IFB Signatures short Corduroy selected for competition at 60th Berlin Film Festival
Hugh O'Conor's short film CORDUROY has been selected to screen in competition at the 60th Berlinale Film Festival next month.The short will screen as part of the Generation 14Plus competition along with 11 other shorts including filmmaker Spike Jonze's (Being John Malkovich, Where the Wild Things Are) most recent short film, I'm Here.
"Generation is marking the [60th] anniversary of the Berlinale with a programme full of contrasts. We want to celebrate this difference," says section director Maryanne Redpath.
Produced by Eimear O'Kane with EMU Productions as part of the IFB's Signatures scheme, Corduroy tells the story of a young autistic woman (Caoilfhionn Dunne), who after a traumatic experience is brought to the west of Ireland by a carer (Domhnall Gleeson), to learn how to surf. The cinematographer is Ruairí O'Brien, and the production designer is Francis Taaffe.
Eimear O'Kane says "We're honoured to have our international premiere at such a prestigious festival as Berlin, and to be in such stellar company. So many people have put so much hard work into this film. We couldn't have done it without the support of the Irish Film Board, and we had an invaluable contribution from the teachers and pupils of Aspire and Tuiscint, two inspirational autism centres in Dublin, as well as the people of Lahinch, County Clare."
While premiering films by Martin Scorsese (Shutter Island) and Roman Polanski (The Ghost Writer) the Berlinale plans to celebrate its 60th anniversary by "looking back at their accomplishments and an eventful history, as well as looking ahead to the future of cinema."
Corduroy will have three screenings at the Berlinale: 16th, 19th and 20th February.
The Berlin International Film Festival will take place 11th - 21st February.
For more information about the festival please visit http://www.berlinale.de.