Kieron J. Walsh’s Skintown has won the £50,000 Sean Connery prize for feature filmmaking excellence at the 2026 Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF).
Skintown is the story of two best friends who plan to escape small town life in Northern Ireland during the 1994 ceasefire. Jack Rowan and Chris Walley star in the film, which is based on Ciaran McMenamin’s novel (who also wrote the screenplay). Visit Films are handling sales.
The film was one of 10 feature-length world premieres competing for the Sean Connery prize voted on by the audience.
Sinda Agha’s Grief Room won the £15,000 Thelma Schoonmaker prize for short filmmaking excellence. The film follows two estranged sisters who reunite at their mother’s deathbed.
The awards were presented at a ceremony at Cameo Cinema in Edinburgh by Jason Connery on behalf of The Connery Foundation. The festival ran August 13-19.
EIFF CEO and festival director Paul Ridd said: “The standard of films and filmmakers competing this year at EIFF has been exceedingly high. We are so proud of being able to launch this terrific work into the world, and we wish all our filmmakers the very best as they continue their journeys with their films and with their careers. It has been a pleasure to spend some time with these talented people this past week.
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