The black-and-white documentary musical that journeys along Dublin’s North Circular Road won the American Cinematographer Award for Cinematography at the Salem Film Festival.

North Circular previously won a Grand Prix at the FIPADOC festival earlier this year at the Biarritz festival, as well other awards from Dublin IFF, Louth IFF and IndieCork.

The American Cinematographer Award for Cinematography was presented by festival programmer Jeff Schmidt to the film’s writer and director, Luke McManus after the screening of the film in the famous Cabot Cinema in Beverly, Massachusetts during the festival.

North Circular’s director Luke McManus added: “Salem Film Fest has a warmth and a welcoming quality that is both rare and precious and we were really delighted to bring North Circular to the knowledgeable and enthusiastic cinema fans of Salem. This award has huge meaning for us – as a director I am delighted to see the work of the DOPs, camera team and colour grader acknowledged, and I know they are all thrilled with the accolade from American Cinematographer, which has always been the bible for cinematographers around the world. Thank you!”

The film, which is written and directed by Luke McManus, edited by John Murphy (The Quiet Girl/An Cailín Ciúin) and produced by McManus and Elaine Gallagher, also features appearances from some of the leading artists of the Irish folk and trad scene including John Francis Flynn, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Lisa O’Neill and Ian Lynch (Lankum) as well as a special appearance by singer Gemma Dunleavy (Up De Flats).

McManus’s debut feature documentary as a director was entirely funded by The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon under their ReelArt funding scheme. The film made its World Premiere at Dublin IFF 2022 and is still screening in certain Irish cinemas.

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