It is the second year in a row that an Irish language movie has been selected.
Last year, the Irish Film & Television Academy chose Irish language drama Arracht to represent the country in the Best International Feature Film Oscar competition, and while the movie didn’t quite make the shortlist on the night, it did get enough attention that a big budget Hollywood remake is currently in the works.
Hoping to match or surpass that level of success is Foscadh (Shelter), which IFTA has selected as Ireland’s entry for the Oscars’ Best International Feature Film category (formerly Best Foreign Language category) at the upcoming 94th annual Academy Awards.
The movie’s official synopsis is as follows:
“Set in the wild mountains of Connemara, Foscadh tells the story of naive recluse John Cunliffe who is suddenly propelled into manhood at the ripe old age of 28. When his over-protective parents pass away, friendless John inherits mountain land that is in the way of a lucrative wind-farm development, and he is forced to navigate the choppy waters of romance, trust and vengeance for the first time…”
The Oscar Best International Film contenders will next be shortlisted to 15 international finalists on 21 December this year, which will then be ultimately shortlisted to the final five Oscar Nominees in that category on 8 February 2022.
The 94th Academy Awards ceremony is currently scheduled to take place on 27 March 2022.
Seán Breathnach, the writer and director of Foscadh, had this to say about the selection news:
“It truly is both an honour and a privilege to be chosen by IFTA to represent Ireland in the Academy Awards Best International Film category. We are beyond thrilled that Foscadh (Shelter) is garnering such a positive reaction from critics and festivals alike, following on from its Best First Film award at the Galway Film Fleadh.
“I would like to take this opportunity to give thanks to our wonderful cast and crew agus ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil lenár lucht maointhe, TG4, Fís Éireann, agus Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann.”
There is currently no release date set for Foscadh for Irish cinemas, but you can check out the trailer for the movie right here:
Clip via Magamedia
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