Kavaleer Productions win two Digital Media Awards

Kavaleer Productions have collected two prizes at the annual Digital Media Awards for the short film Hasan Everywhere. The animation company won the award for best use of film or animation and also collected the prestigious Grand Prix award on the night.

 

The Digital Media Awards presents awards in twenty one categories to various projects, companies and organisations. The winner is those who produce the most stylish, creative and pioneering work in the digital media sector. The Grand Prix award is a special commendation for outstanding excellence, this award goes to the project that received the highest average mark from the judges. The judges commented that Hasan Everywhere is a beautifully executed animation with an excellent story that is both gripping and haunting. They also said that the project's creativity and craft shone through and that the project bespeaks a creator in high command of their craft.

Kavaleer Productions, based in Dublin’s Digital Hub, were awarded for their work on the short film Hasan Everywhere. Based on the friendship of an Israeli novelist and Palestinian artist the film depicts an animated version of love and friendship across the divide. The piece was directed by Andrew Kavanagh and produced by Ciara Gillan.

Speaking about the victory Andrew says, “ I am honoured and delighted that the jury recognized Hasan Everywhere and am overwhelmed that the film won the overall Grand Prix as well as the Film & Animation category. I think it’s a fitting tribute to Hasan Hourani and I would like to thank the Hourani family for trusting me to make this film, and Dorit Rabinyan for sharing her story with me.”

Ciara Gillan says, “Andrew and I were delighted to be given the opportunity by Hasan's family and Dorit to tell their story. The past two and half years have been a challenging and rewarding journey. It's great to have all of this and the beauty of this film recognised. Thanks again to the Digital Media Awards.”


Click here to read The Guardian article that inspired Hasan Everywhere.

Pic 1: Pictured from L-R are: Gary Timpson, MD of Kavaleer, Ciara Gillan, Producer Hasan Everywhere, Andrew Kavanagh, CEO of Kavaleer and Director of Hasan Everywhere and Kevin Ryan, CEO Satellite Broadband Ireland sponsors of the event.
Pic 2: Pictured are: Andrew Kavanagh, CEO of Kavaleer and Director of Hasan Everywhere and Ciara Gillan, Producer of Hasan Everywhere

About Hasan Everywhere
Production on the film which is classically animated began in 2008, incorporating live action, CGI and Hourani’s own paintings. The filmmakers were determined to make a traditional piece which would reflect the illustrative style of Hourani’s own work. The film follows a split timeline, detailing the developing relationship between Rabinyan and Hourani, and following Hourani’s last journey to Jaffa. Using magical realism to reflect the inner worlds of the protagonists, the film seeks to evoke the dream-like hinterland that lies between the two friends, gradually eradicating political and perceived borders, culminating in a union through shared ideals, passions and values.

Hasan Everywhere is an animation which broaches the subtlety of a relationship between a man and a woman who bear the passports of enemies, to sympathetically deal with the subjects of death, grief, lost opportunity; but mostly is seeks to demonstrate the possibility of friendship triumphing over the deepest of rifts between two people. In that regard it is most unusual among the standard fare of animated shorts.
Winner of two Digital Media Awards in the Best Use of Film or Animation category, and the overall Grand Prix award, February 2010
Nominated for an Irish Film and Television Award in the Animation category, January 2010.

About Kavaleer
Kavaleer Productions was founded in November 2001 and has become one of Ireland’s most prolific and well respected providers of animated content. Kavaleer’s early work in filmmaking garnered awards from Portugal to China and secured official selection in 100 international festivals on five continents. In 2004, Kavaleer moved to their current home at Dublin’s Digital Hub, placing the studio at the heart of Ireland’s digital media sector and giving Kavaleer a highly competitive edge through a number of strategic technological partnerships. The company has been jointly managed by Andrew Kavanagh and Gary Timpson since April 2006.

Kavaleer have developed a bespoke facility in their Catherine’s Lane premises and provide a full animation service covering everything from TV commercials to full length TV series.
Kavaleer are also the proud winners of four Digital Media Awards and have been nominated for two Irish Film and Television Awards and a British Animation Award. Kavaleer are currently developing a number of projects for the pre-school and teen markets and are also hoping to expand their services in new territories such as the UK, Canada, US and Australia.