Student film about Pamela's court battle scoops award
Monday December 01 2008
TWO Irish students who filmed a documentary on the Nigerian woman at the centre of a controversial deportation order were celebrating on the double over the weekend after they graduated -- and scooped a major award for the film.
Pamela Izevbekhai, who fled to Ireland 2005 and is facing possible deportation to Nigeria where she claims her young daughters risk being subjected to genital mutilation, was the subject of a documentary 'FGM -- No Way Home' by Richard Walsh, from Ballybunion, Co Kerry, and Julian Ulrichs, from Galway city.
The filmmakers, who graduated with an MA in production and direction from the Houston School of Film and Digital Media at NUIG on Friday, won an award at the Media and Multicultural Awards (MAMAs) on Thursday.
Richard and Julian travelled to Nigeria to film footage on the cultural and legal aspects surrounding the issue of female genital mutilation.
James Finlan, coordinator of the MA in production and direction, said: "This was the first year we had students filming outside of Ireland. Winning the award vindicates the collaboration between the production and public advocacy students, a unique aspect of these courses."
