An Irish film made by director Tony Donoghue, has won an award for the best short animation at the Sundance film festival in Utah.

Tony Donoghue’s Irish folk Furniture is an eight-minute film that uses clever stop-motion to argue for the beauty and texture of traditional chairs, dressers, tables and assorted furniture.

According to The Irish Times, President of production for Funny or Die, Mike Farah, presented the award and explained why it was a winner: “We found this film full of life and told with simplicity.”

“That’s a bit of a surprise,” Donoghue said when he collected the award in Utah.

In the film 16 pieces of traditional folk furniture and are repaired and returned home. It was produced by Cathal Black under the Irish Film Board's Frameworks animated short film scheme.

The film was funded by the Irish Film Board’s Frameworks, James Hickey, chief executive of the Irish Film Board, said: “Tony is a very talented filmmaker and we are delighted to see him receive the international recognition he deserves for his short film. We look forward to working with him in the future as he develops his career further.”

The film, which is free to watch on YouTube for the duration of the festival, has reached 130,000 views in recent days and will also play on the big screen at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival next month.