A teenage movie maker from County Galway has triumphed in a prestigious industry competition at the Fastnet Film Festival, where Hollywood meets West Cork.
Adam Flannelly, from Athenry, won the €1,000 Frampton Jeffery memorial prize at the festival last month, in the Best Young Filmmaker category (under 19 ).
His winning entry, Transit, is his fifth film. It features the Saw Doctors’ number 'Will It Ever Stop Raining' in a humorous, 12-minute short. Back from a trip abroad, the film’s protagonist, Ciarán, finds himself battling a growing unease, one that leads him down a path of torment, faded memories and an unsettling truth he is unable to recall.
The comedic short is largely shot around Galway, is available to view on the RTÉ Player by searching 'Fresh Screens 2026'.
“Fastnet Film Festival was an incredible weekend gaining knowledge from directors such as John Crowley and Lenny Abrahamson, and actors such as Robert Sheehan and Aidan Gillen,” says Flannelly.
“I began filmmaking in 2022, after years and years of stage acting with groups like Druid, and from then onwards I have not stopped. I have written, directed, produced, edited, and shot six films so far.”
Flannelly won the RTÉ Short Award in 2025 as part of the Fresh International Film Festival with the film 'LIFE'. He has had his productions screened at various festivals in Ireland, Britain, and in the United States. His other films are titled Distorted Minds, Chores, ME, and Departure, available to view on Youtube channel 'Adam F Productions'.
His sixth film, Departure will be released later this year.
