Mayo could be heading to the Oscars

The news that Slovenia’s 2012 Foreign Language submission for the 2012 Oscars was partially shot on Mayo's beautiful White Strand beach at Doovilra near Louisburgh is another boost to the county's tourism sector and highlights how attractive Mayo is to international film-makers.

Irish film company, Fastnet Films, are the co-producers on Slovenia’s 2012 Foreign Language Oscar submission ‘Silent Sonata’.

The Irish producers on the feature are Conor Barry (Savage), Morgan Bushe (The Other Side of Sleep) and Macdara Kelleher (The Runway). Staragara are the Slovenian producers behind the feature.

Directed by Janez Burger, ‘Silent Sonata’ (aka Circus Fantasticus) tells the story of a man who stays alone with his children in a half demolished house in the middle of a desolate field. His wife has just been killed by a grenade in a military battle and he is expecting a new attack.

The Irish Finnish Slovenian project has been critically acclaimed on home turf, taking best pictures, director, sound, music and supporting actor (Ravil Sultanov) at the 2010 Festival of Slovenian Film. Irish crew Daniel Birch and Robert Flanagan were nominated for an IFTA for Best Sound in 2011 for their work on the feature.

‘Silent Sonata’ has also been longlisted alongside Ireland’s Foreign Language Oscar Bid ‘As If I Am Not There’ and Element Pictures co-production ‘Essential Killing’ for this year’s European Film Awards.