Belfast-based animation studio ALT Animation has won a competitive European funding call for its new animated film "Lugi - The Brodgar Boy"
Northern Ireland's creative industries have had a great year, with Derry-based game development studio Hypixel Studios recently being bought by global giant Riot Games and a series of other major wins for local film production, game development, and animation companies.
One of the major promoters of industry success in recent years is the Creative Europe MEDIA sub-programme, a competitive grant programme that supports European studios to develop new projects with international potential. Belfast-based animation studio ALT Animation has announced that it's one of this year's successful applicants for the programme's Single Project Development call.
ALT Animation was one of 64 creative industry companies selected for the award from a total of 278 applications across 32 countriesm, and one of only ten successful animation studios this year. This year's award is also particularly important for studios in Northern Ireland as they won't be able to apply in future years due to Brexit. Applications already in progress for the 2020 calls will be honoured if successful, including this one.
The selected project is an animated feature film named "Lugi - The Brodgar Boy" set in the Scottish islands of Orkney in Neolithic times, telling the story of "a young disabled boy who must unite his people in order to defeat the evil forces that threaten to cover his world in darkness." It's aimed at a family audience and will explore the ancient heritage of Orkney's ruins.
Tim Bryans, writer and producer from ALT Animation, commented on the significance of the win: "In these uncertain times, we are delighted to be able to embark upon such an exciting project and we hope that Lugi is just the first of many animated features that we can produce on these shores in the coming years."
Source: Written based on press release
