Two Irish films will battle it out at the Oscars tonight.
The Shore and Pentecost have both been nominated in the Best Live Action Short Film category for the 84th Academy Awards. The Shore, which is directed by previous two-times nominee Terry George, tells the story of boyhood best friends (Ciarán Hinds and Conleth Hill) who are reunited after 25 years and a shattering misunderstanding.
The other nominated Irish short, Pentecost, is directed by Peter McDonald. It is a whip-smart comedy about a football-obsessed altar boy (Scott Graham) who is left on the bench after messing up at mass. The film is produced by Eimear O’Kane who says that she hopped on a plane to LA as soon as the nominations were announced.
The five Oscar-nominated short films are currently touring the US, playing in more than 150 cinemas in packages of 90 minutes.
The other big Irish nominee tonight is Belfast-born Kenneth Branagh who has been nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for My Week with Marilyn. "It was a rare honour to play Sir Laurence Olivier,” said 51-year-old Branagh. “To be recognised by the Academy for doing so is overwhelming. I'm absolutely thrilled."
Glen Close, the star of Albert Nobbs which was shot on location in Ireland, is nominated in the best actress category and her co-star, Janet McTeer, is in the supporting actress category.
