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Loneliness and longing are examined with a forensic and unflinching eye in “Shelter,” a bleak Irish-language drama about a reclusive 20-something man-child who must face the world he has been protected from all his life. but its intensity and refusal to indulge in sentimentality makes it sometimes tough to watch. Adapted from the 2013 novel “The Thing About December” by Donal Ryan, “Shelter” marks a promising debut by writer-director Sean Breathnach and has been selected as Ireland’s official submission for the 2022 international feature Oscar.

The basic outline of “Shelter” echoes films such as Werner Herzog’s “The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser” and Rolf de Heer’s “Bad Boy Bubby,” in which young adult males are suddenly thrust into the world after being cruelly locked away from it all their lives. In “Shelter” it is not imprisonment but willing acceptance of overwhelming parental love that has kept John Cunliffe (Donal O...

"It's time to stop living like a ghost." An early trailer is available for the award-winning Irish film Shelter, originally known as Foscadh, marking the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Seán Breathnach. This premiered at the 2021 Galway Film Festival, and was just selected as Ireland's submission to the Academy Awards for this year. Set in the mountains of contemporary Connemara, Foscadh is a feature film telling the story of gormless recluse John Cunliffe. When his over-cosseting parents pass away, John inherits mountain land that is in the way of a lucrative wind-farm development and he is forced to navigate the choppy waters of courtship, trust and vengeance for the first time. The film stars Dónall Ó Héalaí, Cillian Ó Gairbhí, Fionnuala Flaherty, Macdara Ó Fátharta, and Diarmuid de Faoite. This is described as "a poignant meditation on isolation, neurodiversity, and letting go of the past." No surprise - it looks pretty damn good.

The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) has picked Irish-Language feature Foscadh (Shelter) as this year’s entry for the International Oscar race.

Written and directed by Seán Breathnach, the pic stars Dónall Ó Héalai (Arracht), Fionnuala Flaherty (An Klondike), and Cillian O’Gairbhí (Blood) in a story based on characters in Donal Ryan’s novel The Thing About December. The plot follows naïve recluse John Cunliffe who is suddenly propelled into manhood at the age of 28. When his overprotective parents pass away, friendless John inherits mountain land that is in the way of a lucrative wind-farm development, and he is forced to navigate the choppy waters of romance, trust and vengeance for the first time.

Producer is Paddy Hayes (Cumar: A Galway Rhapsody), whose father Tom Hayes was nominated for an Oscar 50 years ago for the documentary Cradle Of Genius. The film is produced by Hayes’ Magamedia and premiered at...

★☆☆☆☆After more than three decades entertaining children on TV, Postman Pat makes the transition to the big-screen in Postman Pat: The Movie (2014). The result is a lacklustre offering that comes as a far cry to the charming stop-motion TV series fostered by original creators John Cunliffe and Ivor Wood. Desperate to treat his loyal wife to a romantic holiday, Pat (Stephen Mangan) is forced to enter an X Factor-style talent competition when his bonus is scrapped. An overnight sensation, Pat is whisked away to London, where he immediately settles into his newfound celebrity status, leaving Carbunkle (Peter Woodward) - the postal service's evil new recruit - to replace him with hundreds of automatons.

A First-class cast has been assembled to bring the adventures of children's favourite Postman Pat to the big screen.

Stephen Mangan will voice the character in Postman Pat: The Movie - You Know You're the One, alongside contributions from Harry Potter star Rupert Grint, former Doctor Who David Tennant and Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent.

The 3D animated film will show Pat tempted away from his hometown of Greendale and his cat Jess by the bright lights of fame after he enters a television talent show.

Mangan (pictured right) said: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be playing the world's best-known postman in his big screen debut - he's an iconic British hero and it's a great script. However when I excitedly told my three-year-old son that I was going to be Postman Pat, he said, 'No you're not, dad, don't be silly'."

Rupert Grint added: "I used to watch Postman Pat when I was a small boy.

As Postman Pat turns 30, he and Jess are making a move to the big screen. But what explains the television postman's enduring appeal?

It's 30 years today since Postman Pat delivered his first letter – and now the animated children's television show is graduating to the big screen as Pat and his black and white cat Jess star in their own animated film.

Pat will be voiced by Episodes and Green Wing actor Stephen Mangan, while the cast also includes Jim Broadbent, Rupert Grint and David Tennant. Rather than just several hours of letter delivery, the storyline will focus on what happens when Pat enters a TV talent show that threatens to tear him away from village life in Greendale.

Postman Pat: The Movie – You Know You're the One begins production this month and is due for release in spring 2013.

Pat, Jess, postmistress Mrs Goggins and friends have captivated children across...

Work is reportedly under way on a 3D stop-motion animated Postman Pat movie. According to The Mirror, Classic Media is to produce a film based on John Cunliffe's children's TV series, which followed a country postal worker delivering letters in a red van with his cat Jess. The movie will allegedly see Pat enter a Britain's Got Talent-style TV contest after (more)...