Derry film ‘Tides’ scoops top award at prestigious Italian festival

A film, described as “dreamlike and visionary portrait” of the River Foyle, has picked up another award – this time at the Foggia Film Festival in Italy.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, President of the Jury, renowned film director, Michele Placido (Romanzo Criminale – Criminal Novel), praised “Tides” for its capability to narrate delicately the historical division in Northern Ireland, in an unusual but poetic and dreamlike way, through the eyes of a majestic witness: the river." The film’s Derry-based director, Italian-born Alessandro Negrini, who attended the awards ceremony in Santa Chiara Auditorium, has dedicated the award to the memory of photographer Mario Dondero.

“Tides” has been described as a “dreamlike and visionary portrait” of the River Foyle with the story narrated from the point of view of the river:, “ the river becomes the protagonist, telling us us its autobiography.”

The film recently won the Special Mention Award in Rome at On The Road Film Festival, Special Mention for Best Film at Milan International Film Festival, Best Cinematography Award at Sole Luna Film Festival in Palermo and Best Film Soundtrack at Treviso Doc Festival, receiving so far five awards and six nominations since its release last June.

Photo shows director Alessandro Negrini receiving the award from Head of the Jury, Michele Placido.