UIP SPONSOR AWARDS FOR IRISH FILMMAKERS

UNITED International Pictures (UIP) have agreed to sponsor, for the second year, a number of prestigious awards for Irish filmmakers.
The UIP Director¹s Award is the largest award of its kind in Ireland with a prize of 20,000 Euros (IR£15,751). It is also the only one aimed exclusively at film directors.
Three awards for short films supported financially by the Irish Film Board.
The judges will choose the best short film produced in 2001: in English under the Short Cuts and Short Shorts schemes.. The prize is 4,500 Euros (IR£3,544); in Irish under the Oscailt scheme the prize is 4,500 Euros (IR£3,544) and the best animation film produced under the Frameworks and Irish Flash schemes. The prize is 4,500 Euros (IR£3,544).
Paul Oneile, Chairman and CEO of UIP, said: "UIP are delighted to be involved for the second year running in the Director¹s Award scheme in Ireland. Building on the success of last year, we hope that the 2001 Awards will continue to open the doors of opportunity for filmmakers working in Ireland and help the winning director develop their next project."
The awards will be announced in early December at the Irish Film Ball.
For more information contact Tania Banotti, Film Makers Ireland, Tel 6713525, or Email filmmi@eircom.net. (CD)