Louth film director Ian Hunt-Duffy nominated for IFTA awards

versity and doing a few hours with us, serving the customers over the phone, and then finding a career here.”

But the opportunities are not just in head office. Boylesports is one of the few bookmakers to have so far avoided widespread closing traditional shops.

“We believe in retail,” Vlad says. “I think there is a potential there. We can serve the local communities and we can continue to provide the opportunities in those areas. And for us, it’s finding a way to leverage the technological developments. So we would like to offer more SSBTs ( Self Service Betting Terminals) in the retail environment to allow customers experience the digital product as well.

“It is becoming more difficult to run retail because of the increasing costs and potentially the incoming regulation but we were conscious about that and we’re looking at making sure that we are doing it in the right way for the business and for the customers.”

The “regulation” Vlad refers to is a bill currently being drafted by the GRAI (Gambling Regulator of Ireland) which will attempt to tackle gambling addiction by placing tighter controls on the industry.

Kaltenieks says he wholeheartedly agrees with the need for stronger regulation, but he feels the first draft, which he has seen, could have unintended consequences for “responsible” companies operating in Ireland.

“We need to see what the bill is in its final form because there were many discussions and we have been feeding back actively in terms of what is practical and workable to make sure that it’s achieving its objectives and it’s not causing any unintended consequences.”

One of the main consequences Vlad foresees is unlicensed operators being allowed to offer incentives to customers that licensed firms cannot provide under the proposed regulations, from free bet incentives or improved odds to broader controls such as watersheds and self-exclusion measures.

“We are invested in protecting the vulnerable already, we’ve been doing most of the things that the bill proposes already and probably to a higher standard. Having a well regulated environment we’ve seen in the UK creates a level playing field, but we feel the bill in its current draft doesn’t quite get it, as it only applies to the licensed operators. However, it is not paying any attention to operators that are unlicensed and not operating within the regulation of Republic of Ireland. So if you would have any offshore operator, they will be able to get better offers they will not be subject to any limitations, including maybe even self-exclusion.”

Whatever the outcome, Kaltenieks is committed to making it work for Boylesports, and more importantly, for its customers.

The company founded by John Boyle over 40 years ago appears to be in good hands and Vlad loves working with, and answering to, the chairman.

“John is still very much involved. He brings a wealth of experience in the retail environment and he’s a big supporter of our digital plans. He’s a really good sounding board for me to discuss opportunities and even challenges.

“He really cares and you don’t see many owners and founders who are like that. John gets his energy from the things we are doing and building, and he’s so excited about what we’re doing.”

In a way Kaltenieks is guiding Boyle’s baby through a new phase of life.

“They say that parents always see their kids as babies, but John has a very mature approach to it. He loves the baby, but he would always challenge the baby because that is where the personal growth comes from. He’s very supportive, but also very challenging and that comes from maturity and experience.”

Louth film maker Ian HuntDuffy (pictured) has received an Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTA) nomination for best director for his debut feature film Double Blind which went on national release last month.

This sees the Blackrock native nominated in the same category as the Oscar-winning film director John Carney who has been nominated for Flora and Son.

“I’m over the moon!” he commented as he shared news on social media. He also congraduated the rest of the team for their nominations, saying he was “absolutely delighted”.

Double Blind, which has already won awards on the festival circuit in Europe and the United States, has received eleven nominations, including best film.

The horror-thriller, which was filmed in Limerick in Spring 2022, has picked up nominations for best script for Darach McGarrigle, best supporting actor for Diarmuid Noyes, as well as nominations for cinematography, costume design, production design, hair and make-up, sound, original music and editing.

The film, which stars The Walking Dead actress Pollyanna McIntosh and Millie Brady from The Queen’s Gambit, tells the story of a medical experiment that goes horribly wrong when participants in a drug trial discover that if they fall asleep they will die.

Double Blind is the first fulllength film from Ian who has won numerous awards since graduating from the National Film School at IDAT. Ian and Darach also worked on the IFTA nominated and Oscar longlisted short thriller Gridlock, which won 60 awards at over 150 festivals around the world. Ian won the Discovery Award at the 2019 Dublin International Film Festival and last year was nominated for the Bingham Ray New Talent Award.

The IFTAs ceremony takes place on Saturday, April 2d at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. The evening will be hosted by tv presenter Baz Ashmawy.