The 6^th Jameson Dublin International Film Festival closed on Sunday 24th with the Premiere of Irish film Eden, attended by writer Eugene O’Brien, director Declan Recks, and cast members Aidan Kelly and Eileen Walsh. The event marked the end of an action-packed festival, with guests over the 10 days including Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Stuart Townsend, Charlize Theron, Daniel Day Lewis, Marianne Faithfull, U2, Liam O’Maoinlai, Jonas Mekas, Mike Leigh and John Sayles amongst many others.

The festival, first for new Festival Director Grainne Humphreys, presented over 100 features from 33 countries, and attracted the huge audiences for its events. Commenting on her first year at the helm of the festival, Grainne Humphreys said:
“It has been extremely encouraging to see such an enthusiastic response to the Festival programme from the general public, the media and the industry, both in Ireland and abroad. A diverse programme of films from around the world, increased attendance figures, the success of our industry and educational events, as well as a wide range of inspirational filmmakers, has made this a hugely enjoyable and successful Festival”

As well as film screenings the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival started a number of new initiatives, such as library talks, a film critics forum and a series of outdoor screenings of films that were shot in Dublin, in the location where they were filmed. The festival also launched the Walt Disney Studios, Motion Pictures (Ireland) Screenwriting Award, the Irish Talent on Screen Showcase and presented Brendan Gleeson, Daniel Day Lewis and cinema owner Leo Ward with a Volta, the festival career achievement award.

The Dublin International Film Festival in association with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (Ireland) have come together to recognise the centrality of the writer to the filmmaking process in a brand new screenwriting award, Write Here, Write Now.

Irish surf documentary Wave Riders won the hotly contested Audience Award as part of the 2008 Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, inching out the early frontrunner Dambé – The Mali Project which finished second. Commenting on the award, Joanne O’Hagan, CEO of the JDIFF said, “Wave Riders is such a beautifully made film and I’m delighted that it has won this generous accolade from our audience! We would also like to thank Cine Electric Ltd. for its generous sponsorship for this exciting award”.

The award shows the strength of Irish documentary making in Ireland, with these two events selling early and proving must-see events. “I’m overwhelmed and delighted! As a totally indigenous project funded on the island of Ireland, it is great to get recognition on home turf in the biggest film festival in Ireland. With so many big films and big filmmakers it is a real honour to win this award for everyone involved in the film.”

Closely following in third place was Lars and the Real Girl, with The Orphanage in fourth and In Bruges and There Will Be Blood in joint fifth.