A Norwich musician is mixing it with big names from Hollywood after a film he composed the score for was shortlisted for an Oscar.

Darryl John Hannan, a 33-year-old father of three who lives in NR3, was inspired to pursue film composing by Danny Elfman's score for the Batman films.

Darryl said: “I was really taken aback by how you could say so much through music, and I wanted to be able to do that.” 

So when he was approached by director Elham Ehsas about creating the music for his short film, Yellow, he jumped at the chance.  

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It tells the story of a woman in Afghanistan following the Taliban's resumption of power in the war-torn country.

Norwich Evening News: Director was inspired to make the film when the Taliban passed a mandate which would see all women required to wear a full body burka Director was inspired to make the film when the Taliban passed a mandate which would see all women required to wear a full body burka (Image: Elham Ehsas)

It sees her heading into a shop to buy her first full-body burka following a new mandate passed in 2022 requiring all Afghan women to wear the Chadari, the blue burqa that was the dress code for women during the Taliban's previous regime. 

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He said: “The film is a plea to the world not to forget about the women in Afghanistan who are becoming more invisible – it felt important to share this message.”  

Norwich Evening News: Darryl John Hannan said it was a very humbling experience to write the music for such an important film Darryl John Hannan said it was a very humbling experience to write the music for such an important film (Image: Darryl John Hannan)

Yellow has subsequently won a host of awards and earned major nominations around the world, including the Norwich Film Festival.

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Now it is shortlisted for the Live Action Short Film award at the film industry's top awards the Oscars, alongside nominees from Disney, Netflix and star director Wes Anderson.

Norwich Evening News: Elham Ehsas asked Norwich's Darryl John Hannan to compose the music for the film Elham Ehsas asked Norwich's Darryl John Hannan to compose the music for the film (Image: Elham Ehsas)

The final Oscar nominees lists will be announced on January 23 ahead of the March 10 ceremony in Hollywood.

It is also nominated for a Bafta, with Darryl adding: “It’s really humbling for this important film to be up against so many big names, we hope that people take a chance on this and watch it – it's so important for us to be allies.” 

Norwich Evening News: The film follows a woman who goes into a shop to buy her first full body burka The film follows a woman who goes into a shop to buy her first full body burka (Image: Elham Ehsas)