Box Office Success for IFB-Funded Brooklyn
Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board congratulates IFB funded feature film Brooklyn on a remarkable opening weekend which saw the film take over €600,000, coming in second at the Irish box office. Brooklyn stars Saoirse Ronan and Domhnall Gleeson and is directed by John Crowley. It was adapted from Colm Tóibín's book of the same name and shot on location in Ireland in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. It opened on 87 screens, making it the widest release in Ireland for an IFB funded film.
Following its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2015, Brooklyn has played at the Toronto International Film Festival and had a gala presentation at the BFI London Film Festival. The film has been nominated for five Moët British Independent Film Awards including Best Actress (Saoirse Ronan), Best Screenplay (Nick Hornby), Best Supporting Actress (Julie Walters), Best Supporting Actor (Domhnall Gleeson) and Outstanding Achievement in Craft (Fiona Weir - Casting).
James Hickey, CEO, Irish Film Board commented: "Congratulations to all those involved in the making of Brooklyn. The Irish Film Board worked on Brooklyn with Irish executive producer Alan Moloney of Parallel Films and producers Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey. We are very happy to be working again with John Crowley, who directed the hugely successful IFB funded feature film, Intermission".
The success of Brooklyn comes alongside other IFB titles that are enjoying major box office successes. This weekend also saw IFB funded ‘The Lobster', which was developed and produced by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe's Element Pictures and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, pass the £1 million mark at the box office in Ireland and the UK. The Lobster is the most nominated film at this year's BIFAs, with a nod in 6 categories, including Best Actor (Colin Farrell), and Producer of the Year (Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Yorgos Lanthimos and Lee Magiday). The Lobster has also landed 5 nominations at this year's European Film Awards.
Also currently on release in Irish cinemas and funded by the Irish Film Board are Conor Horgan's The Queen of Ireland and Alex Fegan's Older than Ireland. Queen of Ireland, produced by Katie Holly and Ailish Bracken for Blinder Films recently secured the largest opening weekend for an Irish feature documentary. Irish animation ‘Two by Two - Ooops... The Ark Has Gone' by Galway based Moetion Films has just completed a hugely successful box office run.