Terry George facts for kids

Terence George (born 20 December 1952) is a famous Irish screenwriter and director. He is known for making movies that often talk about "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland. This was a period of conflict in Northern Ireland. Some of his well-known films include The Boxer, Some Mother's Son, and In the Name of the Father.

Terry George has been nominated for two Oscars. He was nominated for Best Screenplay in 1993 for In the Name of the Father. In 2004, he was nominated for Best Original Screenplay for Hotel Rwanda. On February 26, 2012, he won an Oscar for his short film The Shore.

Life and Career Highlights

Terry George grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland. When he was 18, in 1971, he was arrested because people thought he was involved in political activities. Later, he joined a political group. In 1975, he was with members of this group when British soldiers stopped them. He was arrested and sent to Long Kesh Prison (also called "The Maze"). He was released in 1978 for good behavior. After that, he briefly studied at Queen's University Belfast.

Moving to New York City

In 1981, Terry George, his wife Rita, and their baby daughter, Oorlagh, moved to New York City. His wife and daughter later became citizens of the United States. Terry George faced some challenges staying in the US, but he was finally allowed to remain after many people supported him. He and Rita also had a son, Seamus, who was born in the United States. Rita passed away in February 2022.

Early Creative Works

In 1985, Terry George wrote his first play called The Tunnel. This play was based on a real prison escape attempt from Long Kesh in 1976. In 1986, he helped research a non-fiction book called The Pizza Connection. This book was about a big court case involving a crime group.

Making Movies and TV Shows

In 1993, Terry George started his film career as a screenwriter and assistant director for In the Name of the Father. This movie starred Daniel Day-Lewis and was also co-written and directed by Jim Sheridan. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including one for best screenplay for George and Sheridan.

He then wrote and directed Some Mother's Son in 1996, which starred Helen Mirren. For this film, he was named Young European Director of the Year. From 2000 to 2004, he was a producer and co-creator for the CBS TV show The District. He also helped write the World War II movie Hart's War in 2002.

Directing Hotel Rwanda

In 2004, Terry George earned his second Academy Award nomination for directing, producing, and co-writing Hotel Rwanda. This powerful film starred Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo. It received three Academy Award nominations, including best original screenplay. Hotel Rwanda also won the Cinema for Peace Award for the Most Valuable Film of the Year.

Later Projects and Awards

In 2007, Terry George was honored at the Oscar Wilde ceremony, which celebrates Irish writing in film. Later that year, he directed Reservation Road, a movie with Joaquin Phoenix and Jennifer Connelly. In 2008, he became a supporter of the Belfast Film Festival.

In 2010, George wrote and directed the short film The Shore. His daughter, Oorlagh, produced this film. It was filmed near George's home in Northern Ireland. On February 26, 2012, The Shore won an Academy Award for best Live Action Short Film. In 2012, George also wrote, directed, and produced the movie Whole Lotta Sole.

The Promise and Humanitarian Work

In 2016, Terry George wrote and directed The Promise. This film tells a story set during the Armenian genocide of 1915, a very difficult historical event. It starred Oscar Isaac and Christian Bale.

On July 1, 2013, Terry George received an honorary degree from Queen's University Belfast. This was to recognize his "amazing work in film and drama." In 2017, he received the Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award. This award honored his films that show difficult historical events, like genocides. He also received a special stone carving called a khachkar, which combines Armenian and Irish designs.

Filmography

Terry George has worked on many films and TV shows. Here is a list of some of them:

Film Work

Consulting producer

• The Night (2021)

Short film

Television Work

TV movies