Irish Missionary Movie Wins US Award

An RTÉ television documentary on a pioneering missionary project has achieved a major US award.
Telling the story of two Irish women and an American medical missionary priest who have spent the last 15 years battling poverty, disease and hunger in Haiti, it won a top award at the 46th Chicago International Film Festival.
A Hundred Dead People in My Truck received a Gold Plaque for best Social/Political Documentary at the 2010 Hugo Television Awards in Chicago in mid April.
The documentary highlights the extraordinary and inspiring work of Westport-born child care worker Gena Heraty, Dubliner Dr Louise Ivers and the American Passionist priest and doctor, Fr Rick Frechette.
All three work with international medical and child care charities which have been faced with enormous challenges in the aftermath of the recent earthquakes.
A Hundred Dead People in My Truck was produced by Caroline Bleahen and presented by Jim Fahy. It was first broadcast on RTÉ in December 2008.
(BMcC)