Jack Reynor Wins Top Acting Award At Sundance Festival

Jack Reynor, the hot young Irish star, has nabbed the hugely prestigious Special Jury Prize for Acting at the legendary Sundance Festival. The award is for his performance in independent Irish film Glassland, which was written and directed by Gerald Barrett.

Barrett is no stranger to awards. He has previously won the IFTA Rising Star Award at the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards in Dublin for his debut feature Pilgrim Hill. Set in the Dublin suburb of Tallaght, Glassland tells the story of a young taxi driver who gets caught up in the world of human trafficking while trying to save his mother from addiction.

A Hot Press favourite, Jack Reynor emerged to prominence first in Kirsten Sheridan’s Dollhouse. But he established himself as a major star of the future when he played the lead role in Lenny Abrahamson’s superb What Richard Did. Reynor subsequently performed with distinction in Transformers: Age of Extinction.

Glassland is produced for Element Pictures by Ed Guiney, who also produced What Richard Did, Frank and The Guard, and Juliette Bonass (Get Up and Go and A Date For Mad Mary).

The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys, warmly congratulated Jack Reynor.

“This is a massive achievement for Jack Reynor, who has proven himself to be a young actor of considerable talent over the last few years,” Minister Humphreys said. "It is a huge win for Jack, and indeed for the Irish film industry.

“Jack’s star has risen swiftly since his first major performance in What Richard Did in 2012,” she added, "and this Sundance award will undoubtedly secure his upward trajectory.

“This award is also great news for Glassland ahead of its Irish release. The film, which is set in Tallaght, has already garnered high acclaim and should be of serious interest to Irish audiences when it opens here in April.

“Jack Reynor’s win at Sundance will act as a great inspiration to young Irish actors. It shows that talent, dedication and drive can lead you to be recognised internationally for your craft.”