The IFB Congratulates Nora Twomey’s The Breadwinner as Cartoon Saloon Land Third Oscar Nomination, Leading the Irish Charge at the 2018 Ceremony
Posted: 23rd January 2018
Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) congratulates Nora Twomey’s The Breadwinner as the 2018 Academy Award® nominations were announced today (23 January) with Kilkenny’s Cartoon Saloon picking up a nomination for Best Animated Feature. This marks the third Oscar nomination for Cartoon Saloon with the Kilkenny-based animation company previously nominated in the same category with The Secret of Kells (2010) and Song of the Sea (2015).
The IFB also congratulates Irish actress Saoirse Ronan, who also received her third Oscar nomination, this time for her critically acclaimed turn in Greta Gerwig’s Ladybird, having previously been nominated in the same category for Brooklyn (2016) and receiving a Best Supporting Actress nod in 2008 for Atonement. We also extend our congratulations to Martin McDonagh who received a Best Original Screenplay nomination as Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri received a plethora of nominations including Best Picture and Daniel Day-Lewis on his Best Actor nod. We are also thrilled for Irish costume designer Consolata Boyle who is nominated for Costume Design for Victoria and Abdul, marking Boyle third Oscar nomination following last year's nomination for Florence Foster Jenkins and 2007's nomination for The Queen.
Speaking about today’s nominations, IFB Chief Executive, James Hickey said:
“Today’s Oscar nomination for Nora Twomey’s The Breadwinner marks the third nomination for Kilkenny’s Cartoon Saloon following their 2010 and 2015 nominations for The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea, respectively. This nomination also stands as a testament to the power and strength of Irish animation, which is currently experiencing unprecedented growth and prosperity and Cartoon Saloon are at the fore of this success.
“I would like to congratulate Nora and the team at Cartoon Saloon following this wonderful recognition of their beautifully realised tale of a young girl who must fight to protect her family and further congratulate the team on an already-stellar awards season.
“On behalf of the IFB, I also extend my congratulations to Saoirse Ronan, Consolata Boyle, Martin McDonagh and Daniel Day-Lewis as they join The Breadwinner in placing Irish talent on the international stage at this year’s Academy Awards®.”
The Breadwinner, which received its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September, is adapted from the children’s novel of the same name by Deborah Ellis and tells the story of eleven-year-old Parvana, who gives up her identity to provide for her family and to try to save her father’s life. A story of self-empowerment and imagination in the face of oppression, The Breadwinner also celebrates the culture, history and beauty of Afghanistan with a cast that includes many performers of Afghan descent.
The film features the voice talents of Saara Chaudry (Max & Shred) in the role of Parvana, Soma Bhatia (Degrassi: Next Class) as Shauzia, Laara Sadiq (Remedy) as Parvana's mother Fattema, Ali Badshah (The Cat In The Hat) as Parvana's father Nurullah, Shaista Latif (This is the Life) as Parvana's sister Soraya, and Kawa Ada (Jihad Gigilo) as Razaq.
The film is produced by Paul Young of Kilkenny’s Cartoon Saloon (Song of the Sea, The Secret of Kells) alongside Canada's Aircraft Pictures, and Luxembourg's Melusine Productions and Angelina Jolie serves as the title’s executive producer. The Breadwinner was developed with support from Telefilm Canada, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, the Film Fund Luxembourg, Corus Entertainment, the Harold Greenberg Fund and the Belinda Stronach Foundation.
The 2018 Academy Awards® will take place in LA on Sunday 4 March.