Irish surf documentary "Wave Riders" won the hotly contested Audience Award as part of the 2008 Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, inching out the early frontrunner "Dambé – The Mali Project" which finished second. Commenting on the award, Joanne O’Hagan, CEO of the JDIFF said, “Wave Riders is such a beautifully made film and I’m delighted that it has won this generous accolade from our audience! We would also like to thank Cine Electric Ltd. for its generous sponsorship for this exciting award”.

The award shows the strength of Irish documentary making in Ireland, with these two events selling early and proving must-see events. “I’m overwhelmed and delighted! As a totally indigenous project funded on the island of Ireland, it is great to get recognition on home turf in the biggest film festival in Ireland. With so many big films and big filmmakers it is a real honour to win this award for everyone involved in the film.”

Closely following in third place was "Lars and the Real Girl," with "The Orphanage" in fourth and "In Bruges" and "There Will Be Blood" in joint fifth.

The Inaugural Jameson Dublin International Film Festival Audience Award: “Once”
Directed by: John Carney (Ireland, 2006)