Oscar Nomination For Armagh Movie Director

A Los Angeles-based movie director – who comes from Armagh - was this week nominated for an Oscar and is now in the running for one of the biggest awards in the movie business.

Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey was recognised for his work on the blockbuster film Atonement.

"I never imagined that I'd ever be in a position where I'd be receiving an Oscar nomination," he said last night.

"It's the most exciting honour. It's going to take a while for the reality of this honour to settle in."

The wartime epic, which stars James McAvoy and Keira Knightley, has been heaped with plaudits since it was released last autumn, and was rewarded with seven nominations when the Oscar hopefuls were announced.

Seamus was the director of photography for the film, which is based on the best-selling novel by Ian McEwan.

He is up against three others – Janusz Kaminski for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Robert Elswit for There Will Be Blood and Roger Deakins, who has been nominated for both The Assassination of Jesse James and No Country for Old Men – for the Best Cinematography award.

"It's such an honour to be nominated alongside my cinematographic heroes – Roger Deakins, Robert Elswit and Janusz Kaminski – and in such a great year for cinematography," Seamus said.

And the Ulsterman had particular praise for Atonement's director, Joe Wright: "He is the finest director a cinematographer could ever hope to work with.

"Joe is a director who brings out the very best in all his collaborators and I share this nomination unequivocally with him."

Seamus has also been nominated for a Bafta, an American Society of Cinematographers award and an Irish Film and Television Award for his work on Atonement.

He has also been heralded for his work on World Trade Centre, Charlotte's Web, The Others and a host of other films which pack out an impressive cinematic CV.

Seamus joins the ranks of other Oscar nominees from Ulster, including Kenneth Branagh, Liam Neeson, Stephen Rea and Tim Loane, who directed the short film Dance Lexie Dance.

Meanwhile, another star of Atonement, 13-year-old Saoirse Ronan, was nominated for the title of best supporting actress.

The Oscar ceremony is set to take place on February 24, 2008 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

(BMcC)