The Irish television drama series, Amongst Women, has been named best television programme in the world by Canada's Banff Television. The drama also took a second major award, for best mini-series, at the awards ceremony on Monday night.
Based on the novel by John McGahern, the series featured Tony Doyle, Susan Lynch, Anne-Marie Duff and Geraldine O'Rawe, and was produced by the Dublin-based company, Parallel Films, for BBC Northern Ireland in association with RTE and the Irish Film Board.
Mr Alan Moloney of Parallel Films told The Irish Times yesterday. "It is wonderful to receive two major awards at a festival of such importance, and it's a great credit to all involved with the production."
Mr Kevin Jackson, assistant head of drama at BBC Northern Ireland, who was at Banff, commented: "To receive the premier award at such a prestigious festival was something special." In the short drama category at Banff, the Irish entry, The Breakfast, directed by Peter Sheridan and produced by Pat Moylan, received a Rookie award. The film is showing on Network 2 tonight at 10.15.