Disappointment as Arracht fails to make Oscars' Best International Feature shortlist

The shortlists of nine award categories for the 2021 Oscars were announced last night, including the shortlist for International Feature Film – in which the 93 films submitted were narrowed down to a list of 15. Disappointingly, the Irish submission, Arracht, did not make the shortlist.

Back in November, the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) announced that Arracht had been selected as Ireland's entry for the Oscars' International Feature Film category. The film was selected by IFTA's 2021 Selection Committee, which included director Lenny Abrahamson, actor Ciarán Hinds, composer Eímear Noone, producer Macdara Kelleher, actress Fionnula Flanagan and David Flynn. The Committee was chaired by IFTA's CEO Áine Moriarty.

Arracht, which is told almost entirely in the Irish language, is set in 1845, on the eve of The Great Famine. Written and directed by Tom Sullivan, Arracht won two Irish Academy Awards at 2020's virtual IFTA ceremony, along with multiple IFTA Nominations. The film stars Dónall Ó Héalai who is a ‘Screen International Star of Tomorrow 2020’, alongside Dara Devaney, Michael McElhatton, and newcomer Saise Ní Chúinn.

The 15 films included on the International Feature Film shortlist will now advance to the next round of voting. Nominations will be announced on March 15, while the Oscars are set to take place on Sunday, April 25.

There was also disappointment as Crock Of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan failed to make the Documentary Feature shortlist.

See the full shortlists from the nine award categories – including Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, International Feature Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song), Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film and Visual Effects – here.