'Secret Of Kells' on trail of more awards

The animated features film, 'The Secret Of Kells', has been nominated for The Irish Film and Television Academy awards. The Tomm Moore film was nominated in the best feature film category and the other shortlisted nominees are Margaret Corkery's drama, 'Eamon'; Conor McPherson's supernatural thriller, 'The Eclipse'; Neil Jordan's modern fairytale, 'Ondine' and John and Kieran Carney's comedy, 'Zonad'. The award ceremony takes place on Saturday 20th February at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin. All of the categories have been shortlisted by academy members and jury panels of experts from around the world. 'The Secret Of Kells' is an Irish-Belgian-French animated feature film by Cartoon Saloon, and it is based in Kells in monastic times. It is about 12 year-old Brendan who is educated by his uncle, Abbot Cellach, who holds a firm grip on his nephew and expects him to follow in his footsteps. One day, Brendan meets Brother Aidan, a master illustrator who shows him the beauty of art and stimulates his creativity and fantasy. Finally, Brendan decides to break free in search of his dream: completing the valuable Book of Kells. The film features the voices of Michael McGrath as the adult Brendan, Evan McGuire as young Brendan, Brendan Gleeson as Abbot Cellach, Liam Hourican as Brother Tang/Leonardo and Mick Lally as Brother Aidan. It has already won several awards including the Audience Award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France and the Audience Award at the 2009 Edinburgh International Film Festival, as well as the Roy E Disney Award at Seattle's 2D Or Not 2D Film Festival. It was also nominated for the Grand Prix Award for Best Film at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, the Best Animated Film at the European Film Awards and the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature.