RTE's 'Random Passage' wins two Gemini awards

'Random Passage', the eight-part RTE/CBC television drama series which was screened on RTÉ One in May and June last year, has won two highly prestigious 'Gemini' Awards, for best actress and best cinematographer.
Transmitted live across Canada by CBC, Random Passage co-producers Les Kelly and Tristan Orpen Lynch were in the ballroom of the Crown Plaza Hotel to witness Clare-born Aoife McMahon pick up her Gemini for her leading role as Mary Bundle in the sweeping drama series set in early 1800's Ireland, England and Newfoundland.
Plucked straight from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Aoife auditioned for the role during her last year of study and two months after graduating was filming her first major television series, co-starring with Colm Meany, on location in Connemara, Wicklow and Newfoundland.
Speaking from Toronto, where he attended the ceremony last night with his Irish co-producer, Tristan Orpen Lynch, co-producer Les Kelly, of Fullworks Ltd, expressed his delight at their double triumph: "We're absolutely thrilled with the two Geminis - especially for Aoife. She gave a fantastic performance in Random Passage and she's going to be a big, big star."
The series was produced by Subotica Entertainment Ltd and Full Works (Ireland) and Cité-Amerique Cinéma Télévision and Passage Films (Canada) for RTÉ and CBC, supported by the Irish Film Board.
(GB)