The Short Films of Cartoon Saloon

Founded in 1999, the Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon has charmed the world with its breathtaking films, including the Oscar-nominated The Secret of Kells (2009), Song of the Sea (2014), The Breadwinner (2017) and Wolfwalkers (2020) – yet their features only tell part of the studio’s story. To celebrate Cartoon Saloon’s 25th anniversary, this special programme shines a light on their rarely-screened short films.

From early works such as Nora Twomey’s From Darkness (2002) and Cúilín Dualach (2004) to Louise Bagnall’s Oscar-nominated Late Afternoon (2017) and Paul Young’s Star Wars tale Screecher’s Reach (2023), these shorts have acted as a playground for new talent and a showcase for wildly different styles of animation and storytelling – all while exhibiting the emotional power of the studio’s best work, and their longstanding interest in themes of folklore, memory and family. Programmed by critic, curator and Ghibliotheque co-creator Michael Leader.

Suitable for age 12+.

From Darkness
Director Nora Twomey Ireland 2002 9min

Cúilín Dualach
Director Nora Twomey Ireland 2004 12min

Old Fangs
Director Adrian Merigeau Ireland 2009 11min

Somewhere Down the Line
Director Julien Regnard Ireland 2014 10min

The Ledge End of Phil
Director Paul Ó Muiris Ireland 2014 6min

Late Afternoon
Director Louise Bagnall Ireland 2017 10min

Screecher’s Reach
Director Paul Young US-Ireland 2023 13min

See other programmes in the London Short Film Festival.