Two Northern Irish short films short-listed for Oscar glory

Yesterday the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the 10 live action short films that will advance in the voting process for the 87th Academy Awards. On an Irish front the Belfast based Boogaloo and Graham, directed by Michael Lennox, and written by Ronan Blaney, and Stephen Fingleton’s SLR are among the ten.

One hundred forty-one pictures had originally qualified in the category. The Academy’s Short Films and Feature Animation Branch Reviewing Committee viewed all the eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting at screenings held in Los Angeles.

Both shorts featured at the Galway Film Fleadh, SLR in 2013 and Boogaloo and Graham this year. SLR stars emerging talent Ryan McParland, alongside Irish TV and film favourites Liam Cunningham and Richard Dormer, and tells the story of a man obsessed with voyeur pornography who makes a shocking discovery.

Boogaloo and Graham features Charlene McKenna, Martin McCann, and Jonathan Harden, and is set in 1970’s where Belfast two young boys discover the facts of life aided by the help of their pet chickens.

The full list of all of the nominees is below. Unfortunately there is no trailer for Boogaloo and Graham.

Aya – Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis, directors (Chasis Films)

Baghdad Messi – Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Kobe Van Steenberghe, producer (a team productions)

Boogaloo and Graham – Michael Lennox, director, and Ronan Blaney, writer (Out of Orbit)

Boogaloo and Graham - Image

Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak) – Hu Wei, director, and Julien Féret, producer (AMA Productions)

Carry On – Yatao Li, director (Rochester Institute of Technology)

My Father’s Truck – Maurício Osaki, director (Lupi Filmes)

Parvaneh – Talkhon Hamzavi, director, and Stefan Eichenberger, producer (Zurich University of Arts)

The Phone Call – Mat Kirkby, director, and James Lucas, writer (RSA Films)

SLR – Stephen Fingleton, director, and Matthew James Wilkinson, producer (Stigma Films)

Summer Vacation (Chofesh Gadol) – Tal Granit and Sharon Maymon, directors (GREENproductions)

Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members will now select three to five nominees from among the ten titles on the shortlist. Branch screenings will be held in Los Angeles, London, New York and San Francisco in December.

The 87th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

The Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood.