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02/02/2010

News Release: 2 February 2010

 

Minister Cullen welcomes five Irish Oscar nominations

A vindication of Government support for the Irish Film Sector

 

 

Martin Cullen, TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism today (2 February 2010) welcomed the Irish nominations for 2010 Academy Awards. They are in the following categories:

 

 

·         Best Animated Feature Film: The Secret of Kells (Tomm Moore, Cartoon Saloon)

·         Best Animated Short: Granny O Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty (Nicky Phelan and Darragh O Connell, Brownbag Films)

·         Best Live Action Short: The Door (Juanita Wilson and James Flynn)

·         Best Visual Effects: Richard Baneham for Avatar

·         Best Sound Mixing: Peter J Devlin for Star Trek

 

The Secret of Kells, Granny O Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty and The Door have all been funded by the Irish Film Board/Bord Scannán na hÉireann.

 

Minister Martin Cullen said: "To achieve this level of critical acclaim in such a competitive field is a vindication of the work of the Irish Film Board and the Government in continuing to support Irish film-makers. We are truly boxing and winning way above our weight here and to make the final lists is a testimony to the filmcraft of our industry. Three of the Irish nominations are at the ever-advancing frontier of film making - animation. It is in that particular genre that there is a convergence of traditional craft, storytelling and leading edge technology. Our film makers continue to do us proud and I wish all of the nominees every success on March 7th. As cultural ambassadors for our industry and our country they have already done us proud," he said.

 

The Minister also welcomed the Science Gallery’s nomination announced today for the 2010 European Museum of the Year award. The Gallery is supported by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and located at Trinity College, Dublin. The Minister said: “The Government is delighted to support this unique space, which showcases science, art and innovation. Its nomination for European Museum of the Year is further recognition of the excellent work of the Gallery, now in its second year, and illustrates that investment by Government in our culture and in the arts and sciences, is contributing in an extremely constructive way to Ireland’s international profile.”

 

Ends

Issued by: Michelle Hoctor, 087 8563070/ Colin Toomey, 01 6313838