It was with tremendous sadness that Film Ireland learned today that award-winning author and film director Simon Fitzmaurice has died at the age of 43.
Fitzmaurice directed two shorts, Full Circle (2003) and The Sound of People (2007), which screened at the Sundance Film Festival.
His debut feature, My Name Is Emily, released in 2015, was nominated for 8 IFTA awards and won Best Cinematography at the Galway Film Fleadh.
In 2008 Fitzmaurice was diagnosed with motor neuron disease and went on to write his bestselling book It’s Not Yet Dark about his battle with the disease.
It’s Not Yet Dark was adapted into a film, directed by Frankie Fenton and narrated by Colin Farrell. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and is currently in cinemas.
He is survived by his wife Ruth and five children.
Comments
I just wanted to say to Ruth and the kids. What amazing man he was, I cried not because I was sad but because I was proud of his courage. Thank you for telling his story.