Blacknorth

Blacknorth Studio

Type	Animation/VFX Studio
Founded	2009 [1] [ failed verification ]
Producer/Director	Kris Kelly

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 involved in a number of award-winning projects including: BAFTA, International Emmy Kids Award, RTS, Galway Film Fleadh's "Don Quixote Prize", and an award at the Darklight Film Festival. ^[2]

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

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

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. ^{[4] [5]} In the same year, it was selected to be shown at a number of festivals, such as: Brooklyn Film Festival, ^[6] Raindance, ^[7] Encounters and Foyle Film Festival. ^{[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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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 visual effects for the film by David Holmes.^{[ citation needed ]}

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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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 Kids Awards: Best Kids Factual Programme (Winner, 2013)
  • RTS: Craft and Design Award (Winner, 2012)
• Living With Alcohol
  • Chlidren's BAFTA: Best Factual Programme (Winner, 2010)

References

1. Gordon, Rob (12 June 2014). "Oculus Rift Will Be Cheaper Thanks To Facebook; Aiming For 2015 Release". Game Rant. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
2. "Fresh Film Fest | Prague International Festival of First Features and Student Films". Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
3. "Blacknorth wins RTS Award | Northern Ireland Screen". Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
4. "BAFTA Shorts 2013" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
5. http://guru.bafta.org/top-tips/short-stuff-here-to-fall-1 ^{[ dead link ]}
6. "HERE TO FALL by Kris Kelly @ Brooklyn Film Festival".
7. http://raindancefestival.org/shorts-2013/here-to-fall/ ^{[ dead link ]}
8. "2013 Foyle Film Festival Light in Motion Awards | Foyle Film Festival". Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
9. "Irish Film Board - Film Directory - Animation - Here to Fall". Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
10. "Short of the Week". Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
11. "Northern Irish Company Contribute VFX to 'Looper' | the Irish Film & Television Network".
12. "Blacknorth VFX for Looper | Northern Ireland Screen". Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
13. "Good Vibrations wins at Galway | Northern Ireland Screen". Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.