Irish Film Industry Set to Descend on the Cannes International Film Festival & Market
The Irish film industry will descend on the Cannes International Film Festival this week as many Irish filmmakers and industry professionals are expected to attend the world's most significant film market, which takes place from 11th-22nd May.
Ireland will be represented at the festival with Irish titles in official selection THIS MUST BE THE PLACE starring Sean Penn which has been selected for competition and THE OTHER SIDE OF SLEEP, directed by young Irish director Rebecca Daly which has been selected for the Directors Fortnight, while a host of Irish films will be screening and selling in the Cannes Film Market.
Louise Ryan, Irish Film Board Marketing and Communications Executive said "Ireland's leading film producers, executives, film festivals, broadcasters and film agencies will be attending the festival buying, selling and financing their feature films at the largest and most important film market in the world. The market is a key destination for anyone looking to source finance for their upcoming feature films, and provides an opportunity for Irish producers to meet with
international film financiers, sales agents and film distributors in order to get their films made, sold and seen across the world."
"The films that Cannes has picked for official selection, one large feature film filmed on location in Ireland and another smaller Irish title directed by a very talented aspiring director, showcases the diverse range of work that the Irish film industry is very successful at."
The Irish Pavilion in Cannes is set up to promote the Irish film to the international community, to market Ireland as a destination for large international film projects and to provide business support for the Irish industry.
This year there will be a number of Irish films screening and selling in the market including THE GUARD, directed by John Michael McDonagh which stars Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle, the Irish documentaries KNUCKLE, directed by Ian Palmer, OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
directed by Dieter Auner and CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION directed by Shane O'Sullivan along with Magma Films animated feature LEGENDS OF VALHALLA - THOR.
Other feature films which will be selling at the market include ALBERT NOBBS, THE RUNWAY, GRABBERS, THE HIDEAWAYS, JUMP and MY BROTHERS amongst others.
About: This Must Be The Place
In THIS MUST BE THE PLACE Cheyenne, a wealthy former rock star living in Dublin, embarks on a quest to find his father's persecutor, a Nazi war criminal hiding out in the US. And so begins a life-altering journey across the heartland of America to track down and confront his father's nemesis. Cheyenne feels his spirit reawakened by the people he encounters, and his journey becomes one of self-discovery and reconciliation. As his date with destiny approaches and he prepares to come face to face with Lange, Cheyenne must decide if it's redemption he's seeking - or revenge.
THIS MUST BE THE PLACE is an Irish-Italian co-production between Irish production company Element Pictures and Indigo Film and Lucky Red in Italy. The film was financially supported by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/Irish Film Board, Eurimage, Medusa, Indigo Film, Intesa Sanpaolo Bank and ARP Selection France.
About: The Other Side of Sleep
THE OTHER SIDE OF SLEEP was scripted by Daly and Glenn Montgomery and filmed on location in Offaly last year. The film tells the story of Arlene, a sleepwalker since childhood who works in the local factory of the small Irish rural town she grew up in. When a young woman is found dead in the woods, Arlene immediately channels her own mother's disappearance, twenty years ago. Increasingly drawn to the girl's family - her accused boyfriend and grieving sister, Arlene barricades herself in at night, depriving herself of
sleep. Deep in emotional turmoil, her sleeping and waking realities soon blur, as the community searches to find the killer. THE OTHER SIDE OF SLEEP was produced by Irish company Fastnet Films (Colony, Kisses), and European co-producers Rinkel Film & TV Productions and KMH Film Productions. The film was funded by the IFB, the Netherlands Film Fund and Hungarian Motion Pictures Foundation. Fastnet Films have also produced LOTUS EATERS directed by Alexandra McGuinness starring Antonia Campbell Hughes, which will receive its world premiere at the Robert de Niro's Tribeca Film Festival.
Previous Irish films to have been selected for the Directors Fortnight in Cannes include Lenny Abraham's GARAGE starring Pat Shortt and ALL GOOD CHILDREN directed by Alicia Duffy.