Terry George facts for kids

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

Terry George has been nominated for two Academy Awards (also known as Oscars). He was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for In the Name of the Father and Best Original Screenplay for Hotel Rwanda. He won an Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film for his movie The Shore.

Terry George's Life and Career

Terry George was born and grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland. When he was 18, in 1971, he was arrested. He later became involved with a political group called the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP). In 1975, he was arrested again and sentenced to six years in Long Kesh Prison, also known as "The Maze." He was released in 1978. After that, he briefly studied at Queen's University Belfast.

Moving to New York and Early Work

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 also has a son, Seamus, who was born in the US. His wife Rita passed away on February 24, 2022.

In 1985, Terry George wrote his first play, The Tunnel. This play was based on a real prison escape attempt from Long Kesh in 1976.

Becoming a Film Director and Screenwriter

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

In 1996, he wrote and directed Some Mother's Son, which starred Helen Mirren. For this film, he was named Young European Director of the Year. From 2000 to 2004, he helped create and was an executive producer for the TV series The District on CBS.

Award-Winning Films

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

In 2007, he directed Reservation Road, which featured actors like Joaquin Phoenix and Jennifer Connelly. In 2008, he became a supporter of the Belfast Film Festival.

Recent Projects and Honors

In 2010, Terry George wrote and directed the short film The Shore. His daughter, Oorlagh, produced this film. On February 26, 2012, The Shore won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. In 2012, George also wrote, directed, and produced the movie Whole Lotta Sole.

In 2016, Terry George wrote and directed The Promise. This film was set during the Armenian genocide of 1915 and 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 "exceptional services to film and drama." In 2017, he received the Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award for his films that show genocides. He also received a special stone cross called a khachkar, which honored his Irish heritage.

Terry George's Filmography

Films He Worked On

Consulting producer

• The Night (2021)

Short films

Television Work

TV movies