Leon stars in Oscar-nominated ‘Detainment’
STUDENT Leon Hughes is one of the stars of the film ‘Detainment’, which has been short-listed for Best Live Action Short Film in this year’s Oscars.
The Academy Awards take place in Hollywood on February 24 and the 30-minute Vincent Lambe film is among the nominees.
Leon, who is in third year at Coláiste Chraobh Abhann and lives in Newtownmounkennedy, plays the role of Robert Thompson in the film, with Ely Solan playing Jon Venables.
Both boys were convicted of the horrific murder of twoyear-old James ‘Jamie’ Bolger in Liverpool in 1993. They were just ten years old at the time of the killing.
The film deals with the investigation into the murder and is based on police interview transcripts and records.
Detainment is Leon’s first film. He has previously played lead roles in school and with his drama school.
Lambe’s short film has already won awards at the Cannes Film Festival, the Richard Harris Film Festival and the Irish Screen America awards. However, it also attracted controversy after Jamie Bulger’s mother, Denise Fergus, called for it to be withdrawn from the Oscar nominations.