Lighthouse’s ‘Póg mo Pigeon’ Wins Oscar-Qualifying Award

Póg mo Pigeon, the debut short from Kilkenny’s Lighthouse Studios, has won the Best Animated Short at Derry’s Academy-Award qualifying Foyle Film Festival, the studio announced today. The film competed in the Light in Motion competition, with winners announced at the Closing Night Gala on Sunday.

As well as being the studio’s first original short, Póg mo Pigeon is the debut short film from director Clíodhna Lyons, whose credits to date include assistant director on several of the studio’s productions. It is also the first professional writing credit for Polly Holland, who pitched the idea during an in-house open call, having recently joined the studio through the Screen Skills Ireland Graduate Traineeship in association with Animation Ireland. Holland served as animator on the film as well.

“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,” said the film’s executive producer Claire Finn, Managing Director of Lighthouse Studios.

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

Founded in 2017, Lighthouse Studios has provided animation for hits such as Rick and Morty, The Cuphead Show! and The Bob’s Burgers Movie, and in 2022 won a BAFTA for El Deafo, which the studio produced for Apple TV+. The BAFTA-winning studio is currently animating the 2D feature Light of the World, for partners Pencilish and Epipheo, while developing original content including Savage Town, a gritty Irish tale for adult audiences set at the turn of the millennium; Showtime!, a coproduction with Derry-based Dog Ears,; and a yet-to-be-announced series for young adults.