An Cailín Ciúin and Róise & Frank have been awarded today by Dublin Film Critics Circle (DFCC) Awards at the closing night of Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival.

Both films are from the TG4, Screen Ireland and BAI scheme CINE4. Colm Bairéad's An Cailín Ciúin has been awarded Best Irish Film while and grief-focused flick Róise & Frank has been given the honour of Best Ensemble.

An Cailín Ciúin tells the story of Cáit - played by newcomer Catherine Clinch - a nine year-old girl from an overcrowded, dysfunctional family who is sent away to live with foster parents for the summer. Despite a warm reception from the woman, Eibhlín (Carrie Crowley), the man of the house, Seán (Andrew Bennett), keeps his distance from Cáit and she from him. Over time, their strained relationship begins to deepen. Slowly, in the care of the Kinsellas, Cáit blossoms and discovers a new way of living. But in this house where there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers one painful truth.

Based on Foster by Claire Keegan, An Cailín Ciúin is a complex and delicate coming-of-age drama that explores questions of family, neglect and loss through the eyes of its young protagonist.

The film debuted at the Berlinale Film Festival last month, marking the first Irish Language film to feature. It was awarded the Grand Prix of the Generation Kplus International Jury for Best Film and also received a special mention from the children's jury after its world premiere at the festival.

The film opened the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival and was also shown at the Glasgow Film Festival this weekend, gaining widespread acclaim from critics at home and abroad.

An Cailín Ciúin is the feature film debut of writer/director, Colm Bairéad and producer, Cleona Ní Chrualaoi of Inscéal. Bairéad was awarded the Aer Lingus Discovery Award at DIFF earlier this week.

"It is a huge honour to receive the award for Best Irish Film," Cleona Ní Chrualaoi, producer of An Cailín Ciúin said today.

"We're very humbled to have been chosen from a host of fantastic Irish films. This award is a ringing endorsement of the Cine4 scheme, under which An Cailín Ciúin was made, and of the vision of TG4, Screen Ireland and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to develop and fund feature films in the Irish language. Go raibh míle maith agaibh to these funders, to our extraordinary cast and crew, to the Dublin Film Critics Circle and to Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival for believing in our film and bringing it to an Irish audience for the first time."

Elsewhere, charming Best Ensemble winner Róise & Frank portrays Róise (Bríd Ní Neachtain) who lost the love of her life husband Frank two years previously. She is now isolated in grief and cut off from family and community, until a mysterious dog arrives who seems intent on connecting with her.

The dog loves sport and steaks, has a favourite armchair in her house, and an aversion to her neighbour Donncha. Róise soon realises that the dog is her beloved husband Frank reincarnated. Her son (Cillian Ó Gairbhí) meanwhile thinks she has lost her mind but the local community embrace the idea of Frank's return. Róise is happy once more but is there a real future for her with a dog husband?

Róise & Frank was directed by Rachael Moriarty and Peter Murphy and produced by Cúán Mac Conghail of Macalla Teo. Macalla also produced the award-winning and acclaimed Irish language feature film Arracht.

"I am delighted that Róise & Frank was well received at DIFF!" Rachael Moriarty stated, joyfully.

"It was brought to the big screen by a team of excellent actors who undoubtedly deserved recognition and we are delighted to receive the Best Ensemble Award. Róise & Frank is a fascinating and humorous story. The film is currently being screened at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, in California and the audience here is really enjoying it too. For many here this is the first time they have heard Irish and seen hurling!"

Alan Esslemont, Director General of TG4 congratulated the production teams of both films.

"TG4 congratulates Inscéal and Macalla for the awards for An Cailín Ciúin and Róise & Frank at the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival," Esslemont said.

"Bringing Irish language content to all platforms and screens is central to TG4’s strategy for our audiences. The success of the CINE4 scheme so far has seen world-class Irish language films in cinemas and at film festivals around the world. These awards at DIFF give recognition to the quality of acting and showcase the talent and skills of the Irish production teams in a global audio-visual market."

An Cailín Ciúin and Róise & Frank will be released in cinemas later this year.