The Irish-language film, An Cailín Ciúin, has been shortlisted for an Oscar in the best international film category.
One of the fifteen films shortlisted on Wednesday in Los Angeles is An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl).
The final list of nominees for the 95th Academy Awards will be announced in January.
A coming-of-age drama that explores the meaning of family through the eyes of a neglected young girl, is based on Claire Keegan’s novella Foster, and it was directed by Colm Bairead.
It follows Cait (Catherine Clinch), who is sent from her disfunctional, overcrowded home to stay with distant relatives for the summer. The story is set in rural Ireland in 1981.
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, TG4, Screen Ireland, and the Cine4 program funded the movie.
It became the most successful Irish-language movie ever with over €1 million in box office revenues in Ireland and the UK. It also won several awards.
Mr. Bairead and producer Cleona Ní Chrualaoi, from Insceal, the production company behind the film, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that An Cailín Ciúin has been shortlisted by the Academy for best international feature film and we are particularly proud to be the first Irish-language film to have achieved this.
“What a historic moment for Irish-language cinema.”