ATU Donegal student’s documentary film soars with nine international award wins
The stunning short film “Echoes of an Irish Lifetime (2025)” by Frances Maguire has been selected to screen at six international film festivals around the world
A short documentary film by an ATU Donegal student has won nine international awards.
The stunning short film “Echoes of an Irish Lifetime (2025)” by Frances Maguire has also been selected to screen at six international film festivals around the world, from Chile and Australia to the US and France this summer.
The short documentary focuses on the reminiscences of 94-year-old Owney McGoldrick about his life farming in the northwest of Ireland. Music is by Purple Planet.
ATU student Frances Maguire from Pettigo, Donegal, whose final year film dissertation has scooped multiple international awards and been selected for a range of international film festival screenings
The awards she has won so far, with more pending, are: Honorable Mention - East Village New York Film Festival in May; Best Short Documentary - New York Movie Awards in June; Best First Time Director - Florence Film Awards, Italy in June; Silver Award - Paris Film Awards in June; Silver Award - London Movie Awards in June; Best Documentary Script - Travancore International Film Festival, India in June; Best Narrative Documentary Film - Travancore International Film Festival, India in June; Best Debut Documentary Film - Travancore International Film Festival, India in June and First Time Director - Short Film Festival Los Angeles.
The film has been selected for screening at South Film and Arts Academy Festival, Chile;
Colortape International Film Festival, Brisbane, Australia; International Gold awards, New York; Red Movie Awards, France; Los Angeles Movie and Music Video Awards and New York Lift-Off Film Festival.
“My passion for creative storytelling led me to write this short film,” said Frances. “The experience has deepened my love for filmmaking and reinforced my commitment to a future in the industry.
“My goal is to further hone my craft and expand my knowledge by engaging directly with those who have established careers in this field. I’m eager to contribute creatively while gaining valuable insights that will help me grow as a filmmaker. I look forward to building relationships within the industry and am enthusiastic about the possibility of working alongside talented individuals who share my passion for storytelling and cinematic expression.”
Lecturer Matt McDonogh said: “Frances is a delight to work with as a student. Inquisitive and hard-working, she is enthusiastic in all aspects of film-making and took every opportunity that came her way, getting work placements on a number of productions which shot in Donegal. I and my colleagues are delighted that her graduate film is getting the recognition that it and she deserve”.