Major Boost for Irish animation industry – with Secret Of Kells and Nico and the way to the stars both getting nominations
Good news for the Irish film Industry, in particular the animation industry. Two out of three of the nominations for the European Film Awards Best Animated Feature Film Award are for Irish co-produced feature films. Tomm Moore’s The Secret Of Kells and Nico and the Way to the Stars, co-produced by Magma Films in Galway, have both been nominated for this prestigious award which will be announced at the European Film Awards on December 12th in Germany. The third nominee was the French feature film Mia And The Migoo.
The Secret Of Kells produced by Kilkenny based company Cartoon Saloon, has already won a host of awards including the Audience Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and the Annecy Film Festival as well as the Jury and Audience Awards at Kecskemet in Hungary. The film was also the big winner at the Cartoon Movie Tributes in March.
“The Irish animation industry has gained a reputation for excellence over the past decade, creating original stories which are owned and exploited by Irish companies. These nominations, along with the fact that Irish companies have won the European Producer of the Year award for the last two years, underline the growing important of this industry on the worldwide stage” said Simon Perry, Chief Executive, Bord Scannan na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board.
The Secret Of Kells stars Brendan Gleeson and Mick Lally as the lead character voices and tells the story of an orphan named Brendan who is set the task of completing the Book of Kells. The task sees him called to a new life of creativity and imagination where adventure, danger and action await him. Niko & The Way To The Stars tells a magical story about a young reindeer who is still learning how to fly.
Read our Brendan Gleeson Interview for The Secret Of Kells Here