Ireland Selects 'VIVA' for 2016 Foreign Language Academy Award®
The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) has selected the feature film VIVA as Ireland's submission for the Foreign Language category at the 88th annual Academy Awards® of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences.
Directed by Paddy Breathnach (I Went Down), and produced by Rebecca O'Flanagan and Rob Walpole of Treasure Films (The Stag), ‘Viva' was written by Mark O'Halloran (Garage, Adam and Paul).
The Irish made film set in Havana Cuba, is considered to be a very strong contender for Ireland in the upcoming Oscar race and has recently world premiered to great critical acclaim at Telluride Festival.
‘Viva' tells the story of Jesus, an eighteen year old Cuban, who is lost and struggling to realize his true identity. Unsure of himself or his future, he works at a local Havana drag club where he entertains dreams of becoming a performer. At home he finds solace listening to the records his mother and grandmother left him: romantic torch songs by the great names of Latin music. Into his life, however, comes a force to challenge his direction and tentative freedom: his long lost father, a celebrated boxer, released from a 15 year prison term having killed someone in a street brawl when Jesus was a child. Through this uneasy relationship, ‘Viva' becomes a tender love story between father and son as both men struggle to understand each other and escape the burden of expectation, duty and past sins.
The film, which is Executive Produced by Benicio Del Toro, is supported by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, Windmill Lane Pictures, RTÉ and Treasure Entertainment. It is produced by Robert Walpole and Rebecca O'Flanagan (both of Treasure Entertainment), Cathleen Dore and Nelson Navarro Navarro of Island Films. The film was shot in Havana, Cuba, and Ireland and was post produced at Windmill Lane in Dublin.
Áine Moriarty - IFTA CEO said,
"The Irish Academy is delighted that this wonderful film from Paddy Breathnach and Mark O'Halloran will represent Ireland for consideration in the Oscar Foreign Language category - as it reflects the diverse creativity and vision of this Irish team in bringing such a tender Cuban story to the screen that is both intriguing and visually captivating".
Paddy Breathnach - Director VIVA said,
"I'm thrilled that VIVA has been chosen as the Irish entry for Best Foreign Language film in the Academy Awards®. We loved every minute of our adventure on this film which took us from Ireland to Cuba and back again. As well as our wonderful Irish team, we had the pleasure of working with a great Cuban cast and crew and I feel this nomination recognizes this incredible international collaboration."
Rebecca O'Flanagan & Rob Walpole (Treasure Films) "We are so proud that Viva has been selected as the Irish entry for the Foreign Language Oscar. The film's journey to date has been a real labour of love and it makes us all so happy to receive this very special recognition".
Directed by - Paddy Breathnach
Screenplay by - Mark O'Halloran
Produced by - Rebecca O'Flanagan, Robert Walpole
Producer - Cathleen Dore, Nelson Navarro
Co-Producer - Claire McCaughley, Sarah Gunn
Executive Producer - Benicio Del Toro
Director of Photography - Cathal Watters
Film Editor - Stephen O'Connell
Production Designer - Paki Smith
Costume Designer - Sofia Marques
Casting Director - Libia Batista
Music by - Stephen Rennicks
Principal Cast
Angel - Jorge Perugorría
Mama - Luis Alberto García
Jesus - Héctor Medina
Cindy - Luis Manuel Álvarez
Pamela - Renata (Maikel Machín Blanco)
Cecilia - Laura Alemán
On Jan 14 2016, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) will announce which films have been nominated from all of the international entries to go forward in the final line-up to compete for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. The Academy Awards will take place on Feb 28th 2016.