Kilkenny film scoops two major awards

OSCAR nominated animation company Cartoon Saloon picked up two awards at the Irish Films and Television Academy (IFTA) awards ceremony.

The Kilkenny company was nominated in three categories of the prestigious awards.

An image from 'The Secret of Kells'

Graignamanagh man Tomm Moore was named the 2010 Irish Film Board Rising Star and his film 'The Secret of Kells' took home the award for Best Animation.

Cartoon Saloon also won an IFTA in 2008 for their TV series Skunk Fu!.

Hopes are now high that they will bring home an Oscar from the upcoming Academy Awards in Los Angeles on March 7.

Their film, 'The Secret of Kells', is up against 'Coraline', 'Fantastic Mr Fox', 'The Princess and the Frog' and 'Up', in the Best Animated Feature category.

Cartoon Saloon is currently working on three new feature film projects including 'Song of the Sea', 'Skunk FU! The Movie' and 'Bluebeard'.