Kiki Wins at Cleveland / Now Oscar-Qualified

Celebrating the Award-Winning Short Film KIKI

We’re excited to share the incredible news that KIKI, the latest short film by acclaimed director Naomi Sheridan, has just won Best Live Action Short at the Cleveland International Film Festival. Even more exciting? Cleveland is an Oscar-qualifying festival—meaning KIKI is now officially in the running for Academy Award consideration.

Huge congratulations to the entire team behind this remarkable film, and a special shoutout to casting director Sarah Hone. We’re incredibly proud that Fishpond could help support the casting process of this powerful and poignant piece of work.

KIKI tells the story of two young children—one Irish, one Nigerian—who form an unlikely friendship as they navigate a world shaped by prejudice and grief. Set in modern-day Ireland, the film explores how children experience racism, loss, and the healing power of connection.

The two young leads, Saoirse Fitzpatrick and Glen Collins, bring extraordinary heart and authenticity to their roles. They’re joined by Derek Ugochukwu and Graeme Coughlan, who portray the children’s fathers with strength, vulnerability, and deep emotional truth. Together, the cast delivers performances that are both moving and unforgettable.

We spoke with Sarah Hone about the process of casting KIKI, and she shared her insights into finding the right actors for such a meaningful story.
 

“KIKI is about racism in Ireland, love, loss and light – a message especially poignant in our current dark days. Its story amplifies voices that have been silenced. With only four primary cast, it was vital to get each component right—a lot of this hung in the casting of our two child roles as they are so vital to the story.

Once we met Saoirse, we knew immediately she was a bright shining star and the role had to be hers. Glen had minimal acting experience but so much charisma and personality – Naomi knew she could work with him for this role and she was correct – he was absolutely perfect.

We needed strong actors to play the fathers of these two characters – ones who could show both strength and vulnerability. We found these attributes and more in Derek and Graeme, and the cast was complete.

I am so proud to have worked on this beautiful film and feel that it is a pivotal work that represents current day Ireland in all its beauty and sorrow.”

KIKI is now available to watch on the Virgin Media Player here – so make a cuppa, take 15 minutes, and let this award-winning short leave its mark on you.