Five Minutes of Heaven scoops Sundance award

27 January 2009 -

Five Minutes of Heaven, one of the most significant films in Northern Ireland in 2008, has won two awards at the prestigious Sundance Festival in Utah.

The movie, which tells the story of Alistair Little, a UVF member who murdered Lurgan man Jim Griffin and subsequently served a 13-year prison sentence.

Griffin's younger brother Joe witnesses the killing and the production focuses on how his family was left in tatters following the incident.

It stars James Nesbitt and Liam Neeson, who featured in the same film together from the first time.

Director Oliver Hirschbiegel was honoured for his efforts by winning the festival's World Cinema award, while screenwriter Guy Hibbert won the runner-up prize.

Nesbitt, who plays Joe Griffin, told the BBC the chance to feature in the film was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"A script like this comes along in an actor's life rarely. To work with the wonderful Oliver Hirschbiegel and to shoot back home in Northern Ireland was a double bonus," he said.

Meanwhile, Liam Neeson recently told the Press Association he would like to see more films produced in Northern Ireland, describing the country as "a very exciting place to be".