As the release date for the 2025 Oscar nominations list approaches, now scheduled for the 19th January (originally set for the 17th), attention turns to the highly anticipated main event on Sunday 2nd March 2025. Arts editor Gillian Smith takes a look off-screen at Irish talent in the short film nomination frontline…
The pressies have all been opened, the deccies are down and the wind and rain continues unabated, yes folks, the inescapable annual excursion to the dreaded January is right here, right now. On the plus side though, it also means the gloves are off, sleeves rolled up and Awards season can now claim our full attention – provided you are so inclined of course.
Already done and dusted at the tail end of last year were a few of the more indie-oriented events such as British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) and for short films, the newly-minted (in London at least, over the pond it’s been running for 20 years) HollyShorts Festival. This genre is for sure having a bit of a moment and the location where it looks to be lingering longest is Ireland.
Being as 50% of me is Irish – courtesy of my Wexford-born mum – and 100% is fascinated by emerging cinematic talent, it was a great pleasure to attend a FYC (For Your Consideration) screening late last year for four potential short film Oscar® nominees hailing from across the Irish sea.
The films: THE BOAT (dir. Luke Morgan), CALF (dir. Jamie O’Rourke), CLODAGH (dir. Portia A. Buckley) and ROOM TAKEN (dir. TJ O’Grady-Peyton) all boasted an excellence reflected in the number of awards already scooped up at festivals globally.
They’ve also impressed some serious A-list talent, with Colin Farrell taking on an Exec Producer role for ROOM TAKEN and his Banshees n’Bruges co-star, Brendan Gleeson, chucking a bit of heft behind THE BOAT. CALF, meanwhile, has benefitted from the attentions of the multi-talented Sharon Horgan.
Things have moved on apace since November though, with CLODAGH and ROOM TAKEN making the coveted Oscar® nominees shortlist, announced on December 19th, which is naturally fantastic news for both directors. CLODAGH is also included in the BAFTA short-film long list.
I managed to catch up with both Portia A. Buckley and TJ O’Grady-Peyton over the busy holiday period. Both are obviously delighted with the success of their cinematic progeny.
CLODAGH director Portia told us, “When we got OSCAR® shortlisted, we were just thrilled, you know? We felt very lucky to be in the mix with so many other great films. And for the film, the cast and crew to be recognised in that way is an honour so we’re really excited.”
Both filmmakers have trodden the sometimes challenging but ultimately rewarding path around the worldwide festival circuit. TJ O’Grady-Peyton entered the fray with his film ROOM TAKEN with no illusions.
“We’ve played close to 60 festivals, and won four awards and so many people have said nice things about it. Film festivals are so competitive though, some of the top tier ones get tens of thousands of submissions. I’ve gone through that experience before where you’ve made something that you’re proud of and not have it land anywhere. But I had faith in the story and the work we did, and we all really did work hard.”
ROOM TAKEN follows refugee Isaac, who, in a desperate need for shelter, finds an unexpected answer to his temporary homelessness when he takes refuge in the home of Victoria, an elderly blind woman, without her knowledge. As time passes, an unexpected bond forms between the unlikely pair.
“In the story, the character does something very wrong in terms of breaking into this vulnerable person’s home. So, you had to in a way empathise with him and feel like you can root for him doing such a thing. Isaac is played by Gabriel Adewusi, he’s an up and coming actor born in Nigeria, who grew up in Dublin. I felt like Gabriel was the type of person who could actually convey that sympathy, because it could be seen to be quite creepy.”
As with all short films though, it takes real grit to push a project from page to screen.
“I read an early draft of ROOM TAKEN (by Michael Wheeling) and was moved by the storylines and themes, and thought it had a good, interesting premise. So, we worked on it for a year or so and then went looking for financing which we got with Screen Ireland. We filmed it in February, 2023.”
A significant part of the recent success of Irish film is the support offered at home, as TJ explained.
“Screen Ireland funded our project and they have a lot of resources because of the success of certain projects in Ireland, whether it be Normal People or The Banshees of Inisherin. When Irish film does well internationally, more investment is put back into it. More filmmakers get an opportunity to tell stories. With Irish film, when it succeeds, that’s better for the community at large.”
And of course, it doesn’t hurt to have some top Hollywood talent on side.
“Colin Farrell after seeing the film, felt that it was a strong story that he wanted to help reach a wider audience. His support has been monumental. And I really feel that a lot of the reason we’re here has to do with that. We’ve only met once on a Zoom and he was a super guy. He spoke so articulately about the film and he had really interesting insights.”
For Portia A. Buckley, the route for CLODAGH was slightly different. This talented director had already been sponsored by the BFI and Kodak, with her previous short BIRTHDAY GIRL winning the Kodak Best Shot on Film Award at HollyShorts, alongside many more international accolades.
“I co-wrote the film with my writing partner, Michael Linley, who’s also my husband. We’d just had a child and started writing when our son was six months old. We had no expectations for the film. We were making it, you know, for us. I was thinking, I call myself a filmmaker, I haven’t made a film for two years, I need to be making something. We really just made it for the love of making film.”
CLODAGH follows Mrs Kelly, a lonely, devout, and rigorously honest housekeeper played by Bríd Ní Neachtain, whose discovery of a young Irish dancer, Clodagh (Katelyn Rose Downey) provokes a moral and spiritual dilemma.
Portia is full of praise for her cast and their work.
“Bríd, who plays Mrs. Kelly is the most experienced actor I’ve ever worked with. She’s really incredible, has worked a lot in theatre and brought her own context and knowledge to that part.
“We thought would be really interesting to follow the story of someone who didn’t get much praise for what she did, but was so integral to the running of things. We wanted to bring an artistic side out and bring something joyous to her. And that’s when we introduced the Irish dancing.
“Clodagh dances in the sean-nós style, which literally translates as old style… the dance is very different and obviously stirs this kind of passion and joy and awakens something in Mrs. Kelly. We need to understand why she’s so drawn and mesmerised by what she witnesses.
“With Katelyn Rose Downey, it was quite amazing as our script said, Clodagh dances as if touched by God. So, we were thinking, oh dear, no pressure! And we got very, very lucky. it was only afterwards that we found out that she’s a two-time world Irish champion dancer, she’s incredibly talented, and an actress too.”
For both directors, it’s now a waiting game until the much-anticipated non-long list, non-short list but actual real-life final (final) Oscars®nominees list hits the decks on January 19th.
Filmmakers: TJ O’Grady-Peyton and Portia A. Buckley
The last word(s) fittingly go to the filmmakers themselves. For TJ O’Grady-Peyton, it’s fingers and everything else crossed.
“I’m trying to remain optimistic; it’s also slightly terrifying because you’re so close! It’s been a boyhood dream to get there, so absolutely all we can do is hope for the best and see what happens. But it’s a fun moment.”
Portia A. Buckley, meanwhile, is happy to let her cinematic offspring out into the wider world.
“I was just feel so honoured really, that this film had this sort of life after it was made. You make the work and of course your intention is for people to see it. But it’s difficult with short film to actually get it out there. And so now I feel like the film’s completely separate from me. And it’s like a work in itself and is now on its own journey almost.”
We can only hope journey’s end will include an Academy Award nom. If the luck of the Irish holds, we’re sure it will!
Written by Gillian Smith | Cover photo CLODAGH: JOMO FRAY
Share your thoughts in the comment box below!
More from the blog:
Get social with us – follow and tag us! @mysohotimes #MySohoTimes
Special Offers – Straight to Your Inbox!
Receive the latest news, events, and discounts from our partners in a MONTHLY newsletter… Ready to join the club?
MY SOHO TIMES 