Local film maker hoping for success at this year's Oscars

A film shot in Co, Meath that has been shortlised for an Academy Award is hoping for good news when this year's Oscar nominations are revealed tomorrow.

Filmed in Meath, and based on the short story 'Foster' by Claire Keegan, An Cailín Ciúin stars newcomer Catherine Clinch as a young girl sent to live with relatives in rural Ireland in 1981, where she is welcomed with open arms.

The film, directed by Colm Bairéad and produced by Rathmolyon native Cleona Ní Chrualaoi made history in Ireland as the first Irish-language film to win the Irish Film and Television Academy Award for Best Film in March, also winning awards for best director, actress, cinematography, editing, production design, original score, and rising star.

Much of the film was shot on location by Breakout Pictures in Summerhill, Moynalvey, Curraghtown, Garlow Cross, Trim and Clonymeath.

Just last week the film was nominated for two Baftas including best film not in the English language and for adapted screenplay for its writer-director, Colm Bairéad.

The film was also honoured at the Dublin and Berlin film festivals earlier this year and has grossed over €1 million at the Irish-UK box offices.

Cleona Ní Chrualaoi, a former student of Coláiste Pobail in Ráth Chairn says excitement is building ahead of the nominations announcement.

"It'a a mixture of worry, excitement and nervousness," she said. Getting two Bafta nominations on Thursday has taken a little bit of the pressure off tomorrow!

"We just feel so grateful that we have had this success

"It's all or nothing now tomorrow, it's all consuming, it's hard to think about anything else at the moment."

"92 countries submitted films for this category so basically it's the world cup of world cinema that gets shortlisted to 15 films and we were amongst them. It was amazing to be shortlisted and it's the first time that an Irish language film has made the short list for this category. It's quite historic what's happening at the moment, if things go our way tomorrow it would be unreal."

The producer says it was an extra special element getting the chance to film in her home county.

"It was filmed in my home county so I'm delighted with that. We filmed beside the snooker hall in Trim and on the grounds of the Catholic Church and also at the back of Potterton's Estate Agents. We filmed in Fagan's pub in Moynalvey and Lismullen National School near Navan.

"We reccied a house near Summerhill that was for sale, it was an old man who had lived in the house and he had passed away and a funeral brochure had been left in the house and I saw the name Willie Ryan. I recognised the name because he directed my dad's funeral and that gave me a brain wave- to ring Willie who would be familiar with older houses in the area.

"We stumbled across the main house which was in Cortown which was incredible it was like walking into a museum so we really fell on our feet!"

The film has had even more success recently with Gormonston native Kate McCullough receiving the award for Best European Cinematography for An Cailín Ciúin at this year’s European Film Awards. Kate is the first Irish woman to receive this award and the fourth female in the world to be awarded the gong.

An Cailín Ciúin is available to view in Omniplex cinemas nationwide now.