Distillery Films

Distillery Films is an independent Irish animation production company based in Kilkenny. Founded in 2017, it develops original, story-driven 2D animation for preschool and family audiences. Its work explores learning, empathy, curiosity and cultural diversity across television series, animated shorts and special commissions.

The studio combines original intellectual property development with animation production and international co-production. Its capabilities encompass concept design, storyboarding, series packaging and international financing, supporting projects from early development through production. Its slate spans broadcaster commissions, film funding programmes and projects developed with European production partners.

Television and international collaboration

Its preschool series Sullivan Sails follows a young boy whose fascination with atlases and cartography inspires imaginative adventures. The 26-part series, with seven-minute episodes, was commissioned by RTÉjr and De Agostini and co-produced with Belfast-based ALT Animation. Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen supported production, while Superights secured international distribution rights.

At Cartoon Forum 2026 in Toulouse, Distillery Films presented Garden Square, an animated series aimed at children aged five to six. The project was developed in collaboration with France’s Watch Next Media and the UK’s A Productions, with backing from RTÉ and Screen Ireland. Its development slate also includes the preschool project Umami and the original animated project Crunch Crunch Farm.

Short films and special projects

The studio’s short-form work includes Open Éire, an animated musical short created for Ireland’s national pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. Directed by Walter Giampaglia and produced by Jonathan Clarke, the film highlights Irish creative heritage and subsequently screened at the Galway Film Fleadh.

On The Berry, directed by Niamh Asple and James Naughton, was produced through Screen Ireland’s Frameworks 2025 animation scheme in partnership with RTÉ and debuted at the 38th Galway Film Fleadh in 2026. Distillery Films also produced Kayvon Darabi-Fard’s Envelope for RTÉjr’s Home anthology, extending its work across commissioned shorts and original storytelling.