An East Belfast production company has co-produced the Best Film at the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards this year.
Cyprus Avenue Films worked in partnership with Dublin based company Southwind Blows and Harvest Films for its new acclaimed film That They May Face The Rising Sun, which tells the story of conflicts within a rural Irish community, based on the award-winning book by John McGahern.
On Saturday, April 20, the film took home the top prize at the IFTA Awards, while also being nominated in 10 other categories.
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Following the award win, Brendan Byrne of Cyprus Avenue Films said that it was a huge honour to be awarded the Best Film after going up against some fantastic productions and that it was a great night on Saturday for all of the cast and crew.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Brendan said: "The IFTA Awards are the biggest night in Irish film with some of the biggest names in the industry in attendance, so it was a huge honour for us to take home Best Film.
"There was already a lot of talk about That They May Face The Rising Sun and now there is an even bigger buzz as people recognise some of the great performances from the cast.
"Lalor Roddy, who was unlucky not to win Best Supporting Actor at the IFTAs for his role as Patrick, has given the stand-out performance of his film career.
"The film is officially released this week and will be showing in the Queen's Film Theatre from Thursday and I would encourage everyone to catch a showing of what is a very memorable story."
That They May Face The Rising Sun, which is directed by Pat Collins, tells the story of a young couple, Joe and Kate, played by Barry Ward and Anna Bederke, who had been living in London but left to live in Co Leitrim, where Joe is originally from.
The film follows a year in the life of Joe and Kate and the lives of the characters who populate their lakeside, rural home and the relationships that can develop among them.
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