Congratulations to the Irish Films BROOKLYN & ROOM on Winning BAFTA AWARDS
It was a strong night for Irish film at the BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday evening, where BROOKLYN and ROOM each took away top prizes.
BROOKLYN was the winner of the prize for Outstanding British Film. Directed by John Crowley and adapted by Nick Hornby from Colm Tóibín's novel, BROOKLYN has proven a hit at the Irish and international box office to date. Starring Saoirse Ronan, it has been nominated for three Academy Awards® including Best Picture.
Meanwhile Brie Larson was the winner of the award for Best Actress for her performance in ROOM, which was accepted on her behalf by director Lenny Abrahamson. This is the latest in a long line of Best Actress awards for Larson, including at the Golden Globe awards and the Screen Actors Guild awards. Larson is also nominated at the Academy Awards®, at which Room is nominated in four categories including Best Picture.
James Hickey, Chief Executive, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board said "Congratulations to the entire team behind the Irish films BROOKLYN and ROOM on picking up prestigious BAFTA Awards last night. For BROOKLYN, financed as an Irish-UK-Canadian co-production, to win Outstanding British Film is a huge achievement. The film has become a global hit taking over US$34 million and counting worldwide and over €10 million at the Irish/UK Box Office.
"We're also delighted to see Brie Larson's performance in ROOM pick up the Best Actress Award. Lenny Abrahamson's deeply moving film is currently on release in Ireland and has taken over €1 million at the box office and over $11 million in the US. I'm very proud of both films and I am delighted to see that audiences all over the world are engaging with these stories told by Irish filmmakers and Irish storytellers."
ROOM and BROOKLYN will compete for seven Academy Awards between them on February 28th.
BROOKLYN is produced by Parallel Films and Wildgaze Films and ROOM is produced by Element Pictures. Both films were funded by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board and are currently on release in Irish cinemas.
About 'BROOKLYN'
John Crowley's Brooklyn was produced by Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey and executive produced by Alan Moloney. Production companies were Parallel Films, Finola Dwyer Productions, Wildgaze Films and Item 7. It was financed by the IFB, BAI, RTÉ, BBC, Telefilm, SODEC and the BFI. Brooklyn is currently on release in the UK and Ireland via Lionsgate. It is also on release in the US through Fox Searchlight. Brooklyn was acquired at the Sundance Film Festival by Fox Searchlight for all international territories. International sales were handled by Hanway.
About 'ROOM'
Room was directed by Lenny Abrahamson. Element Pictures' Ed Guiney produced the film with David Gross. Executive producers are Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures and Jeff Arkuss and Jesse Shapira for No Trace Camping. Emma Donoghue, Rose Garnett (Film 4), Tessa Ross (Film 4), and David Kosse (Film 4) also serve as executive producers. Room is an Element Pictures and No Trace Camping production, in association with Film4, Telefilm Canada, and Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board. A24 distribute Room in the US, and Elevation Pictures is distributing the film in Canada. UTA handled the domestic sale of Room and FilmNation Entertainment handled international sales. Room will be on release in Irish cinemas on January 15th.
Room was the winner of the People's Choice award at the Toronto International Film Festival 2015.