Two Irish Films Top US Speciality Box Office
Two Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board funded films The Lobster and Love & Friendship topped the US speciality (independent) box office on release in the US at the weekend.
The Lobster which won the Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival last year, also scored this year's best ‘per theatre average opening' in any film category, with a theatre average of $47K. Starring Colin Farrell and Rachel Weiss, the film is produced by Dublin-based Element Pictures.
The Jane Austen period drama Love & Friendship was a very close second with a weekend screen average of $33,187, also one of the year's highest. Produced by Dublin production company Blinder Films and starring Kate Beckinsale, the film captivated audiences at the Sundance Film Festival where it was premiered in January.
These unprecedented opening weekend figures for Irish creative talent in the US Specialist Box Office will be maximised through strategic distribution campaigns which have been engaged for both films, and which will continue to build in the US over the coming weeks and months in a bid to further consolidate the huge recognition for Irish film.
Commenting on the news James Hickey Chief Executive Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board said; "It's a major achievement to have two IFB funded films top the US speciality release box office in one weekend. The US theatrical distribution market is very difficult to crack for independent titles and these films show that international audiences are engaging with Irish films. Irish producers are making a major impact internationally and the success that these two films have enjoyed underlines the quality of films that Irish producers are working on".
John Carney's Sing Street is also currently on release in the US, and has taken in almost $2 million at US box office to date. Last year, Irish films took over $53 million at the international box office with a number of films selling every territory across the world.
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and filmed on location in Kerry, The Lobster opened to rave reviews in Ireland and the UK and has taken over $8.7 million worldwide to date.
Produced by Blinder Films and filmed on location in Ireland, Love & Friendship was a major hit at Sundance earlier this year. Directed by Whit Stillman, it stars Kate Beckinsale, Chloë Sevigny, Xavier Samuel and Stephen Fry. Adapted from a Jane Austen novel, the film follows the machinations of the beautiful widow Lady Susan Vernon, who seeks refuge from rumour and gossip about her dalliances and plots new conquests at the estate of her in-laws.
Both films were produced with support from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board and will showcase Irish crews and images of Ireland around the globe.