Fionnula Flanagan to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 IFTA's
The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) is delighted to announce that Fionnula Flanagan will be honoured with the IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award at the 9th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards, in Dublin on Saturday 11th of February 2012.
Speaking about Fionnula Flanagan and her Lifetime Achievement Award, IFTA Chief Executive Áine Moriarty said:
“IFTA is proud to pay tribute to one of Ireland’s finest actresses, celebrating her work spanning almost 50 years and showcasing her great skill and craft in illuminating every character she has portrayed, captivating audiences around the world. Fionnula is a wonderful representative internationally, of Ireland’s film and television industry and continues to support home productions along with her international work; she has the greatest respect from her peers here at home."
Speaking about receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, Fionnula Flanagan said:
“I am bowled over to be chosen by the Irish Academy to receive this wonderful Award. It is a great honor to be invited to join the ranks of the gifted former recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award and, having checked, I am encouraged to find that their work lives continue, some even flourishing, so that if I learn my lines and hit my marks and don't bump into the furniture, my own career might just continue on also. All the more enriched by this beautiful recognition from my IFTA colleagues to whom I say a big thank you!"
Tributes from Fionnula's friends and colleagues have already begun pouring in
Fionnuala’s co- star in ‘Waking Ned Devine’ David Kelly who received the IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 said, who upon hearing that Fionnuala would be joining him as a recipient:
"Fionnula Flanagan? Wonderful! What a lady - a true star, I can't think of anyone who deserves it more.”
Speaking about Fionnula Flanagan receiving the IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award, Some Mother’s Son director Terry George described the actress as:
"Fabulous, fearless, ferocious in her commitment to acting and to everything she does. She brings life and soul to every project she's in and I look forward to the day when I can work with her again."
In 2011, Fionnula joined the cast of seasonal family film When Angels Sing, starring alongside country legends Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Lyle Lovett - and playing on-screen mother to US crooner Harry Connick Jr. Speaking about his When Angels Sing cast mate, Willie Nelson said:
"Congratulations Fionnula!! You are the most beautiful, kind, and amazingly talented actress on the planet, especially if you could make a bunch of old Texas coyotes like Kris and I look good!"
This weekend Fionnula finished production on her latest project Life’s a Breeze, a new Irish feature film from Kisses director Lance Daly, on locations across Ireland and Sweden. The film follows a family in search of a lost fortune and sees Fionnula take on the lead role as Nan, opposite a stellar cast of Irish actors including IFTA winners Eva Birthistle and Pat Shortt. With news breaking on set that Fionnula is this year’s recipient of the IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award, tributes have poured in.
Fionnula’s Life’s a Breeze co-star Pat Shortt said today of her Lifetime Achievement Award at IFTA 2012:
“Fionnula is an immensely talented actress, a stunningly beautiful woman and always great craic to work with on set. I am delighted that she is receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award and I’ve a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of her yet.”
Two-time IFTA winning actress Eva Birthistle sent this tribute to the actress:
"I just had the absolute pleasure of working with Fionnula, not only great fun on set, she was incredible to watch, a true pro. I felt privileged to observe her nuanced, powerful performance, a truly deserved Award!"
And Life’s a Breeze director Lance Daly said of his leading lady;
"I have had great joy in directing Fionnula in our new film Life's a Breeze, in which she delivers a performance which is both hilarious and heartbreaking, bringing many decades of experience and finely honed craft to our production. Fionnula has been a favourite of both cast and crew, on set and off, bringing relentless professionalism and good humour to every occasion. I am delighted to see her receive this award and would like to, in particular, thank her for her extremely generous and patient mentorship of our young leading lady Kelly Thornton, who makes her debut in the film. I am certain from seeing Fionnula's work over the past few months that anyone who thinks this Lifetime Achievement Award is a cap on her inspirational career should think again - the formidable Ms. Flanagan is just getting started."
Fionnula Flanagan will return to Dublin on February 11th to accept her Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish Academy and will be joined by family, colleagues and friends who will gather to pay tribute to her illustrious career and lifetime achievements in acting.
Previous recipients of the Irish Film & Television Academy’s Honourary Award include actors Maureen O’Hara, David Kelly, and Pierce Brosnan; Directors Neil Jordan and John Boorman and producer Morgan O’Sullivan.
Hosted by Simon Delaney, the 9th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards take place at the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) on Saturday 11th of February and will be broadcast on RTE One that evening at 9.30pm.