Mermaids, Magic Spells and Surreal Digital Worlds at the Galway Film Fleadh
Mermaids, magic spells and surreal digital worlds... that's some of what you can expect from the upcoming premiere of the Frameworks short animations at the Galway Film Fleadh.This year a programme of five animation shorts will showcase animation talent in Ireland including an OscarTM nominated filmmaker and will feature the voice talents of acting heavyweights Alan Rickman, John Hurt and Stuart Townsend.
The short animation premieres follow on from what has been a very successful year so far for Irish animation with recent wins at the Annecy Film Festival, a nomination for the Human Rights Awards and the announcement of 22 jobs at JAM Media.
23 DEGREES 5 MINUTES, written and directed by Darragh O'Connell, follows Professor Orit and how pursuing the answer to the ‘unified theory' leads him to the edge of madness and beyond. Based on a short story by Austin Kenny and produced by Colm Tyrell for Brown Bag Films, the short film features the voices of John Hurt (V For Vendetta, Alien) and Stuart Townsend (Head in the Clouds).
Darragh previously directed the very popular animated series The Octonauts (BBC) and Olivia (Nickelodeon) and produced the OscarTM nominated short Granny O'Grimms Sleeping Beauty.
Alan Holly's AT THE SURFACE tells the story of two boys who are passing time by the sea, one of who encounters a mermaid. Seeking her out, she soon comes between them. The short is produced by Adrien Merigeau for And Maps and Plans. Alan and Adrien make up an award-winning team as Alan's previous short The Red Ball and Adrien's short Old Fangs both received international success.
THE BOY WHO LIVED IN A BUBBLE is the whimsical tale of Rupert, a 10 year old boy who falls hopelessly in love for the first time. When it all goes terribly wrong, he turns to an ancient book of magic and invokes a powerful spell to rid him of his heartache and shield himself from all emotion forever. Written and directed by Kealan O'Rourke and co-written by Ray Kane it features the voice of Alan Rickman (Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland). Brian Willis produced for Igloo Films.
WE, THE MASSES is written and directed by Eoghan Kidney and co-written by Robyn O'Neil. It tells the tale of one man who falls to earth to find hatred, mystery and his demise. It's a tale of warning and transcendence. Eoghan previously directed the short Stars which won the Best Animated Short at the Galway Film Fleadh. It was produced by Nicky Gogan for Still Films (Seaview, Pyjama Girls).
Written and directed by Kris Kelly and co-written by Evelyn McGrath HERE TO FALL is about an absent father who contacts his daughter and we follow them through a surreal digital world as she tries to understand her feelings about their relationship. Evelyn also produced for BlackNorth Studio, a Belfast-based animation and VFX studio.
Frameworks is financed by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB), RTÉ and the Arts Council. The scheme aims to produce stimulating ground-breaking new work from Irish animators.
Frameworks will premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh on Saturday July 9th at 2.30pm in the Town Hall Theatre.
More about the Irish animation sector
The Irish animation sector has been going from strength to strength over the past decade with three Academy Award® nominations in 2010. The sector is primarily an export focused business that remains a leading full time employer in the Irish audio visual sector. The overall turnover for the animation industry in Ireland was estimated at €60 million in 2010 with the sector creating spend in the Irish economy on local jobs, goods and services.