New Irish Comedy Film THE STAG to have its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and signs UK / Ireland sales deal
A new Irish film THE STAG, produced by Rebecca O’ Flanagan and Rob Walpole’s Treasure Entertainment and starring Andrew Scott (Sherlock), Amy Huberman (Threesome) and Hugh O’Connor (Ripper Street) is set to have its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) next month. This news comes in addition to the announcement that Metro International who are handling world sales for the project has also signed a significant all-rights deal for the UK and Ireland with Arrow Film Distributors.
The addition of THE STAG to the Toronto line up brings the Irish representation at this major festival to six films in total with funding from Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board.
THE STAG tells the story of a very modern Irish groom-to-be who reluctantly agrees to a stag weekend with his urbane friends camping in the west of Ireland. Much to their dismay they are joined by the brother of the bride, a crazy unpredictable alpha male who adds an explosive edition to the proceedings.
The film is directed by John Butler and co-written by Butler and Peter McDonald. McDonald who was previously nominated for an Academy Award for his short film Pentecost also stars in the film. Other cast include Love/Hate star Brian Gleeson, Michael Legge and Andrew Bennett and the film was shot on location in Dublin and Wicklow.
Commenting on the news director John Butler said “I've heard stories from other film-makers about Toronto audiences, and THE STAG is certainly an audience film, so my co-writer Peter McDonald, the producers and I are particularly thrilled to be accepted into TIFF 2013. This is my first feature film and my first international film festival - I've already packed and am sitting at the door."
Other Irish films having their world premiere at TIFF include Life’s a Breeze directed by Lance Daly and starring Pat Shortt, All is by My Side, a Jimmy Hendrix bio which filmed entirely on location in Ireland and was co-produced by Subotica Films and The F Word starring Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) which was co-produced by Fastnet Films, John Banville’s ‘The Sea’ starring Ciaran Hinds and the Irish –Canadian co-production Stay, along with the latest film entitled Can A Song Save your Life? from Irish director John Carney (Once).
James Hickey, Chief Executive, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board said “We are delighted to have such a strong line-up of Irish films at Toronto this year. This festival is a major gateway to the North American market and we hope these films will go on to strike sales deals with further international territories across the world.”
For more information contact: Louise Ryan, Marketing and Communications Executive, Bord Scannán na hÉireann the Irish Film Board T) +353 86-329-7819 louise.ryan@irishfilmboard.ie