Michael Inside is written and directed by Frank Berry and stars Dafhyd Flynn, Moe Dunford and Lalor Roddy. It tells the story of Michael McCrea, an 18-year-old living with his grandfather in a Dublin housing estate, who gets caught holding a bag of drugs for his friend’s older brother and is sentenced to three months in prison.

Over the next few weeks, over 3,500 members of the European Film Academy will vote for the nominations in the categories Best European Film, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenwriter. The nominations will then be announced on 10 November at the Seville European Film Festival in Spain. An 8-member jury will decide on the awards recipients in the categories European Cinematographer, Editor, Production Designer, Costume Designer, Hair & Make-up Artist, Composer, Sound Designer and – for the first time – Visual Effects Supervisor.

Michael Inside has received support from many Irish actors and directors, including Academy Award nominated director Lenny Abrahamson.

Great news and very much deserved. https://t.co/Wca0H0IsTL

— lenny abrahamson (@lennyabrahamson) August 21, 2018

The 31st European Film Awards with the presentation of the winners will take place on 15 December in Seville.