Saturday 16th March 2024
Location: Watergate Theatre, Parliament Street, Kilkenny. R95 D320
A Ukrainian version of the animated feature, Puffin Rock and The New Friends is produced by the Academy Award-nominated Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon and Northern Ireland’s Dog Ears. The Puffin Rock and the New Friends Ukrainian version is available for educational and non commercial use across Ireland and Europe.The Screen Ireland supported film provided a unique opportunity to collaborate and connect with the Ukrainian community in Ireland and across Europe. The Ukrainian version of Puffin Rock and The New Friends is entirely voiced by Ukrainian nationals that have relocated to Ireland.
Note from Director Jeremy Purcell:
“Puffin Rock is a wonderful place to live, but what if it just doesn’t feel like your home.” During the production of the film this was a guiding statement for us, for how Isabelle may be feeling as a new puffin coming to live on a new Island, far far away from her home.

We always tried to talk about her character in the simplest ways, for us she is an 8 year old child moving to a new school or an 8 year old child whose parents have to work away from home. We tried to focus on universal themes and experiences for our audience.

But sadly in the world we live in, she is also an 8 year old child forced to leave all they have known, not because of climate change but because her home has been destroyed by war.

It was quite late in production when our Executive Producer Gerry Shirren, suggested the idea of making a Ukrainian version of the film. We absolutely knew it was something we wanted to do.”
Organisers Website

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