BROWN Bag Films and To Russia With Love have launched an online initiative to raise funds for the Clontarf-based charity.
‘ANYA’, a four-minute animated short film charting 20 years in the life of a Russian orphan, is the end result of 14 months’ work at the twice Oscar nominated studio.
Brown Bag Films was originally approached to produce a short advert to highlight the work that
‘To Russia With Love’ do with abandoned and orphaned children in Russia, but decided that a short film would be a more effective approach.
Writer/director Damien O’ Connor said: “The idea was simple: we make an engaging piece of animation, one that ideally packs an emotional punch.
“If people are charmed or moved by it, they show their appreciation by sending a donation directly to To Russia With Love.
“Unlike an advert, people are more likely to share a film online with friends or family, which of course helps spread the word about the charity. It’s ‘visual busking’ in a way.
“We’re all used to charity singles and calendars, so we applied the same approach to a full four-minute computer animated film instead.
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The production of
‘ANYA’ began in February 2013 when Mr O’Connor travelled to the Hortolova Orphanage in Russia where To Russia With Love operates, to meet the children.
“It was important that this would be the children’s story, a film for them, by them,
? he stated.
“What started out as a small idea expanded as we heard the children’s own stories. Everyone involved has been great.
“Moved by the children’s plight, Infinite Studios in Singapore offered their services for free and the team in Brown Bag got behind the film 100 per cent.
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Mr O’Connor added:
“By the end over 80 people spread across five countries have been involved in the production of
‘ANYA’.
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Debbie Deegan, founder of ‘To Russia With Love’, said the first preview screening of
‘ANYA’ took place in one of their orphanages in Russia.
“The children of ‘To Russia With Love’ all loved it,
? Ms Deegan told Northside People.
“That was always a huge part of the goal as this film was created for them and the storyline is based on what we give each child under our wings of care, love and protection.
“We hope that those who view, share and fall in love with Anya will help us transform clicks into donations from which all proceeds go directly to our orphanages in Russia with our love.”
Visit www.torussiawithlove.ie for more information on the charity or to make donations.