Irish Civil war story THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY has won Top Honours at the Cannes Film Festival
The Irish Civil war story THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY, directed by Ken Loach and backed by the Irish Film Board, has won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.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.
“Ken Loach is quite simply a master of cinema and it is a triumph for Ireland that he choose a key moment in Irish history as the inspiration for one of his finest films. We congratulate Ken, Sixteen Films and all involved with the making of the film and in particular the Irish cast and crew and the Irish production company Element Films” said Simon Perry, Chief Executive, Board Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board.
Irish producer, Andrew Lowe said “Element Films, the Irish producers of the WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY are delighted with this historic win for an Irish Film. This is due recognition for a magnificent Irish and British cast and crew, and of Ken Loach's enormous talent as a director and Paul Laverty's as a writer. This result bodes well for its release on June 23rd and we hope Irish audiences receive it as well as the Jury has in Cannes".
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 was shot on location in Cork and Kerry for seven weeks and location highlights include Bandon Town, Mallow, Buttevant, Coolea and Killarney.
This win adds to the list of major film awards that Irish films have picked up at the most prestigious international festivals. The Magdalene Sisters scooped the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2002 and MICHAEL COLLINS scooped this award in 1996. Bloody Sunday scooped the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 2002 and OMAGH won the Discovery Award at the Toronto Film Festival in 2004. This win 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 in February this year. The Magdalene Sisters and Omagh were also produced by Element Films.
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.