IRISH CIVIL WAR FILM SELECTED FOR CANNES
THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY, directed by Ken Loach and backed by the Irish Film Board, has been selected for International Competition at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival which runs from 18th - 28th May.THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY stars Irish talent Cillian Murphy (BREAKFAST ON PLUTO), Liam Cunningham (A LOVE DIVIDED), Orla Fitzgerald (TV Series - The Last Furlong, Love Is The Drug) and newcomer Padraic Delaney (TV Series - The Clinic) in the leading roles and was produced by Rebecca O’Brien for Sixteen Films and executive produced by Andrew Lowe for Element Films.
Scripted by Paul Laverty, THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY begins in 1919 and tells the story of two brothers who fought together during the Irish war of Independence. They then find themselves pitted against each other as civil war ensues and betrayal becomes inevitable. The film shot on location in Cork and Kerry for seven weeks and location highlights include Bandon Town, Mallow, Buttevant, Coolea and Killarney. “Ken Loach and the production team behind this film must be congratulated on a tremendous achievement. THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY deals with an important and difficult period in Irish history from a strictly human point of view. This is the first film selected for competition in Cannes since John Boorman’s THE GENERAL and we are delighted that Ireland will once again be represented at the world’s most prestigious festival” said Simon Perry, Chief Executive, Irish Film Board.
Irish producer, Andrew Lowe of Element Films said “We are delighted that THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY has been selected for what amounts to the most prestigious award in the world of film. This is a great credit to Ken, Paul, Rebecca and all the cast and crew, Irish and British, who worked so hard to make this film on a very tight budget. All the team at Element Films, together with Redmond Morris, are very proud of our involvement in this film and look forward to its general release in June when the Irish public will have the opportunity to judge the film for themselves.”
THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY is an Irish-UK-Italian-German-Spanish co-production which was produced with a budget of approximately €6.5 million and had an Irish spend of almost €4 million. The film was produced with financing from the Irish Film Board, the UK Film Council and TV3, amongst others, and is being distributed by Pathé in Ireland and the UK.
NOTES TO EDITORS
THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY is the first Irish film to be selected for competition in Cannes since John Boorman’s film THE GENERAL in 1998, when it won the award for Best Director.
This good news follows hot on the heels of the Irish Film Board backed short film SIX SHOOTER, directed by Martin McDonagh, bringing home an Oscar for Best Short Film last month.
It also follows other good news on significant new improvements introduced by Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O’Donoghue to the Irish film tax incentive Section 481 which were ratified in law this month.