Irish producer Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly’s animation ‘Head Over Heels’ has made the shortlist for Oscars consideration this year.
The 11-minute film was one of ten animations announced in the short animated film category, announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences last Friday. Each of the ten will now move forward to be considered a nominee, to be announced on January 10.
‘Head Over Heels’, a stop-motion animation, follows husband and wife, Walter and Madge, as they try to rebuild their marriage. The only thing getting in their way is that Walter lives on the floor and Madge lives on the ceiling.
The animation has already scooped top prize at this year’s Galway Film Fleadh, taking home the Cartoon Saloon Best First Animation Award.
‘Token Hunchback’ director Timothy Reckart wrote and directed ‘Head Over Heels’, with Cronin O’Reilly producing for the National Film and Television School in the UK.
The animation is shortlisted against, among others, Disney’s ‘Paperman’, which was directed by John Kahrs, who has worked on ‘Toy Story 2’, Ratatouille’, ‘Bolt’ and ‘Tangled, as well as Gracie Films’ ‘The Longest Daycare’, which sees the ‘The Simpson’s’ character Maggie suffer a traumatic day at the hands of other kids in her daycare.
Cronin O’Reilly has previously worked as a special effects assistant on the IFTA-winning feature ‘The Wind That Shakes the Barley’, as well as produced her own short ‘Nine Lives’.
Nominations for the short animated film category will be announced on January 10, and the awards ceremony will be held on February 24, with ‘Family Guy’ creator Seth MacFarlane hosting.
