For the fourth year in a row St Malachy’s students shone at the 2014 CCEA Moving Image Arts Showcase that celebrates the very best film work submitted to the examinations board in the last year.

The annual event took place at the Queen’s Film Theatre on the 27th of November and was officially opened by past pupil, Leo McGuigan. Leo (who received the award for the top A Level student in 2013) spoke warmly about his time at the College, was generous with his encouragement to the young filmmakers assembled and shared reflections about his own early experiences into the world of film. Leo’s first feature length film, ‘Braxton’, is set to open in selected theatres in the UK and America next year.

Caolan Caddell and Matthew McGuigan picked up a total of four awards between them in their respective categories. A ‘totally unprecedented achievement’ noted Mr Gallagher (Head of Moving Image Arts).

Caolan’s film, “The Hour of Death”, (which recently secured first place at Cinemagic’s Young Filmmaker of 2014) picked up the prize for the top MIA film at AS Level in 2014. Matthew won awards for all three films he completed as part of his GCSE course. His western “Pyrite” won third place in Unit 1, whilst “High Tide” was placed third overall in Unit 2. However, Mr Gallagher explains that ‘it was his brooding and ultimately shocking horror “13:14”, which created the most impact on the packed cinema audience at the QFT and most deservedly secured first place in Unit 1’.

Ms Christine McFerran, CCEA’s MIA Education Manager said that ‘with the recent series of successes, there certainly was a real film school emerging at St Malachy’s College’.

Once again congratulations to Caolan, Matthew and all those in the MIA and Art Departments at the College.

Pictured: St Malachy’s students, Matthew McGuigan and Caolan Caddell show their awards for First Place Films at GCSE and AS in Moving Image Arts. Pictured centre is former St Malachy’s student and director of “Braxton” Leo McGuigan.

Click Here to view both winning videos now.