IFTA nod for short film shot in East Cork

A short film shot in East Cork has been nominated for a prestigious award in the 2023 Irish Film and Television Academy Awards (IFTAs).

Filmed entirely on location in Youghal, Cork filmmaker Sinéad O’Loughlin’s award-winning psychological thriller ‘LAMB’ is up for Best Live Action Short Film at this year’s awards.

The film stars Aoife Duffin ('Moone Boy', 'Resistance'), and Glanmire actor Éanna Hardwicke ('Normal People', 'Vivarium', 'Smother'), who has also been nominated for a Rising Star award at the IFTAs.

‘LAMB’ had its world premiere at the TRIBECA festival in 2022 where it was chosen out of a record-breaking 7,200 short film submissions. So far it has won first prize for Best Screenplay at Rhode Island International Film Festival; the Audience Award for Best Short Film at Cork International Film Festival; and Best Irish Short at the Dublin International Film Festival 2023.

Sinéad O’Loughlin said: “My intention in writing ‘LAMB’ was to create a gripping, tense psychological thriller about a woman’s worst nightmare walking into her home. As a director, I wanted the experience of the audience to mimic Sarah's emotional journey throughout the piece.

“We’ve had great reaction to the piece so far with audiences and critics alike.”

O’Loughlin met ‘LAMB’ producer Lara Hickey at the X-Pollinator initiative in 2019, a platform for women and non-binary filmmakers.

The film is supported by Screen Ireland as part of its Focus Shorts scheme for emerging filmmakers and was one of four projects chosen out of 130 applications for funding.

Director of photography Dan Keane and editor Kilian Waters from Arcade Film were joined by composer and sound designer Die Hexen (‘You Are Not My Mother’), and production designer Angela Mulhern. Costume design was done by Sarah Heraughty. Post-production services were provided by Element Post Production.