Irish Feature KISSES Nominated for Renowned Spirit Award
Lance Daly's KISSES has been nominated in the Best Foreign Film category at the 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards which will take place in Santa Monica on the 26th February.
KISSES tells the story of Kylie and Dylan, two young children who decide to run away from their dysfunctional homes and spend a night on the streets of Dublin's inner city. But as the night wears on, and Dublin takes on a darker character, the two kids have to rely on the kindness of strangers, the songs of Bob Dylan and their trust in each other to survive the night.
The film has proved to be a hit on the international platform having been selected to screen at some of the world's most prestigious festivals such as the Toronto, Locarno and Telluride film festivals and has bagged a number of awards such as the Audience Award at the Miami Film Festival, Best Irish Feature Film at the Galway Film Fleadh and two IFTAs for Best Director and Best Editing at last year's IFTA awards.
It was produced by Macdara Kelleher with Fastnet Films (The Halo Effect, Tonight is Cancelled) and was co-funded by the IFB/BSÉ, Film I Vast, the BCI, TV3 and Zentropa.
KISSES will compete against four other titles in the Best Foreign Film category including Stéphane Brizé's Mademoiselle Chambon (France), Xavier Beauvois' Of Gods Men (Morocco), Tom Hooper's The King's Speech (U.K) and Apichatpong Weeraseth's Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Thailand).
Speaking about the films selected, Film Independent Executive Director Dawn Hudon said "The artistic side of independent film is stronger than ever, and it's especially impressive to see the developed craft of extraordinary independent filmmakers who have only gotten better over the years. Past nominees such as Darren Aronofsky, Noah Baumbach, Danny Boyle, Lisa Cholodenko, Debra Granik, Nicole Holofcener and John Cameron Mitchell continue to create original and compelling films that move and amaze us."
Film Independent supports filmmakers working outside Hollywood's major studios or within the studios' speciality film divisions. The awards have become a barometer for which low-budget and art films might compete for Oscars, Golden Globes or other honours in Hollywood's annual awards season. Irish feature film ONCE, directed by John Carney, won the prize for Best Foreign Film in 2008 before going on to scoop the Oscar for Best Original Song.
The awards will take place in Santa Monica on Saturday 26th February 2011.