Earlier this year, Spark Computer Graphics Society and Women in Animation (WIA) joined forces to establish the first Diversity Awards at the 9th Annual Spark Animation Festival which takes place from October 26th – 29th 2017, in Vancouver. The Award was established to “celebrate outstanding contributions to diversity and inclusion in the animation industry”. In total, there are 3 Diversity Awards – for an organisation, for an individual and for a film.
Twomey directed ‘The Breadwinner’, the story of a headstrong girl in Afghanistan, who disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family. WIA is honouring Twomey with the individual Award, for her efforts to highlight gender gaps and cultural differences.
The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) is scheduled to hold a special Academy Members Q&A with Nora Twomey following the Academy’s screening of ‘The Breadwinner’ on November 7th. Twomey, who is the co-founder and creative director of Cartoon Saloon, has steered the success of a number of the company’s projects in recent years, alongside fellow Directors Paul Young and Tom Moore receiving Oscar Nominations along the way for both ‘The Secret of Kells’ and the ‘Song Of The Sea’, which won the IFTA Best Irish Film Award in 2015.
The film is being distributed by Gkids in the USA and releases there on November 17th.
In the UK & Ireland, the film is distributed by StudioCanal and releases on May 25th 2018.