IRISH FILM PRODUCTION HEATS UP FOR 2005
Irish feature production is getting off to a good start in 2005 with two new films, DEAD LONG ENOUGH and STUDS, starting their shoots this month.Starting its shoot next week, DEAD LONG ENOUGH is co-financed by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (BSÉ/IFB), Northern Ireland Film and TV Commission, the Arts Council of Wales and broadcasters RTÉ (Ireland) and HTV (Wales), with Irish distribution by Eclipse Pictures and international sales by Media Luna. Produced by Grand Pictures (whose credits include the top grossing SPIN THE BOTTLE and the hit TV series PATHS TO FREEDOM), with Green Park Films and Boda Cyf, the film is scripted by Jim Hawes and will be directed by Tommy Collins.
Starring Michael Sheen (HEARTLANDS) Angeline Ball (THE GENERAL), Jason Hughes (TV Series THIS LIFE) and Douglas Henshaw (MR. RIPLEY’S RETURN), DEAD LONG ENOUGH is a romantic comedy in which two Welsh brothers return to Ireland to relive a memorable summer of their youth.
Also starting production this month is writer-director Paul Mercier's STUDS, starring Brendan Gleeson. Adapted from a popular stageplay, STUDS is a hilarious underdog story about a football team pursuing cup glory and also features David Wilmot (INTERMISSION), Eanna MacLiam (ANGELA'S ASHES) and Eamon Owens (THE BUTCHER BOY). Produced by Brother Films STUDS is co-financed by BSE/IFB and Irish broadcaster TV3 with local distributor Buena Vista International (Ireland)taking Irish theatrical and DVD rights, while Executive Producers Gary Phillips and Mark Vennis of Moviehouse are handling international sales.
"Having two low budget Irish movies go into production at a traditionally quiet time of year for local production is terrific - and its all the more pleasing that these films go into production with strong end user commitments from distributors, TV networks and sales agents," said BSÉ/IFB CEO Mark Woods. "Films that are well-developed, universal stories with distinctive local voices will attract the interest of key talent and end users from script stage and BSÉ/IFB will continue to help producers to ensure that this happens so that Irish stories - and the talent behind them - reach audiences at home and abroad."
Other BSÉ/IFB co-financed films in post-production and due for release in 2005 include Neil Jordan’s BREAKFAST ON PLUTO (foreign sales: Pathe), Billy O’Brien’s ISOLATION (LionsGate), Stephen Bradley’s BOY EATS GIRL (Odyssey), Anthony Byrne’s SHORT ORDER (Axiom) and Gillies McKinnon’s TARA ROAD (The Works).