A short film which visualises the terror and drama facing soldiers in one of Britain’s worst maritime disasters has been selected for the Cannes Short Film Festival.

The BBC ALBA short animation Tha thu air Aigeann m’ Inntinn (You are at the bottom of my mind), based on the Iolaire Disaster, is set to a poem of the same name by acclaimed Gaelic bard Iain Crichton Smith.

In the early hours of 1 January 1919, the naval yacht HMY Iolaire, carrying sailors returning from the war, sank after hitting rocks on its approach to Stornoway, killing over 200.

Commissioned as part of BBC ALBA’s Hogmanay schedule commemorating the 100th anniversary of the disaster, the short film was a labour of love for the Dutch-based Scottish animator Catrìona Black.

Catrìona said: “We have very little visual record of the Iolaire disaster and it was a deeply emotional experience to create one. I’m pleased that the film is finding its way out into the world to share this important story with as many people as possible.”

The programme also earned Am Bocsa, Catrìona Black’s production company, a nomination at the RTS Scotland Awards for Animation & VFX.

The Cannes Short Film Festival takes place from 5-8 September. For more information click here.