TWINBROOK Oscar-winner  Terry George made a return visit to his native West Belfast this week after picking up the coveted award for his short film ‘The Shore’. Terry and daughter Oorlagh, who produced the film, braved the heights of Divis Tower with the Andersonstown News to give their Oscar statuettes a panoramic view of the place where it all began.

Speaking a week after scooping the top prize in the Best Live Action Short Film category of the 84th Annual Academy Awards, Terry said there was still “an unreality about it”.

“It’s great to come back here as people are much more grounded, so it doesn’t take long to get back to something resembling normality,” he said.

“Everywhere you go people tell you how proud they are and that’s kind of humbling actually, particularly this part of the trip to West Belfast.”

The Shore was shot in Killough, County Down, where most of the George family now live.

“Most of my extended family featured in the film and others like Michael [a community worker for the Colin Neighbourhood Partnership] came down from Belfast,” said Terry.

“The cemetery in the film is the one where my mum and dad are both buried, which was a deliberate move on my part.”

Oorlagh George said she was glad to bring the Oscar back home to her family.

“It’s been really lovely to share this with everyone and make the film here. The reception has been unbelievable since we got back,” she said.

“When we went up to collect the Oscar you are just so worried about falling on the way to that stage – that bit was very nerve-racking. But we were relaxed as we made an agreement just to enjoy being nominated and so it was a nice surprise to win, much better than we anticipated winning the award would be.”

Happy

Divis Tower resident Frank Hutchinson had the honour of hosting the Oscar-winners in his home.

“This is absolutely an honour for me,” said Frank, who has been living in the Tower since 2001.

“I’m a member of staff here too, so I was more than happy for them to come up. To have an Oscar-winning director in your home checking out the view is something else.  I’m all made-up!”

Terry returns to America on Saturday, but not before meeting with First and deputy First Ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness today (Thursday) followed by engagement with Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Dublin on Friday.

Comedy

“I’ve got to go back to New York and get back to work, so at some point reality has to set in,” said Terry.

“My next project is a feature called ‘Whole Lotta Soul’, a black comedy shot in Belfast and Downpatrick featuring Colm Meaney, Brendan Fraser, Martin McCann and Frankie McCafferty. That will be coming out at the Belfast Film Festival in six weeks time. I’m very proud of it and I think it will get a great reception here.”