The Secret of Kells

The Secret of Kells is a 2009 animated fantasy drama film directed by Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey, produced by Paul Young, Didier Brunner and Viviane Vanfleteren, and written by Fabrice Ziolkowski. An Irish-French-Belgian co-production, led by the animation studio Cartoon Saloon, the film is about the making of the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript from the 9th century. It stars Evan McGuire, Brendan Gleeson, Christen Mooney, Mick Lally (in his final film role), Michael McGrath, Liam Hourican, Paul Tylak and Paul Young.

The Secret of Kells premiered on 8 February 2009 at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival. It went into wide release in Belgium and France on 11 February, and Ireland on 3 March. It was distributed by Gébéka Films in France, Kinepolis Film Distribution in Belgium and Buena Vista International in Ireland. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, but lost to Pixar's Up. The film is the first installment in Moore's "Irish Folklore Trilogy", preceding the films Song of the Sea (2014) and Wolfwalkers (2020). All three were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.