Irish Eye on Hollywood: Traveling Back in Time

It would make sense if Outlander – with its Irish cast and time-traveling concept – inspired Irish writer and director Steve Kenny to create his film Time Traveller, which may well earn an Academy Award for Best Short Film. But the real inspiration was the 1980s classic Back to the Future. Time Traveller is about a father and son who are members of Ireland’s traveling community. The son is so obsessed with the Michael J. Fox flick that he sets out to build an exact replica of the DeLorean car that plays a central role in the movie. But things take a serious turn when the family is evicted from the site they’ve made their home. Word is the film even has the blessing of Back to the Future screenwriter Bob Gale as well as star Michael J. Fox. “It was a real privilege for me to be able to tell an original story that was close to my heart while also paying homage to a film that left a huge impact on me as a child…. building our own DeLorean was pretty cool too!” Kenny has said. Time Traveller has a fine blend of veteran and new Irish talent, including Barry Ward (Maze) and Barbara Bergin (Intermission), as well as new-coming young brothers Tom and Liam Doran. Keep an eye out when Oscar nominations are announced in late February 2019. ♦