Offaly filmmaker wins award in Mexico

A short film by Offaly's Paddy Slattery has scooped top prize at the Mexico International Film Festival. "The Moment", about a man's last ten minutes of life as he moves from the physical to spiritual world, took the Best Short Film gong along with the Golden Palm Award for excellence in film making. Written, directed and produced by Paddy, the film has picked up a raft of prizes since its inception. It won Best Short Film at the South African International Film Festival this year, and took second prize in the same category and an honourable mention at the Clones Film Festival last year. It was also nominated for Best Film Under 60 Minutes at the Swansea Bay Film Festival. The story was acted in the main by Eamon Rohan, who has starred in Father Ted, Ballykissangel and The Clinic alongside up and coming actress Claire McMahon. Well-known Paddy has been making films for the last two years, after falling in love with the art when restricted to bed for almost a year following a serious car accident. He said he learned his art both online and from watching special features on DVDs. Things have really taken off for him now, with RTE expressing an interest in buying the movie after it finishes the international film festival circuit.