Grainne McAleer

Housewife of the Year

It was a different time! The female contestants on an Irish TV show with an iconic gentleman host look back on a beige-coloured chapter in TV history. More than entertaining kitsch, and with some delightfully quick-witted ladies in the winning role.

So This Is Christmas

Illuminating the challenges often unseen beyond the toys, trees and tinsel, people in a small Irish village reflect on their difficult relationships with Christmas. "So This Is Christmas" is a heartwarming and charming portrait from award-winning director Ken Wardrop, which perfectly exemplies his innate ability to tell the stories of ordinary people, depicting their thoughts, feelings and experiences in an empathetic way. Beautifully rendered in 35mm, the film is authentic and compassionate, and a valuable addition to the Irish documentary canon.

Rachael Blackmore: A Grand Year

The remarkable tale of Rachael Blackmore's rise to the pinnacle of horse racing and her historic year. Supported by a stellar cast of horse racing luminaries, A P McCoy, Ruby Walsh, and her family, Rachael tells her story in depth.