A Host of Irish Films Officially Selected for Edinburgh Film Festival
An impressive mix of Irish film is set to screen at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, with the features Outcast, Foxes, Nothing Personal, and short films Alibi and The Polish Language all included in the line-up, which takes place from 16th-27th June.
Outcast, written and directed by Colm McCarthy, is a supernatural thriller starring James Nesbitt and Katie Dickie. Produced by Brendan McCarthy, John McDonnell and Eddie Dick for Fantastic Films and Makar Films, it had its world premiere at the SXSW Festival in the U.S in March and also recently screened in the Market at Cannes Film Festival. It was funded by the IFB, Scottish Screen Bankside Films and Headgear with sales being handled by Bankside Films.
Foxes is the debut feature from Mira Fornayová who wrote and directed this Irish/Czech/Slovakian co-production, about Dubliner Steve and his Slovak girlfriend Tina who are trying to build a new life in Ireland. The film previously screened at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival and was produced by David Collins and Brian Willis for Samson Films, Viktor Schwarcz and Juraj Buzalka for Cineart TV Prague and Miras SRO. It was co-financed by the IFB, Czech Film Fund, Slovak Film Fund, Eurimages and Ceska Televize.
Urszula Antoniak's Nothing Personal tells the tale of a young woman hitching her way to the west coast of Ireland who agrees to work for an older man in exchange for food. This Irish/Dutch co-production starring Stephen Rea picked up an impressive six awards at its world premiere at Locarno International Film Festival. It was co-produced by Macdara Kelleher and Morgan Bushe for Fastnet Films with Rinkel Film & TV and Family Affair Films in Amsterdam and received finance from the IFB, Dutch Film Fund, Co-BO Fund and VPRO. It is set for theatrical release in the U.S later this year.
Alibi, the short documentary written and directed by Darren Bolger, investigates a murder and a lie that lives on as an alibi twenty years later. Produced by Caroline Campbell for Still Films, it had its premiere at the Corona Cork Film Festival last year. It was funded through the IFB Reality Bites scheme.
The Polish Language written by Alice Lyons and co-directed by Alice and Orla Hardy is a film-poem about the subversive power of art and the renewal of poetry in the whispery language of Polish. The animated film has previously been selected for the SXSW festival in the U.S. and Clermont Ferrand short film festival and won Best Animated Award at Galway Film Fleadh last year. It was funded through the IFB Frameworks scheme.
Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) was one of the world's first international film festivals and helped to define the type of event that has since become so pivotal to film culture. It has developed into a crucial business hub for the film industry and one of the world's best loved audience festivals, with an emphasis upon new talent and innovation in its vibrant programme of film and events.
Tomm Moore's Oscar nominated The Secret of Kells picked up the Standard Life Audience Award at last year's festival.
EIFF takes place from 16th-27th June, for further information see http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/.
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