Irish Film-makers to Set Cannes Alight
Ireland’s leading lights of the film community will get to meet some of the most influential professionals from the international film industry, thanks to the Irish Pavilion and the many events it will host at this year’s Cannes Film Festival (12-23 May). The Irish Pavilion acts as a platform to promote Ireland as a film location and endorse it’s proficient production services and competitive tax incentives, whilst providing a high profile, well-resourced base for the Irish film industry and its guests attending the Cannes Film Market and Festival.
Cannes is renowned for being the ultimate film festival in the world, with an estimated 50% of the world’s film business transacting at the festival each year. It is here that The Irish Pavilion, a joint marketing initiative between Bórd Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board and The Northern Ireland Film & Television Commission, can best influence as many foreign investors and film-makers from around the globe.
Since 2003 Cannes Film Festival, film production in Ireland has been given a significant boost as tax incentive Section 481 was extended until 2008 by Minister of Finance last December. The Minister also announced that the cap on investment will be increased from €10.48m to €15m from 2005.
The Irish film industry has recently enjoyed a number of outstanding successes, creating an optimistic outlook for the future. Intermission took over €2.5m at the box office, making it the highest-ever grossing IFB backed film in Ireland. A number of high profile productions have used Ireland as a film location including Laws of Attraction (Pierce Brosnan, Julianne Moore), Ella Enchanted (Anne Hathaway) and King Arthur (Clive Owen, Keira Knightley) - the biggest production ever shot in Ireland with a budget of over €100 million.
Screenings of Irish films at Cannes Market include Blind Flight (starring Ian Hart & Linus Roache), Cowboys and Angels (which recently won the Best Script award at the Newport Beach Film Festival) Dead Bodies (Andrew Scott - Ireland’s Shooting Star 2003), Headrush (stars Huey Morgan of Fun Lovin Criminals), The Honeymooners (debut feature from writer/director Karl Golden) and Timbuktu (from award winning director Alan Gilsenan). A number of Irish short films will also screen at Short Film Corner.
2004 boasts the Irish Pavilion’s largest membership ever, with a record 225 members. A number of high profile events will take place at the Irish Pavilion including a launch event for members and international guests, a Celtic Reception held in conjunction with Scottish Screen and Sgrin Wales plus an Ireland/Australia/New Zealand Producers Networking Reception.
The Irish Pavilion is sponsored by Ardmore Studios, Avica Technology Corporation, Magma Films and Halo Communications and is supported by Philip Lee Solicitors.