New Irish Films Sell to Numerous Territories Worldwide
A number of Irish films including the animated feature Santa's Apprentice, the horror film Outcast and the intense drama The Moth Diaries will have the chance to be seen by audiences around the world having been sold to numerous international territories in recent weeks.The Weinstein Company has taken North American UK rights to Santa's Apprentice, the animated Christmas movie produced in association with Irish animation company Cartoon Saloon. The film tells the story of Santa who does not want to retire, but rules are rules and he must train someone to replace him. The lucky winner to be chosen from millions of children, must be named Nicholas, must be an orphan and must have a pure heart.
Cartoon Saloon have had much success over the last two years, having been named Producers of the Year at both Cartoon Movie and Cartoon Forum while their animated feature film The Secret of Kells was nominated for the Best Animated Feature Oscar earlier this year.
Santa's Apprentice was produced by Gaumont/Alphanim in coproduction with Australia-based Avrill Stark Entertainment and in association with Cartoon Saloon and is due to be released in France by Gaumont later this month. The film has already been acquired by Universum in Germany, Odeon in Greece, Victory Prod in Benelux, Cinemax in CIS, Four Star in Middle East, Yenibir in Turkey, Vision in Poland, Lusomundo in Portugal, Monopole Pathé in Switzerland,Weg in India, PT Amero in Indonesia, and HBO in Latin America.
The North American rights for Colm McCarthy's OUTCAST have been acquired by Indomina Releasing.
Written by Colm McCarthy and starring James Nesbitt and Kate Dickie, the Edinburgh-set tale which was filmed on location in Galway tells the story of a witch and her son who flee a hunter charged with wiping out any evidence of their existence. The film has screened at numerous festivals around the world including SXSW in the US, Edinburgh International Film Festival and Brussels International Fantasy Festival.
OUTCAST was produced by Brendan McCarthy and John McDonnell for Fantastic Films and Makar Films and was financed by the Irish Film Board, Scottish Screen, Bankside Films and Headgear with sales being handled by Bankside. The film is scheduled for an Irish cinema release later this year.
Meanwhile French sales agent Wild Bunch has sold Mary Harron's THE MOTH DIARIES to Scandinavia (Pan Vision) and some smaller territories this week at the AFM.
Starring Irish actress Sarah Bolger along with Lily Cole and Scott Speedman THE MOTH DIARIES is a powerful emotional drama where eroticism and death are entwined when a teenage girl at a boarding school suspects her roommate is a vampire.
The Irish-Canadian co-production was produced by David Collins for Samson Films in association with Strada Films and Mediamax, the film received finance from the Irish Film Board, Telefilm Canada, Alliance and Lionsgate.