They're award-winning - and in demand all over the world.

The Northern Ireland team behind the short film Boogaloo and Graham has spoken of the overwhelming reaction after they scooped a Bafta at a star-studded ceremony in London in Sunday night.

And now they're the hot favourites to win this year's short film Oscar later this month.

Since winning a Bafta, writer Ronan Blaney, director Michael Lennox and producer Brian J Falconer have received requests from 80 film festivals around the world to screen it.

Set in 1970s Belfast, Boogaloo and Graham - which gets its European premiere at the Berlin Film Festival tonight - follows the story of two young boys who discover life lessons with the help of pet chickens.

Brian, from Co Fermanagh, told the Belfast Telegraph the team has been overwhelmed by the response to their Bafta win.

"We have received literally hundreds of emails, texts and tweets," he said. "It is all amazing."

Brian had words of praise for Northern Ireland Screen. "NI Screen has been fundamental in all our careers," he said. "Every skilled person in the north who works in film has been in some way created by NI Screen. It seems to me they are ahead of the game."

Brian believes Boogaloo and Graham can follow in the footsteps of Terry George's The Shore, which won the best Live Action Short Film at the 2012 Academy Awards.

This Oscar success came after a nomination in 2011 for Michael Creagh's The Crush and a 1998 nomination for Tim Loane's Dance Lexie Dance in the same category.

"Bafta is the one I wanted," Brian said. "It's from those who I view as my peers so that recognition is amazing.

"Now we have the Oscars coming up, I am sure a lot of people would put us as favourites."

Film critics, Bafta and Academy Award voters have all seen the film, as have movie fans at 350 cinemas across the US. There is now a big push on to get as many people to see it as possible ahead of the Oscars later this month and it will then be screened at Queen's Film Theatre in Belfast on March 7, 15 and 21 as part of the Bafta Shorts 2015 season.

"It is really exciting, really great it's coming to Ireland," Brian said. "I think a lot of people will definitely want to see it. A lot of the people who worked on it haven't seen it. We had to keep it under wraps and not online for certain festivals."

Among those yet to see the finished product is child actor Aaron Lynch (13) from Poleglass, who plays the character Malachy.

The St Colm's High pupil is excited to be part of an award-winning project. "I still can't believe it," he said. "I was nearly crying. I was like, 'Oh my God, we won'. My teachers and friends are all congratulating me.

"My character Malachy is the big brother that looks after the small brother and protects him and teaches him about life. I really enjoyed filming it; I made loads of friends."

NI Screen chief executive Richard Williams said: "Everyone at Northern Ireland Screen is delighted for Michael, Brian and Ronan.

"Baftas are not easily won and this honour will, in time, turn out to be a big moment in their professional careers," he said.

"Short films are all about new talent and storytelling and with Boogaloo and Graham, Northern Ireland Screen got to finance and support a brilliant package of new talent and pitch perfect storytelling."

Belfast Telegraph