a historic first for an Irish-language film.
An Irish-language movie has made history by winning an award at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival.
An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl) had its world premiere at the festival last week as part of its Generation Kplus sidebar programme for movies about children.
Already the first Irish-language feature film to screen at the event, the movie has now made more history by winning the Grand Prix Award for Best Film in the sidebar.
Based on a novella by Claire Keegan, An Cailín Ciúin is set in 1981 and tells the story of Cáit (Catherine Clinch), a nine-year-old girl who is sent away to live with foster parents for the summer she has never met.
“Slowly, in the care of this couple, Cáit blossoms and discovers a new way of living, but in this house where affection grows and there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers one,” the plot synopsis for the drama reads.
An Cailín Ciúin was funded by Screen Ireland, TG4 and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland as part of the Cine4 scheme.
In a statement following the win, its writer-director Colm Bairéad said:
“It was truly an honour to have our World Premiere at the Berlinale next to so many wonderful films in the Generation Kplus programme this year.
“For An Cailín Ciúin to have won the Grand Prix is an overwhelming vindication of TG4, Screen Ireland and the BAI in their vision for indigenous, Irish-language cinema and its potential to reach far beyond our shores.
“It’s also a beautiful tribute to the extraordinary work of our cast and crew, most especially the wonderful Catherine Clinch, who was the light that guided us through the making of this film.”
An Cailín Ciúin will open the Dublin International Film Festival on 23 February before being released in cinemas later this year.
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