Delight as Philomena wins BAFTA

Delight as Philomena wins BAFTA

By Ciara Colhoun

A FILM with strong local connections was named best adapted screenplay at the British Film industry's BAFTA awards ceremony on Sunday night.

Philomena, starring Dame Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, was partly filmed in The Dufferin Arms in Killyleagh with other scenes shot at Inch and Tollymore.

It tells the true story of an Irish woman's 50-year search for the son she was forced to give up for adoption after becoming pregnant out of wedlock in 1950s Ireland.

Philomena had been hotly tipped for the BAFTA and it has also been nominated for four Oscars. Supporters are hopeful that the BAFTA award may be a predictor of further success in the Hollywood awards ceremony next month.

The proprietor of The Dufferin Arms in Killyleagh, Mr. Austin McCullough, was delighted that his pub was chosen by location experts for an authentic pub scene in the movie that was filmed last November.

At the time he said he was responsible for keeping the fire lit while a short scene featuring an in-depth conversation between Dench and Coogan was shot and re-shot many times.

"They must have done the scene 30 times," he said.

"I could not tell the difference between the first time and the last time. It was a tedious process for them."

Mr. McCullough had plans to host an Oscar party in the Dufferin Arms to coincide with the American awards ceremony's screening on Sunday, March 2.

However, his plans have been shelved after he was forced to close the pub due to a licensing issue that has led to the closure of several pubs across the district.

Mr. McCullough said he was very disappointed that the tourism potential of the Oscars and Philomena's association with Killyleagh and the Dufferin Arms would be lost.

His licence is not expected to be renewed until the second week of March when the Dufferin Arms should reopen.