Cartoon Highlight For Irish Film Festival

An Irish animated feature from Cartoon Saloon has been announced as one of the highlights of a major film festival early in the New Year.

The Secret of Kells - which is due for nationwide release on March 6th - was directed by Tomm Moore and has just been unveiled as one of the early programme highlights of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival which will run from the 12th - 22nd February 2009.

The film which features the voice talent of Brendan Gleeson and Mick Lally, tells the story of an orphan named Brendan who is set the task of completing the Book of Kells.

The task sees him called to a new life of creativity and imagination where adventure, danger and action await him.

The full festival programme will be announced on January 21st and will feature over 130 Irish and international film screenings including the Cannes winner The Class (France, 2008) and Three Monkeys (Turkey, 2008).

For many of these films, it will be their first and only screening in Ireland and events which will take part across the festival include the Dublin City Libraries film quiz, the Write Here Write Now Screenwriting Awards in association with Walt Disney Motion Pictures as well as numerous information panel sessions.

Commenting on these early highlights, Festival Director Gráinne Humphreys said: "To whet appetites I am delighted to offer a sneak preview of some of the films and events that will take place across the city in February.

"The festival has also launched an exciting new marketing campaign, in which the real stars of the festival, the audience, will be telling us their favourite films, before hopefully discovering a new favourite in the 2009 festival."

Tickets for the festival will be available at midnight on 21st January 2009. The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival is grant aided by The Arts Council/ An Chomhairle Ealaíon.

(BMcC)