Since the festival began in 2011, we have commissioned a different trophy design for each year. Why? Partly because we like variety, but we also like to give different artists or students an opportunity to create something beautiful.
For the last six years, we have worked with Rachel Quinn who creates our trophies. Our inspiration was Grace O’Malley, the Pirate Queen, whose exploits at sea combined with her ability rule alongside her fellow chiefs of Ireland and Queen Elizabeth of England, made her a legend! We feel that Grace would approve of the beautiful figurines created by Rachel. To view Rachel’s other work, click here.
From 2011 – 2013, the awards trophies were influenced by Blackrock, the village where the shortlisted films were originally screened. In 2011, a local ceramicist Annika Berglund created trophies that were inspired by Dolmen landmarks.
From 2012 – 2013, undergraduate students from the B.A. in Modelmaking, Design and Digital Effects at IADT (Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology) were given the opportunity to ‘pitch’ for the task of designing and creating the trophies. These students took their inspiration from the local landmarks and surroundings. For the 2012 festival, David Lynham created a replica of the Victorian bandstand located in Blackrock Park. The 2013 trophy created by Elin Adler was inspired by a stone cross that can be found on the Main Street in Blackrock.
In 2014 Michael Flynn, a 3rd year student created a trophy that was inspired by the sea – could the film ‘Song of the Sea’ by Cartoon Saloon have had an influence? In 2015 Mateus Wojtas, a third year student, took his inspiration from a ‘Tree of Life’ and his trophies for DAFF 2015, were stunning – Matt showed himself to be a gifted designer and modelmaker. Impressed by his commitment and talent, the festival asked him to create a very special trophy design that would reflect the 1916 celebrations. His piece was inspired by a ceasefire that was allowed during the 1916 rising. Every day, both sides of the conflict allowed a temporary ceasefire, so the keeper of St. Stephen’s Green could enter the park to feed the ducks. In 2016 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Dun Laoghaire Harbour, the trophy created by Matt encapsulated ‘Wild Geese’ which represented beauty in wildness and was a poignant reminder that many emigrants from Ireland left in search of a better life.
