Irish Oscar Hopes
The Irish short animation GRANNY O'GRIMM'S SLEEPING BEAUTY directed by Nicky Phelan and written and performed by Kathleen O'Rourke has been shortlisted for Oscar® nomination.The Framework short produced by Darragh O'Connell with Producers of the Year Brown Bag Films is on a shortlist of 10 films being considered for the Best Animation Short Film category. Five of these films will be voted by the Short Films and Feature Animation member branch on February 2nd.
Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty has already had international success picking up Audience Awards at the Omaha Film Festival, US and Cinegal Festival in Montreal as well a Best Animation IFTA, a Best Animation Gold Heart Award in Australia and an Outstanding Achievement in Short Animation Filmmaking at the Newport Beach Film Festival in California.
The short film has proved such a success that a new cartoon series ‘Granny O'Grimm' is being made at the moment by Brown Bag Films.
Nicky Phelan, director, spoke with Morning Ireland about what an achievement it is to make the shortlist for next years Best Animated Short Oscar. Listen here
Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty was funded by the IFB, RTÉ and the Arts Council.
Another Irish Oscar hopeful is Saoirse Ronan for her role in The Lovely Bones which was directed by Peter Jackson. The film had its premiere in London's Leicester Square last night but will not be in Irish cinemas until January 29.
Saoirse was nominated for an Oscar for her mature performance in the critically acclaimed Atonement two years ago.
The 82nd Academy Awards® takes place in Los Angeles on 7th March 2010