Tralee’s Domenico scoops IFTA award for work on Wild Ireland documentary
DOMENICO Pontillo doesn’t sound like your average Tralee name but the Naples born cameraman has strong links with the county capital where his family are fierce proud this week following his recent Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) success at Dublin’s RDS.
Domenico’s mom, Sheila Magnier-Pontillo, hails from Ballyvelley and when he was 10-yearsold they moved from Italy to Annagh Lawn just outside Tralee. Domenico attended Moyderwell secondary school prior to heading to college at DIT where he studied Film & Broadcasting. Sheila is immensely proud of her son and his achievements.
“He’s a very modest young man and he’s very pleased with the award and to be acknowledged and recognised by his peers. He is so deserving of it,” Sheila said.
Domenico works on wildlife programmes and his IFTA is for the ‘Camera Television’ category for his work in ‘Wild Ireland - the Edge of the World’ which features some amazing shots of landscapes and animals in their natural habitat.
Domenico’s working in Cuba since March 2017 where he’s currently filming ‘Wild Cuba’ with his partner Ciara, who is the production manager with ‘Crossing the Line Productions’. The Wicklow based production company took to social media immediately after Domenico scooped his award last week: ‘Massive congratulations to our ‘Wild Ireland’ cameraman. So truly deserved for his stunning cinematography on the show - one of the hardest working, patient and dedicated camera people you’ll ever meet.’
This is the second major accolade for ‘Wild Ireland’ which in November 2017 also scooped ‘Best Natural History Film’ at the Grierson Awards - one of the UK’s most prestigious documentary prizes. Domenico’s excellent work was part of a production team that beat the BBC’s ‘Planet Earth 2’ for the top award on that occasion.
Domenico has an impressive CV and is an Emmy nominated cameraman working on such multi award-winning programmes as ‘Wild Cities’ and ‘Secret Life of the Shannon’. Moreover, he is a cinematography winner at many of the world’s major wildlife film festivals
“His father would be very creative as well and Domenico has always been very interested in film, nature and outdoor life, which is the type of work that he enjoys most,” Sheila added.
Domenico is very proud of his Kerry roots and loves its landscapes which no doubt played a major part in influencing his choice of career during his early years.
“He loves Kerry and Ireland and he feels very attached to it. He’s also worked for a spell as a lifeguard in Kerry during his summers as a student, so he has always worked in the outdoors, which he loves,” Sheila concluded.