Belfast Oscar winner Terry George returns home
Oscar-winning Belfast director Terry George has returned to Northern Ireland.
His plane landed at Belfast International Airport at about 09:00 GMT on Monday.
His film, The Shore, won an Oscar in the live action short category last week. It was filmed at Mr George's family cottage at Coney Island near Ardglass.
He told reporters at the airport it was really "Northern Ireland's Oscar".
"It's great to come home and to visit everyone who made the film possible, the people who were in it, go back and see our neighbours," he said.
"You kind of hope that you'll bring back the awards here to Ireland.
"The film industry, particularly here in the north, is a vital industry and it's really important for me to support it because of the support they gave to The Shore and the next one, a Whole Lotta Sole."
The Shore is about a man who emigrated to America 25 years ago to escape the Troubles and is now bringing his daughter back to meet his childhood friends, while harbouring a dark secret.
It starred major Northern Ireland actors, including Ciaran Hinds, Maggie Cronin and Conleth Hill.
Mr George said he thought the film was a "winner" from the start.
Speaking about the moment, when he heard that it had won the industry's big prize, he said: "It's obviously a special moment. Everybody dreams of giving an Oscar speech. I just forgot mine."
His daughter Oorlagh produced the film.
She said: "I'm really excited to come home and share it with our family, who were all in the film and also with everyone who made it possible; Tourism Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen, the cast and crew that we had were so incredible.
"So we're really, really looking forward to celebrating with them."
Mr George was twice previously nominated for his screenplays for Hotel Rwanda and In the Name of the Father.