Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story which explores Enda O’Brien’s life as a literary sensation and social radical was the big winner of the Best New Irish Feature Award at the Cork International Film Festival! This sparkling documentary, directed by Sinéad O’Shea, captured the hearts of the jury, a trio of film experts made up of Edinburgh International Film Festival’s Emma Boa, Irish Film & Television Academy’s Áine Moriarty, and The Young Offenders actress Hilary Rose, who raved about the film’s “masterful storytelling” and “heartfelt yet humorous” exploration of Edna O’Brien’s incredible life. They were blown away by how the film celebrates the wit, resilience, and complexity of this literary legend.
Speaking of their selection, the Jury said “As jury members for this year’s Best New Irish Feature category, it has been an honour to witness the incredible depth and diversity of talent emerging from Ireland. After much deliberation, we unanimously selected Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story as this year’s winner. This film stands out for its masterful storytelling, which is both sensitive and evocative, offering a heartfelt yet humorous exploration of Edna O’Brien’s remarkable life and literary legacy. Through its craftsmanship and nuanced perspective, the film celebrates the resilience, complexity, and wit of one of Ireland’s most beloved authors. We extend our congratulations to the filmmakers and all involved for creating such a profound and inspiring work.”
Fiona Clark, the Festival Director, added to the excitement, saying, “The talent and creativity of Irish filmmakers is truly inspiring. Each film in the competition was a gem in its own right, and we’re thrilled to showcase these amazing stories on the big screen.”
Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story explores O’Brien’s life as a literary sensation and social radical. Sinéad O’Shea’s thoughtful documentary weaves effectively O’Brien’s professional and personal triumphs and difficulties, in a portrait of an iconoclast who stood in resistance to the Irish conservative doctrine of the mid-twentieth century. Featuring an insightful and affecting interview with Edna from just before her passing, the film richly honours her legacy, as well as her profound passion and dedication to art.
There were six films eligible for Best New Irish Feature at CIFF 2024: Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story, Bring Them Down, Chasing the Light, The Damned, Fréwaka and September Says. Thordur Palsson’s The Damned received a special mention from the Jury.