Tipperary woman who won a prestigious award was the toast of Los Angeles

A Mullinahone woman was the toast of Los Angeles at the weekend when she scooped a prestigious international award.

Anne Williamson travelled to Los Angeles to attend the Indie X awards, where she won the Best First Time Female Film Director award for the film Bridget, which was shown at venues throughout Tipperary over the last year.

READ MORE: Tipperary family who fostered three siblings say their 'instant family' is their world

The award is a phenomenal achievement for Anne, her co-writer Brian Clancy, the mighty Fionn MacCumhaill players, and Diceman Productions, who brought this powerful, sad story of our local history to both national and international audiences alike.

The short film Bridget was nominated for three awards at the Indie Short Film Festival in Los Angeles: young actor Cathal Fahey, best first-time female director, Anne Williamson, and best ensemble cast, Vicky Maher, John Peter Morris, Eugene O’Meara and Cathal Fahey.

It was also nominated for the London Director’s short film festival later this year. Writer and director Anne Williamson said it was “a wonderful achievement for a low-budget film to receive so many nominations.”

The screenplay was co-written by friends Anne Williamson and Brian Clancy and filmed in July 2024. Long-time collaborators in their local drama group, The Fionn MacCumhaill Players, they cast the film from local actors and actresses, and the production was filmed by Dicemen Productions, based in Kilkenny.

Bridget was filmed on location on Kylenagranagh and The Thatch Cloneen. The sound recordist was Adrian Brett from Mullinahone. The beautiful song The Maid of Old Cloneen was written especially for the film by Chris Kavanagh, a well-known singer-songwriter.

READ NEXT: A magical night that will live long in the memory

The film was shown recently at the Abymill theatre in Fethard with a question-and-answer session with members of the cast, production team, and audience also taking place.