Irish films nominated for Academy Awards 2010

Granny should be looking at you....

Granny heads off to get ready for the Oscars

A number of Irish films, two animated, have received nominations for this year’s Academy Awards. The Secret of Kells (Tom Moore) is to be found in the Animated Feature Film section, while the highly amusing Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty (Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’ Connell) made the shortlist for Short Film (Animated). Meanwhile Juanita Wilson and James Flynn saw their live action short, The Door nominated in its relevant category. The Door is the moving tale of a family affected by the Chernobyl disaster, based on a true account.

This year marks a change in the oscar noms as there are now 10 Best Picture nominations, in comparison to the five of previous ceremonies. The reasoning behind this was that more scope for nominations would open up the Best Picture category to genres of film that are usually ignored. This year already sees two sci-fi movies (Avatar and District 9), as well as an animated film (Up) up for a Best Picture gong.

There’s no news as of yet on the Lifetime Achievement award, but there’s still

Maureen O’Hara

the possibility that Maureen O’Hara might be this year’s recipient. (*This award, officially entitled an Academy Honorary Award, is now presented at a seperate ceremony in November. Read about the 2009 winners here.) Members of The Quiet Man Movie Club certainly hope so, the chairperson of which, Prof. Des MacHale from Cork City, wrote to the Academy asking if they would consider her for an award. He has asked the public to do the same by emailing the Academy at the  address on their website. His own letter has been acknowledged and taken into consideration. This year sees Maureen O’ Hara celebrate her 90th birthday. Originally from Dublin, she reached Hollywood heights at a young age, starring in such movies as Miracle on 34th Street, How Green Was My Valley and of course, The Quiet Man.

Beyond the Oscar nominations, other events also take place around awards time, such as these Student Academy Awards.

Finally, I for one was glad to see Wallace and Gromit’s A Matter of Loaf and Death nominated in the Best Animated Short category. Smashing!

Filmmaking Courses at Cork Film Centre

Yup, there’s two to choose from: a Short Film 10 week course, or a Documentary 10 week course. Click here for course info from the Cork Film Centre official site.

Mutant Shorts Short Films-See them at Vimeo

Duplicate of a post I popped up on the Mutant Shorts blog itself.

Challenging people to create a short film which had to be set in a kitchen led to an array of shorts, each one unique and imaginative. Here is a list of the films that graced the Savoy screen last November, for the Mutant Shorts filmmaking competition, each of which can be viewed at the Mutant Space Vimeo page here.

The Kitchen by Fiona Dowling featured a variety of kitchen appliances with strong personalities, that will make you think twice the next time you kick your vacuum cleaner in frustration.

Home Sweet Home by Keith O’ Connell is the poignant tale of a young man living in squalor and proved to be the winning film on the night.

In DI Why? by Fiona Riordan and Cethan Leahy, we realise that some household chores just aren’t worth the effort, and can leave you in a sticky situation.

One in the Oven by John O’ Callaghan features a turkey and an unborn baby having a kitchen oriented discussion.

Kitchen Antics by Tom White and Seán Stanton lands us in the midst of a student party wherein two guys end up chatting in the kitchen.

The Baked and the Dead by Oisín Carey promotes spaghetti western style cooking when a duo compete to create the best beans on toast.

Fishbone by Hayret Abdula traces a married couple through the years, and all viewed from their very own kitchen.

Crab Murder by Hilary Williams is almost documentary like in the way that it follows a crab from shore to cooking pot in the kitchen.

Butcher by Donal O’ Shea brings us on a surreal and crazy trip into the kitchen of one off-the-wall young man.

Conscience by Seán Breathnach sees a man in the aftermath of a break up, as he deals with the issues weighing on his mind.

All You Can Eat by Rob Noonan centres on a restaurant with a difference, in this rather bloody but intriguing tale.

The Influences of Feminism on French Cuisine by Christina Utzeri tackles the problems that occur when feminism has its way in the kitchen.

First A Dream by Cethan Leahy is the tale of two people and the strange dreams that one may just be inflicting on the other.

Do judge for yourself by viewing the vids at the Vimeo page, as linked above. First A Dream is not available on the Vimeo page but you can view it at http://thegiftedbabies.wordpress.com.

Latest News on the Eclipse

It’s been a while since we had any news on Conor Mc Pherson’s ‘The Eclipse’, but finally here’s trailer for the film, which opens in theatres on March 26th. You can visit ciaranhinds.eu Eclipse page for plenty more info on the film, and the official movie site is at http://theeclipsefilm.com/ .

Documentary shorts

“In January 1999, Matthew O’ Reilly left his parents’ home in Barnstaple, Devon. He has not been seen since. All that remains of him are his paintings which his father, Tim, curates.”

Dear Matthew is a short documentary in which Tim O’ Reilly tells of his son’s departure and the effect it had on his family. Matthew’s paintings seem to hold some clues as to how the talented artist was feeling in the days before his departure. This documentary was directed by Keith O Shea, a graduate of the Film and Television course at the University of Wales, Newport, and has garnered a number of awards including Best International Short at the IFI Stranger than Fiction Documentary festival in 2009.

You can watch Dear Matthew in full at Vimeo: http://www.vimeo.com/2755571

and you can read more of Keith’s journalistic/documentary adventures here: http://encountersattheendoftheworld.wordpress.com/

Another filmmaker named Keith O’ Shea ( I don’t think it’s the same director..but please correct me if I’m wrong!), has a very different topic to discuss in his documentary, 120bpm, which focuses on the ups and downs of the one time famous nightclub, Sir Henrys. The dance/house music scene is discussed in detail, although not so much the Freakscene side of things, or the performances by groups such as Nirvana and Sonic Youth. Nevertheless it does allow some insight into the goings on that made Sir Henrys so legendary in Cork and surrounding areas. Visit Vinyl Films Youtube page here to see the doc in four parts.

Blog Awards 2010

This being a blog and all, I may aswell mention the upcoming annual Irish Blog Awards. This event acknowledges bloggers of all sorts, and the nominations cover a variety of blogging subjects, such as sports, arts and culture, and fashion.  Anyone can nominate, and it may give you an excuse to while away a few hours, looking through all the Irish blogs out there. Of course, if you fancy nominating The Stub, please do so.. :)

Set pics from ‘My Brothers’

Pop along to the youghalonline blog for pics from the set of ‘My Brothers’ which was shot recently in East Cork. This movie, written by Corkman Will Collins, and directed by Paul Fraser, is not to be confused with Jim Sheridan’s ‘Brothers’ starring Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal…see trailer on the left!

Happy New Year!

Things have been quiet round here these past few weeks what with Christmas festivities and all..but now it’s time to look forward to 2010. This old blog needs some housework, so expect a slight Stub makeover this January. Happy New Year everyone, and thanks to all readers and those who left comments in 2009! :)

Contemporary Cinema course at UCC

Applications are still being accepted all this week, despite the original deadline.

CONTEMPORARY CINEMA This course offers an introduction to new directions in Hollywood and European cinema, through the examination of a number of especially significant filmic forms and trends. Organised in five clusters of three lectures, each devoted to a particular topic and including the screening of one key film, the course involves the exploration of the following genres and themes: – Contemporary Westerns: borders, identity, genre – Gender and stardom in contemporary Hollywood cinema – Cinema and the city: Almodovar, Allen, Barcelona – “New Wave” Hollywood and the rise of cult filmmakers – The new documentary: authorship, subjectivity and reflexivity in the age of video.

Duration: 15 weeks

Time: Wednesday 7 – 9 pm Commencing: Wednesday 6 January 2010

Fee: €170

Deadline for applications: Tuesday, 8 December 2009

The course, which is subject to the intake of at least 10 students, will be taught by experienced PhD students in Film Studies. For further information and to download an application form:

http://www.ucc.ie/en/filmstudies/eveningcourses

*************************************************************

The course is open to all; no previous knowledge required.

 You can contact Film Studies at: Tel: 021/4205139 (Ms Marie O’Donovan – Administrator for the MA in Film Studies)

Email: UCCFilmStudies(@)gmail.com

Web: http://www.ucc.ie/en/filmstudies/

Co-ordinators: Dott Laura Rascaroli and Dr Gwenda Young

Extras needed for poetry film, shooting November 28th in Cork.

Here are the details, courtesy of the O Bheal poetry group:

Volunteer Extras required for Poetry-Film – The Lammas Hireling – Sat Nov 28
Poets from Ó Bhéal are making a Poetry-Film to enter into the 2010 Zebra International Poetry-Film Festival in Berlin. Filming is now scheduled for this Saturday the 28th of November.
Welcome to all who would like to be an extra in this, our inaugural Poetry-Film (unpaid unfortunately – Poetry and Budget somehow don’t go together). It’s called The Lammas Hireling, based on the award-winning poem by Ian Duhig (google-able). Friends and kids are welcome (all ages).
This is the opening scene of the film which is set in late 19th Century rural Ireland, at a hiring fair – the only scene requiring extras.
We hope to film the entire scene on the Saturday so most people will only be needed for that day. We will meet at 8am at the bottom of SummerHill north where the cars are parked. Some cars will return for a second run at around 9am. Plenty Lifts available. For those with cars we will then be going in convoy to a farm 5mls north of Glanmire and will be there till the light goes (4-5pm), though lifts back during the day can be arranged for those who need to leave early. Anyone who wants to arrive later can text me for directions on 0857126299. Sandwiches, tea/coffee and fresh water will be provided.
We do have a lot of period wardrobe with us, but it would still be helpful if you could arrive in plain leather brogues or boots (if not, bring wellies and we’ll cover them), and if at all possible bring any of the following – if you can’t, don’t worry, we’ll sort you out:
Men: Dark Plain pants. White / Cream shirts. Waistcoats. Old-style caps or hats. Long Socks.
Women: Long skirts or plain frocks, shawls blouses or bonnets.
Kids: As above
(Anything that may suit the Victorian period – in rural Ireland – peasant or farmer style)
Please confirm by text or email if you can make it – 0857126299 – info@obheal.ie
Thank you! Hope to see you there. It’s gonna be great!
Sláinte!
Paul Casey
 0857126299
info@obheal.ie
Ó Bhéal