A movie director whose film was wiped out after a cyber attack is delighted after it was chosen for a prestigious Hollywood film festival.
In 2020, Dan Holmwood just finished filming a heartfelt short, called Scrumpy, featuring ten-year-old actor Arlo Buchanan from Dunleer in Co Louth, who also stars in a Christmas movie with actor Justin Long.
The film told the story how a young boy, played by Arlo, who lost his mother during childbirth, coped every year during his birthday, his endeavours to deal with his loss, and longing for the mother he never had.
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But after Kildare native Dan had edited the film, he was the victim of a cyber attack and was lost to ransom hijackers.
Dan said: “The film was hijacked, and every file encrypted, lost to cyber ransom hijackers. All my work was gone. Everyone was devastated.”
But Dan decided to rewrite the script and once again, he assembled the crew together.
He re-shot the movie, in between dodging covid, lockdowns and distance restrictions with Arlo.
Now the movie has been selected in the Oscar qualifying Galway Film Fleadh, where it will make its debut. It has also been accepted into the LA Shorts International Film Festival.
Arlo said: “I’m chuffed Scrumpy will be in the Galway Film Festival after such an extraordinary series of crazy events. I’m looking forward to finally seeing Scrumpy on a big screen and continuing my acting journey.”
