IRISH FILM PRODUCTION ESCALATES WITH THREE NEW FILMS IN THE PIPELINE
Following on from the success of having three Irish films selected to screen at the high profile Toronto Film Festival in September, Autumn will see Irish film production activity escalating, with three new films set to go into production. THE FRONT LINE, MIDDLETOWN and BRENDAN THE SECRET OF KELLS will all begin shooting in Ireland in the next month.THE FRONT LINE, to be directed by David Gleeson (COWBOYS AND ANGELS), is currently in pre-production with shooting scheduled for the beginning of November. THE FRONT LINE is a story of one man’s struggle to find redemption for his past, and is set to star Eriq Ebouaney (KINGDOM OF HEAVEN) and James Frain (COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO) with more cast to be confirmed shortly. The film will be produced by Wide Eye Films with funding from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (BSÉ/IFB), Filmfoerderung Hamburg, Film i Vaest and Sandrew Metronome. Distribution for the film has already been secured, with Buena Vista International (Ireland) looking after the Irish release of the film in 2006.
MIDDLETOWN, the latest feature film from Green Park Films (FREEZE FRAME) moves into pre-production next week with Matthew MacFadyen (PRIDE and PREJUDICE) confirmed to star. Scripted by Daragh Carville, the film will be directed by Brian Kirk and is the powerful tale of two brothers battling for the heart and soul of their home town. MIDDLETOWN, will be co-produced by Chapter Four with funding from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board and the Northern Irish Film and Television Commission. Eclipse Pictures will be distributing the feature film in Ireland.
Kilkenny based animated company Cartoon Saloon have begun production on their flagship animated feature BRENDAN AND THE SECRET OF KELLS, the animated story of the boy behind the famed Book of Kells. The feature is written by Tomm Moore and Fabric Zlorkowski and will be directed by Tomm Moore. Production will be spread between Ireland, Belgium and France over the next 18 months. This is director Tomm Moore's first feature film and he will be joined by Irish crew members Ross Stewart, as the main Art Director, and Nora Twomey, in the central role as Head of Animation.
BRENDAN AND THE SECRET OF KELLS has been developed by Cartoon Saloon over the past 5 years and they team up with the Oscar nominated animators Les Armateurs from France and Vivifilm from Belgium. In addition to the Irish crew, a number of French and Belgian animators and artists will be descending on Kilkenny for the production. BRENDAN AND THE SECRET OF KELLS will be produced by Paul Young with finance from BSÉ/IFB, Celluloid Dreams, Canal Plus, Gebeka, FTD Video, Eurimages and RTE.
“In what has become an increasingly competitive international environment for film production, we are delighted to see three films going into production by the end of the year. The high calibre of talent attached to these projects emphasises that Irish producers have a huge amount to offer the international market and we look forward to seeing these films released in cinemas worldwide” said Teresa McGrane, Deputy CEO at Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board.
Ken Loach’s THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY starring Cillian Murphy, and STUDS, starring Brendan Gleeson and directed by Paul Mercier shot on location in Ireland earlier this year. STUDS will be released in cinemas nationwide by Buena Vista (Ireland) in early January.