Short-film shot in county Limerick, CALF, qualifies for the 2025 Oscars

A KILDIMO-shot short film has qualified to be considered for the 2025 Oscars.

CALF, a short film about a farm accident, was produced for Virgin Media Television and was funded by Screen Ireland and Virgin Media.

It has now qualified to be considered for the 97th Academy Awards, after winning the qualifying award at the Huesca International Film Festival.  

Raheen-based filmmaker Ronan Cassidy, who won an Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) for CALF alongside fellow filmmaker Gregory Burrowes, from Parteen, produced the Kildimo-shot film.

READ MORE: 'Immersive' virtual reality art exhibition comes to Limerick this Culture Night

Described as “gripping and thought provoking”, CALF has been selected at Oscar-qualifying festivals around the world and is on the longlist to be considered for the prestigious prize.

The plot follows protagonist Cáit, after a “sinister farm accident” leaves her with “a terrible decision to make”. 

“CALF touches on its central theme of domestic abuse in a sensitive manner and  is a poignant exploration of shock, grief and trauma that delivers much-deserved catharsis,” the production team describe.

“It poses tough questions for the audience. But there are never easy answers when a family is in the grip of abuse.”  

Actors starring in CALF include Isabelle Connolly (God's Creatures) and Kate Nic Chonaonaigh (An Cailín Ciúin/The Quiet Girl). It was written and directed by Jamie O’Rourke.

Isabelle Connolly is a rising star in Irish  and international cinema and has been tipped to follow in the footsteps of Saoirse Ronan.