A horror film made for £9,000 in the Mourne Mountains has taken the Best Irish Independent Film award at the 2026 Galway Film Fleadh.

'Hollow Trees', written and directed by a filmmaker from Hilltown identified only as Cathal, is a post-apocalyptic story of two survivors who encounter a shapeshifting creature known as a skinwalker.

The production was self-funded, with Cathal saving money for two years while working on road tarmacking crews. Filming took place over two weeks with a cast and crew of 10, using locations within a 40-minute drive of Hilltown, including Guildford Mill and forested areas in the Mournes.

The cast features Tom Kerrisk as adult survivor Kent, Louis Kirwan as young Danny, Rosie Hayes as Amelia, and Colin Malone in the dual role of the creature and a priest. Kerrisk had previously appeared in Cathal's short film 'A Hollow Tree', which won a Royal Television Society Award for Best Drama in 2021 and attracted millions of online views.

Cathal studied Cinematic Arts at the University of Ulster and attended St Mark's High School in Warrenpoint. After the Galway premiere, he said he has received distribution interest but is waiting to explore opportunities in the United States before deciding. His short film already drew a large American audience.

The Fleadh also saw success for another County Down filmmaker: Peter Young from Crossgar won the Bingham Ray New Talent Award for his film 'Our House'.