‘Viva’ is Shortlisted in the Foreign Language Film Category for the 88th Academy Awards®
Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board funded feature film Viva, directed by Paddy Breathnach and written by Mark O’Halloran, has been shortlisted in the category of Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards®.
Viva was selected by IFTA as Ireland’s submission for the Foreign Language category and the shortlist of nine films was narrowed down from an initial list of some 80 submissions. The final list of five nominees will be unveiled on January 14th.
James Hickey, IFB Chief Executive commented: “It is wonderful to see Viva making the shortlist for the Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards®. To get this far in the selection process is a huge achievement in itself. Congratulations to Paddy, Mark, Treasure Entertainment and all of the talent involved and we wish them the best of luck in the weeks and months to come.”
Written by Mark O'Halloran (Garage, Adam and Paul) and directed by Paddy Breathnach (Man About Dog, I Went Down), Viva follows Jesus, an eighteen-year-old Cuban who is lost and struggling to realize his true identity. Unsure of himself or his future direction, he works at a local Havana drag club where he entertains dreams of becoming a performer whilst earning his money through hustling. At home he finds solace listening to the records his mother and grandmother left him. Into his life, however, comes a force to challenge his direction and freedom - his long-lost father Angel, once a celebrated boxer and newly released from a 15-year prison term.
Viva premiered in September of this year at the exclusive Telluride Film Festival, where it received a rapturous reception. It was produced by Robert Walpole, Rebecca O’Flanagan and Cathleen Dore for Treasure Entertainment. It was funded by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, RTÉ and Windmill Lane.
The 88th Academy Awards® will take place on February 28th.