Kerry Film Festival seeks to bring the film-making community together for workshops and industry days.
Many films seen at Kerry Film Festival went on to garner international acclaim, including 2010 Academy Award short-listed Granny O’ Grimm's Sleeping Beauty and The Door; 2012 Oscar® short-listed Head Over Heels; 2014 Oscar® winner Mr. Hublot; 2016 Oscar® winner Stutterer and 2019 Oscar® nominees Mother and Detainment.
The Maureen O' Hara Award acknowledges women that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their respective fields in film.
She was presented with a specially commissioned piece of pottery of joined masks representing tragedy and comedy, made by the master potter Louis Mulcahy.
Maureen O'Hara wanted to be at the ceremony but was not well enough to attend, chairman of the Kerry Film Festival John Kennedy said.
She had been closely involved and sent a message to the ceremony: "Brenda has displayed courage and determination throughout her career and her Oscar Winning role as Mrs Brown in My Left Footis one of the great highlights in Irish acting.
The packed theatre rose to its feet shortly after 2pm as Binoche linked arms with the movie legend, Maureen O'Hara, on stage.
Tearfully accepting her award Binoche, whose films in the English speaking world also include Chocolat, opposite Johnny Depp, thanked "Maureen for all the stories you have given us" and encouraged all the directors present to follow their own path and resist pressure to conform.