Irish language film An Cailín Ciúin won eight IFTA Film and Drama awards, that were broadcast tonight on Virgin Media One. An Cailín Ciúin is a CINE4 film, a scheme from TG4, Screen Ireland and BAI to produce high-quality films in Irish.  

The film won BEST FILM in the same category as Kenneth Brannagh's Belfast, Deadly Cuts, Swan Song, Who We Love and You are Not My Mother. Newcomer Catherine Clinch who plays Cáit in the film won the IFTA for LEAD ACTRESS FILM. Colm Bairéad was awarded best DIRECTOR FILM and was also awarded Screen Ireland RISING STAR award.  Kate McCullough won the IFTA for CINEMATOGRAPHY, John Murphy for BEST EDITING and Emma Lowney for BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN. The film also won the IFTA for ORIGINAL MUSIC for Stephen Rennicks. 

The film has received widespread acclaim from critics at home and abroad since its premiere at Berlinale last month. An Cailín Ciúin opened the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival was awarded BEST IRISH FILM last weekend by Dublin Film Critics Circle (DFCC) on the closing night of the festival and also received the Audience Award last Wednesday. It was was awarded the Grand Prix of the Generation Kplus International Jury for Best Film and received a special mention from the children's jury after its world premiere at Berlinale. Last weekend, it had its UK premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival. 

An Cailín Ciúin tells the story of Cáit played by newcomer Catherine Clinch, - a nine year-old girl from an overcrowded, dysfunctional family who is sent away to live with foster parents for the summer. Despite a warm reception from the woman, Eibhlín (Carrie Crowley), the man of the house, Seán (Andrew Bennett), keeps his distance from Cáit and she from him, but over time, their strained relationship begins to deepen. Slowly, in the care of the Kinsellas, Cáit blossoms and discovers a new way of living. But in this house where there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers one painful truth. 

Based on Foster by Claire Keegan, An Cailín Ciúin is a complex and delicate coming-of-age drama that explores questions of family, neglect and loss through the eyes of its young protagonist. 
An Cailín Ciúin is the feature film debut of writer/director, Colm Bairéad and producer, Cleona Ní Chrualaoi of Inscéal.  

Cleona Ní Chrualaoi, Producer, An Cailín Ciúin said, "We are absolutely thrilled with the eight IFTA awards that the An Cailín Ciúin team has received, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Lead Actress. It is beyond our wildest dreams! We're so happy for our lead actor, Catherine Clinch and our amazing crew who took home awards in the following categories; Cinematography, Editing, Production Design and Original Music. We are particularly proud that this is the first time an Irish-language film has won in the Best Film category. For our writer/director, Colm Bairéad to win both Best Director and the IFTA - Screen Ireland Rising Star Award is a phenomenal achievement. Together, we have all made history with this film! Thank you so much to the Irish Film and Television Academy for these huge honours."

Máire Ní Chonláin, Commissioning Editor of An Cailín Ciúin in TG4 said "TG4 is delighted with the success of An Cailín Ciúin to date, it is a special film, and we are very proud to have supported it in partnership with Screen Ireland and the BAI under the Cine4 scheme. Thanks to IFTA who recognised the high standard of talent in this magical film. These awards are well deserved by Inscéal, the cast and all the team who made the film."