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Netflix has officially greenlighted Vladimir, a limited-series starring and executive produced by Oscar winner Rachel Weisz. Created by Julia May Jonas based on her novel of the same name, the series, from Nobody Wants This studio 20th Television, is executive produced by Kate Robin, who serves as showrunner, Sharon Horgan and Jason Winer.

In Vladimir, written by Jonas and Robin, as a woman’s (Weisz) life unravels, she becomes obsessed with her captivating new colleague. Full of sexy secrets and dark humor, the series is about what happens when a woman goes hell-bent to turn her fantasies into reality.

“With Kate Robin’s expertise in crafting layered, darkly comedic female stories, a script that deftly examines the complexity of attraction and moral ambiguities, and the incomparable Rachel Weisz leading the cast, this project is a powerhouse collaboration of talented women,” said Tracey Pakosta,...

Calf

The moody, atmospheric story of a farming accident and a daughter’s decision when she finds her father in trouble, Jamie O’Rourke’s Calf has garnered attention way beyond his expectations. Starring Isabelle Connolly as the daughter, Cáit, and Kate Nic Chonaonaigh as her mother, Aine, it hinges on issues around rural life and domestic abuse, but it’s the way it handles characters and storytelling that really makes an impact. When Jamie and I met for a chat about it, I began by congratulating him of having just won the Best Short Film Grand Prize at Hollyshorts in London. He looks like he’s still glowing from the experience.

“It was a bit of a whirlwind weekend!” he explains. “Contrary to common opinion, you don't find out ahead of time. It was great. It was just a really fun event from the get go. I flew in on Friday and there was.

Exclusive: Sharon Horgan, co-creator and writer of the series Bad Sisters, Motherland and Catastrophe, has boarded the Oscar-qualified live-action short Calf as executive producer.

Written and Jamie O’Rourke, the domestic abuse-themed Irish short is set way out in the countryside, a place where the worst things are silenced, where a sinister farm accident leaves Cáit with a terrible decision to make.

Produced by Ronan Cassidy of Carbonated Comet for Virgin Media Television in association with Screen Ireland, the film stars Isabelle Connolly (God’s Creatures) and Kate Nic Chonaonaigh (The Quiet Girl). It was funded by Virgin Media and Screen Ireland under the Virgin Discovers film fund. Other exec producers include Sinead Stimpfig and Daniel Lloyd for Virgin and Andrew Byrne of Screen Ireland.

Calf qualified for the Oscars longlist after winning numerous awards, including International Danzantes at the Huesca Film Festival and Best Short at this year’s Irish Film and Television Awards.

Calf finds a young girl facing a tough moral dilemma. Here’s our review of writer-director Jamie O’Rourke’s short film that’s playing at HollyShorts Film Festival.

Writer-director Jamie O’Rourke’s Calf is a difficult short film to categorise. It’s a drama tinted with real world horror and strong elements of a thriller. It’s melancholic and terrifying, often at the same time. It’s a film I haven’t been able to shake for days now, which I hope is a testament to just how singular O’Rourke’s short is.

A mother sends her daughter Cáit (Isabelle Connolly) to fetch her dad from the fields. As she finds her father, Cáit is faced with a horrific sight and is forced to make a decision no one should be forced to make.

Read more: Short film review | Bill

O’Rourke refuses to tell us exactly what,...