John Connors and Cardboard Gangsters Take Three Awards at Manchester Film Festival

There was more good news for Irish cinema, with the announcement today that Cardboard Gangsters, the new Dublin crime movie, which stars Love/Hate star John Connors (pictured here with Finbar Furey) and Kierston Wareing – best known for his role in EastEnders – has snaffled three awards at the Manchester International Film Festival.

Better still, one of the awards is for the coveted title of Best Film.

Cardboard Gangsters is directed by Mark O’Connor, whose previous credits include King of The Travellers (2012), Stalker (2012) and Between The Canals (2011).

There was more recognition for Connors – recently featured in Hot Press – who claimed the Best Actor award. And the movie was also named Film of the Festival. Meanwhile, there were special jury mentions for Original Screenplay (co-written by John Connors), Cinematography and Directing.

The film tells the story of a group of wannabe "cardboard gangsters”, as they attempt to gain control of the drug trade in Darndale in Dublin, lusting after the gangster lifestyle and its assumed payload of money, power and sex.

John Connors plays Jay Connolly, a part-time DJ and low-level drug dealer. When his social welfare payments are cut off, he decides that the gang he leads have to up their game. Mayhem inevitably follows, in what is sure to be a big box office success here in Ireland.

Cardboard Gangsters will be released in Irish cinemas on May 5.