Kilkenny’s Lighthouse Studios Wins Oscar-Qualifying Award for Debut Short Film

Lighthouse Studios, based in Kilkenny, has achieved a significant milestone with its debut short film, Póg mo Pigeon. The film won the ‘Best Animated Short’ award at the Academy-Award qualifying Foyle Film Festival in Derry. Known for its work on popular animations like Rick and Morty, The Cuphead Show!, and The Bob’s Burgers Movie, Lighthouse Studios has a history of producing acclaimed animations, including the BAFTA-winning El Deafo for Apple TV+.

Póg mo Pigeon marks the directorial debut of Clíodhna Lyons and is the first professional writing credit for Polly Holland, who joined the studio through the Screen Skills Ireland Graduate Traineeship. The film, set in West Cork during the 1970s, tells the story of Mikey, a young child who escapes into the forest to avoid the watchful eyes of Mammy’s Sacred Heart icon. The film’s originality, storytelling, and haunting beauty were praised by the jury.

Executive Producer and Managing Director Claire Finn expressed her pride in the team’s achievement: “Clíodhna and the team did an amazing job bringing Polly’s concept to life, and the jury praised the film for its originality, storytelling, and haunting beauty – something we can all take great pride in. We’re delighted to receive such praise for our first original release.”

Director Clíodhna Lyons added: “The whole team is delighted to see their work recognised. Thank you to Foyle Film Festival for embracing our film, for supporting animation as a medium and for highlighting such diversity in their programming.”