Big Freeze Fails to Chill Production on Irish/UK Co-production CITADEL
CITADEL begins shooting in sub-zero temperatures in Scotland and Ireland with rising star Aneurin Barnard in his first leading role alongside the legendary James Cosmo.
Principal photography has begun in Glasgow on horror film CITADEL, an Irish/UK co-production directed by new writer-director Ciarán Foy. The film features Aneurin Barnard (Ironclad, Hunky Dory, Guinea Pigs) in the lead role of Tommy, alongside Scotland's finest, James Cosmo (Braveheart, Troy, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Runway) and Wunmi Mosuka (I am Slave, One Night in Emergency) as Marie. Co-stars include Ingrid Craigie and Amy Shiels.
Commenting on the production today producers Katie Holly and Brian Coffey said "In these truly Siberian conditions we've had to face all kinds of issues: cancelled flights, impassable roads, freezing conditions, a snow plough was even drafted in to preserve this already ambitious schedule. It's ironic given that we're shooting a film where the central character is afflicted with agoraphobia that we have to spend so much time out of doors!
We're just thrilled that we have such an amazingly resilient, adaptable and committed cast and crew who are battling the elements to get us through and we are literally ploughing on despite everything that has been thrown at us. Spirits are high, the performances are amazing, the material fantastic and Citadel's off to Dublin come wind, hail or snow."”
CITADEL is a story about pure terror. Packs of twisted feral children prowl the dark urban landscape of Edenstown, the council estate from hell. Concealed beneath hooded tops, they attack innocent adults with septic syringes to harvest their blood and abduct small children to swell their ranks. Abandoned by the police, the small community that remains is plagued by the brutal and rampant gangs that few truly understand. Emerging at night, they are especially drawn to anyone showing fear - in fact they can see it and sense it.
When Tommy's pregnant wife Joanne is viciously attacked, it turns his world upside down. Joanne is left in a coma. As a result of the trauma, Tommy suffers crippling agoraphobia rendering him housebound and barely able to look after their infant daughter Elsa. Trapped in Edenstown, Tommy desperately needs to leave.
Before he can escape however, Tommy's worst nightmare comes true - Elsa is kidnapped. To save his daughter, he is forced to trust a vigilante priest who understands the horrific truth about the gangs. Tommy must now face the demons of his past by entering the one place that he fears the most an abandoned tower block called the CITADEL.
CITADEL is shooting for four weeks, three weeks on location/studio in Glasgow and one week on location in Dublin. CITADEL, a Blinder Films and Sigma Films co-production, is funded by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, Creative Scotland, Section 481 and UK Tax Credit.
CITADEL is produced by Katie Holly (Blinder Films) and Brian Coffey (Sigma Films). Executive Producers are Kieron J. Walsh, Gillian Berrie and David Mackenzie.
CITADEL is Ciarán Foy's debut feature film. A graduate from the National Film School of Ireland, Ciarán's short film The Faeries of Blackheath Woods won nine Best Short film awards at international festivals. CITADEL is a psychological horror, based partly on his own experiences of an unprovoked urban attack and the resulting agoraphobia. Blurring the boundary between real-life experiences and a darker fictional world, CITADEL is an unsettling, original and powerful story.
Emma Scott, Production Executive, Irish Film Board said "We are very excited to be supporting Ciarán Foy's first feature film with whom we have already worked on a number of short films. Citadel is one of twelve official Irish co-productions that has gone into production this year and is one of five Irish films currently in production. We are delighted to be partnering with Creative Scotland on this project and to be supporting Bl!nder Films, a young Irish company which is going from strength to strength, with Citadel being their third feature film to close this year."”
"It's excellent news that Ciarán Foy's debut feature CITADEL is now filming in Glasgow, with Ciarán's previous award-winning work, including The Faeries of Blackheath WoodsÂ’ and his selection onto the Advance Party II scheme, through Zentropa/Sigma Films, backed by Creative Scotland, we look forward to another potentially award winning film" said Caroline Parkinson, Director of Creative Development for Creative Scotland.
CITADEL is due for release in Irish cinemas in autumn 2011.