It may only be August 2nd, but we already have our first official submission for the 2023 Academy Awards. The Irish Film & Television Academy revealed today that “The Quiet Girl (An Cailín Ciúin)” will represent the island nation in the International Film Oscar race. Colm Bairéad’s feature directorial debut won seven 2022 Irish Academy Awards including Best Film.
READ MORE: Did the 2023 Oscars kick-off at Cannes?
In a statement, Bairéad and producer Cleona Ní Chrualaoi remarked, “We are honoured beyond words that ‘An Cailín Ciúin / The Quiet Girl’ has been selected to represent Ireland. Our heartfelt thanks to IFTA and its selection committee. We have always believed in the idea that an Irish-language film could stand shoulder to shoulder with the best of world cinema and we feel so proud to be representing our country and our language in this way. It has been an extraordinary privilege adapting Claire Keegan’s ‘Foster’ to the big screen and we can’t wait to introduce our film to more and more members of the Academy as The Quiet Girl continues its roll-out on the international stage. None of this would have been possible without the vision of TG4, Screen Ireland, and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, who co-funded the Cine4 feature film initiative, which has created a new wave of Irish-language cinema that is being recognized around the world.”
Adapted from Claire Keegan’s acclaimed short story, “Foster,” the film is a coming-of-age story told through the eyes of a young girl portrayed by Catherine Clinch.
The selection was made by a committee comprised of Roma Downey (“Ben-Hur”), Oscar-nominated actor John C. Reilly (“Chicago”), producer & Paramount TV EVP of International Strategy David Flynn, Oscar-nominated director Jim Sheridan (“My Left Foot”), director Aisling Walsh (“Maudie”) and actress Fionnula Flanagan (“The Guard”). The Committee was chaired by Irish Film and Television Academy CEO, Áine Moriarty.
The International Film race is wide open this year with many nations having multiple contenders to choose from. Some early assumed (and emphasis on “assumed”) selections are “Close” (Belgium), “E.O.” (Poland), “Godland” (Iceland), “Decision to Leave” (South Korea), “Bardo” (Mexico), “Argentina 1985” (Argentina), “Corsage” (Austria), “Utama” (Bolivia), “Holy Spider” (Demark), “RRR” (India), “RMN” (Romania), “Alcarràs” (Spain) and “Boy from Heaven” (Sweden).
The deadline for international selection committees to submit is Monday, October 3rd.