AsterFest Award presented to Rebecca O'Brien in Hackney

Last Friday, July 11, the Ciné-Real in Hackney hosted a special ceremony to present an honorary AsterFest Award to acclaimed producer Rebecca O'Brien from Sixteen Films, which she runs with director Ken Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty.

The AsterFest Film Festival was established in 2005 and celebrates auteur film and specialises in short and documentary films. (Image: AsterFest Film Festival) The award, recommended by the festival's founder and director Goran Trenchovski and the festival council, acknowledged Rebecca's outstanding achievement in film and television.

AsterFest Film Festival was established in 2005 and is the longest-running independent film festival in Macedonia and Southeastern Europe, dedicated to auteur film and specialising in short and documentary films.

This year's festival, marking its 20th anniversary under the motto "Film Crossroads", will continue with screenings from August 4 to 8 in Strumica, Macedonia.

The festival has worked to bridge British and Macedonian film cultures, screening films by various UK authors.

Rebecca was honoured by the award. (Image: AsterFest Film Festival) Each festival edition recognises laureates of the AsterFest Awards, with past recipients including British figures like Timothy John Byford and Kim Longinotto.

At the event, Goran described Rebecca as the most significant contemporary figure in film production.

Rebecca expressed her deep honour at AsterFest valuing her contribution as a film producer.

Next season, AsterFest plans to present a selection of films by Rebecca O'Brien and Ken Loach, subtitled in Macedonian, in collaboration with Sixteen Films.