Press

An Klondike rushes for gold on IFTA list

14.03.16

An Klondike rushes for gold on IFTA list

TG4’s reputation for quality has been further enhanced by the nine short-listed nominations for this year’s IFTA awards.   An Klondike has received no less than 9 IFTA nominations across the creative and craft categories and the channel also funded Tae leis an marbh/ Tea with the Dead, a nominee in the Animation category.

The IFTA Awards are the most prestigious awards in Irish film and television.  Selection juries comprising leading practitioners in the industry select the short- listed entries and the ultimate prizewinners are announced at a televised gala occasion (9th April).

An Klondike is both a 4 part drama series and a feature-length film, set in the harsh world of the gold mines of Alaska a century ago. It follows the turbulent lives of three Irish-born brothers as they journey seek their fortune in Dominion Creek, a town built on greed.   The drama was produced by Abú Media (previous IFTA winners) and shot on location in Ireland with the mining town constructed on the grounds of the Glengowla mines outside Oughterard in Connemara.   The project was funded by BAI, TG4 and by the Section 481 supports provided by the Irish Government.

The TV series has received IFTA nominations in TV for Best Drama, for Dara Devaney (Actor in a Lead Drama role),   Robert O’Mahoney (Actor in a Supporting Role), Dathaí Keane (Director, TV Drama), Marcus Fleming (Best TV Drama Script) as well as  TV Craft nominations for Triona Lillis, (Costume Design), for Make-up and Hair and for Pádraig O’Neil  (Production Design).   Actress Siobhán O’Kelly has been shortlisted for her performance in a supporting role in the Feature Film version of the work.

Tea with the Dead/Tae leis an marbh is an animation in which an embalmer gets to have a good conversation with his (dead) clients over a nice cup of tea.  It was co-funded by TG4 and the BAI and in the Irish language version, the main narrator is Frank Kelly, the revered actor who died very recently.

The full list of this year’s IFTA nominees is available on   http://ifta.ie/awards/nominees_2016/index.html

Director General Pól Ó Gallchóir, congratulated the nominees, saying “TG4 has received nominations and prizes at each IFTA since we came on air, and this impressive list for 2016 represents another marker of the excellence of our output and the regard in which it is held by our industry peers and the audience”.