Audience Award:
1st Place: The Wednesdays - dir: Conor Ferguson
2nd Place: Frankie – dir: Darren Thorton
3rd Place: Farewell Packets of Ten – dir: Ken Wardrop
Honorable Mention: Nuts – dir: Irvine Welsh

Festival Award:
1st Place: Why the Irish Dance That Way – dir: Nick Kelly
2nd Place: Hesitation – dir: Virginia Gilbert
3rd Place: The Wednesdays – dir: Conor Ferguson
Honorable Mention: The Discreet Charms of the Refugee – dir: Colm Quinn

It was standing room only for the opening night U.S preimere of "Garage" (directed by Lenny Abrahamson), with special festival guests, James Kelly (filmmaker), David Gleeson (filmmaker), Nathalie Lichtenthaeler (producer) and the Hon. Timothy Reilly, Vice Consul General of Ireland along with numerous members of the American Conference for Irish Studies talking with guests about film making in Ireland versus the U.S. among other topics of to festival goers. The festival also welcomed Fiona Buggy and Mary Galvin who dropped in from Dublin for the event and some sightseeing in Chicago. The festival would like to thank “The Cloonans” for their wonderful music, David Jenson Catering for the exceptional food and Steuber Florists for the stunning florals, making the opening an affair to remember.

Festival highlights included “Poitin” (1977), Ireland’s first Irish language feature film; the stunning documentary about the life and work of Irish Press Group photojournalist Colman Doyle, “Photographing the Nation” (2006); a showcase of early films by now established Irish filmmakers including Kirsten Sheridan, Ken Wardrop, Ian Power, Stephen Burke, Damian O’Donnell, and Nick Kelly. Irish filmmaker and musician Nick Kelly performed Saturday night following screening of the award winning film "The Front Line" directed by David Gleeson. The topic was boxing following Tuesday’s U.S. Premier of “Saviours” a documentary about three amateur boxers in Dublin. On the panel discussing the movie for the packed audience were director Ross Whitaker, Chicago Tribune sports editor Dan McGrath, Marty McGarry of the Police Athletic Association and former world-class middleweight boxer John “Jack” Collins.

Many thanks to scholars from the American Conference for Irish Studies for facilitating programs and discussions throughout the six days.

Thank you again to our sponsors, audiences, staff and all the filmmakers who made this year so fantastic!

Jude Blackburn
Founder, Chicago Irish Film Festival

ACIS members with Consul General of Ireland, Timothy Riley and director James Kelly.	Festival Stalwarts: (from left) Father Marty Marren, Willie Winters, Marsh Rowell, Patrick Blackburn & Tom Donnellan	BAC Director with CIFF guests.	And now...all the way from Ireland: Fiona Buggy & Mary Galvin with directors James Kelly and David Gleeson.

Festival dignitaries: (from left) James Kelly, Timothy Riley, Nathalie Lichtenthaeler, David Gleeson, Ginger Rugai & Festival Director Judith Blackburn	Nick Kelly, director of "Why the Irish Dance that Way", performing his original music.	Opening Night: Sold Out Screening	BAC Director Mike Nix and Festival Director Judith Blackburn thanking Bushmills & Baileys.