Blacknorth

Blacknorth Studio

Info
Type	Animation/VFX Studio
Founded	2009 [1]
Producer/Director	Kris Kelly
Producer	Ross Morrison
Assistant Director	Laura Robinson
Generalist	Tom Getty
Intern	Hannah Turkington
Intern	Scott Gill

Blacknorth is an animation and visual effects (VFX) studio based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 2009 by Kris Kelly and Evelyn McGrath, with the latter leaving in 2013.

Kris Kelly - Founder of Blacknorth

The studio has been the recipient of numerous awards including: BAFTA, International Emmy, RTS, Don Quixote Prize, Darklight Award, amongst others.^[2]

The studio was commissioned to create a number of projects for Children’s BBC and Comic Relief, which led to international recognition with the short My Autism and Me (BBC, 2011) ^[3] which won an RTS Award in 2012 and an International Emmy in 2013. Their next short, Living with Alcohol (BBC, 2013) won a BAFTA for best factual short.

In 2014, Blacknorth were invited to judge the Animation Award at the Fresh Film Fest in Carlsbad, Czech Republic.

In 2015, Blacknorth announced new IP wing, Blackmarket. Blackmarket concentrates solely upon in-house productions leaving Blacknorth to focus on work-for-hire.

The studio in Belfast

The studio in Belfast

Original Work

Short films

Here to Fall (2011)

• Following the story of Amy, Here to Fall focuses on a frantic journey which she must take into an unfamiliar, chaotic world as she attempts to reconnect with her father.
• Here To Fall was recognised with a number of awards including the 2012 Darklight Award for Best Animation and the 2012 Don Quixote Prize for Best Animation at the Galway Film Fleadh. Ultimately, it went on to receive a BAFTA nomination for Best Short Animation in 2013. In the same year, it was selected to be shown at a number of festivals, such as: Brooklyn Film Festival, Raindance, Encounters and Foyle Film Festival.

^{[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]}

Work-for-Hire

Film

• Jack & Jill (Happy Madison Productions, 2011) ^[11]
  • Blacknorth provided visual effects.
• Looper (TriStar Pictures, 2012) ^[12]
  • Blacknorth provided all visual effects.
• Good Vibrations (The Works, 2013) ^[13]
  • Blacknorth provided visual effects.
• A Patch of Fog (thefyzz, 2015)
  • Blacknorth provided all visual effects.

Short films

• Yuki (Out Of Orbit, 2010)
  • Blacknorth provided all visual effects.
• The Cathedral Quarter (Belfast's Cathedral Quarter, 2014)
  • Blacknorth were commissioned to create this short film.
• The Light of My Eyes (Canderblinks, 2014)
  • Blacknorth provided the opening title sequence and all visual effects.
• I Am Here (Canderblinks, 2014)
  • Blacknorth provided the opening title sequence and all visual effects.

Television

• Newsround: Living With Alcohol (BBC, 2011)
  • Blacknorth were commissioned to produce this animation.
• Newsround: My Autism and Me (BBC, 2012)
  • Blacknorth were commissioned to produce this animation.
• Newsround: Behind Closed Doors (BBC, 2013)
  • Blacknorth were commissioned to produce this animation.
• Newsround: Hard Times (BBC, 2013)
  • Blacknorth were commissioned to produce this animation.
• The Fall (BBC, 2013)
  • Blacknorth provided all of the visual effects (series 1).
• The Wipers Times (BBC, 2013)
  • Blacknorth provided all of the visual effects.
• Newsround: Cyber-bullying (BBC, 2014)
  • Blacknorth were commissioned to produce this animation.

Awards

• Here To Fall
  • BAFTA: Best Short Animation (Nominee, 2013)
  • Galway Film Fleadh: Don Quixote Award (Winner, 2013)
  • Raindance Film Festival: Best Animation (Nominee, 2013)
  • Darklight Film Festival: Best Animation (Winner, 2012)
• My Autism and Me
  • International Emmy: Best Kids Factual Programme (Winner, 2013)
  • RTS: Craft and Design Award (Winner, 2012)
• Living With Alcohol
  • BAFTA: Best Factual Programme (Winner, 2010)

Blackmarket

Feature films

Finn in the Forest (2016)

• Finn and Nora find themselves lost in a forest of darkness. Deep in the woodland there lies a secret. No one talks of the Wolf King who swallowed the stars.
• Currently in pre-production, Finn in the Forest is the first feature length animation from the studio. Its teaser trailer (the first five minutes of the film) was received well at MIPCOM in Cannes. It features Michelle Fairley as the narrator. It is being internationally distributed by AWOL Animation.

Kings of Sumava (2016)

• This feature-length documentary focuses upon Josef Hasil, the King of Sumava, and his endeavours to smuggle willing Czechoslovakians away from communism and into post-WWII Germany. It relies heavily upon animation sequences to bring to life the memories of the main players of this true story.
• Currently in development, Kings of Sumava is a Bionaut Films/HBO production.

Children of Geometry (2017)

• What will life be like if technology advances at the same rate it has done for the past fifty years? Children of Geometry follows the path of a troubled young boy and his friends as they venture to a place where they may finally be able to lay the skeletons of the past to rest.
• Currently in development, Children of Geometry will be compatible for use with the Oculus Rift.

Video games

Battle Hirieth (2015)

• Battle Hirieth is a multiversal rail shooter game where the player takes control of a newly drafted Republican Private on a mission to reach and colonise Hirieth, a new planet capable of sustaining human life. The Crown and The Separatists along with The Republic are locked in battle to call the planet their home. Joining Captain Suarez and Lieutenant Renolds, you must traverse through different 'Triports' located on strange planets in order to call Hirieth home.
• Taking inspiration from Star Fox and R-Type, Battle Hirieth will be initially created for use with the Oculus Rift but will move onto one of the major consoles as an exclusive title.

Finn in the Forest (2016)

• Finn in the Forest is a platform game where the player will take control of Finn and his sister Nora as they travel on their perilous journey to find Marmalade the cat.
• It will be available on Android and iOS markets as well as being compatible with Oculus Rift.

References

1. Gordon, Rob. "Oculus Rift Will Be Cheaper Thanks To Facebook; Aiming For 2015 Release". Game Rant. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
2. en.freshfilmfest.net/198-program/226-jury-members/a1707-kris-kelly
3. http://www.northernirelandscreen.co.uk/news/3151/local-studio-blacknorth-wins-rts-award.aspx
4. guru.bafta.org/top-tips/short-stuff-here-to-fall-1
5. directory.irishfilmboard.ie/films/1283-here-to-fall
6. http://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/media/film/6/5/6/.6568/bafta_shorts_press_kit_theatrical_edit_final.pdf
7. http://www.brooklynfilmfestival.org/films/detail.asp?fid=1419
8. raindancefestival.org/shorts-2013/here-to-fall/
9. http://www.shortoftheweek.com/2013/09/10/encounters-2013-festival-preview/
10. http://www.foylefilmfestival.org/content/2013-foyle-film-festival-light-motion-awards
11. http://www.iftn.ie/rep_bodies/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4285438&tpl=archnews&force=1
12. http://www.northernirelandscreen.co.uk/news/3082/hollywood-blockbuster-looper-showcasing-local-vfx-talent.aspx
13. http://www.northernirelandscreen.co.uk/news/3000/good-vibrations-wins-best-irish-feature-award-at-galway-film-fleadh.aspx