Oscar long-list nod for Kells filmmaker

A SHORT film shot by Kells cinematographer Jass Foley has been long-listed for an Oscar at the 2021 Acadamy Awards. The award-winning short film, 'A White Horse' tells the story of a young gay Irish woman sent to a mental institution for conversion therapy in 1970s Ireland.

'A White Horse' stars Cora Fenton, of 'The Young Offenders' and newcomer Amber Deasy and was made with the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland ARRI Take Award. Filmed in Cork, the story explores how mental hospitals were once used as catch-alls for people considered “troublesome” or “abnormal”.

A White Horse has won numerous awards including Best Irish Short at the Foyle Film Festival, putting it on the longlist for the Oscars 2021. It has also won Best Irish Short at the Kerry Film Festival, Best Overall at the Richard Harris Film Festival, Best Independent Short at the Underground Cinema Film Festival, and Best Production Design at Kinsale Sharks.

“It’s incredibly exciting to be in contention for an Oscar, especially having worked with such an amazing cast and crew on the project” Jass Foley says. “It’s a challenge telling such an emotional story, but this topic is so important now more than ever”.

Jass works in feature film as well as TV series for Netflix, RTE, TG4 and TV3/Virgin Media, as well as corporate commercial work.