Inis Mór is a finalist for the EUFCN Location Award 2023 for The Banshees of Inisherin
Posted: 27th November 2023
Inis Mór has been selected as one of the five finalists for the EUFCN Location Award 2023, the annual prize for the best European filming location of the year. The location was submitted by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland as one of the primary filming locations of Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin, starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as friends turned into bitter enemies.
Director Martin McDonagh noted that he intended Inis Mór to represent Farrell’s character Padraig, embodying his sweet, simple nature – juxtaposed against his rival Colm’s more lyrical personality. Inis Mór was the setting for Padraig’s cottage, perched atop the island and offering breathtaking views of the cliffs and surrounding ocean. Late summer sunsets illuminated the island’s unique karst landscape, dotted with beautiful ruins and limestone hand-built walls. Its ancient Bronze Age fort Dún Aenghusa was the setting for a key scene between Colin Farrell and Barry Keoghan – and permission to film at the historical site was generously granted by Ireland’s Office of Public Works.
A 14-kilometre-long island, Inis Mór posed logistical challenges for the transportation of crew, equipment, vehicles, and sets – all successfully overcome by the hospitality and cooperation of local residents. Its cultural significance includes numerous heritage sites, a native Irish flora and fauna habitat, and a thriving Irish language-speaking culture. The island’s first appearance on screen was in the very first Irish film, Man of Aran (1932) – and its most recent remains a testament to this remarkable location, steeped in Irish film history.
The Banshees of Inisherin is a Searchlight Pictures production, in association with Film4, Blueprint Pictures, TSG Entertainment and Metropolitan Films.
The general public can now vote for their favourite location among the 5 in the EUFCN Location Award shortlist:
Helsetkopen for Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One – Norwegian Film Commission (NORWAY)
Hotel Parque do Rio for Bad Living – Portugal Film Commission (PORTUGAL)
Inis Mór for The Banshees of Inisherin – Screen Ireland (IRELAND)
Jotunheimen for Troll – Eastern Norway Film Commission (NORWAY)
Romsdalen Gondola for Succession (Season 4) – Western Norway Film Commission (NORWAY)
A lucky name will be picked among the voters and will win a trip to the winning location.
Voting opens on 27th November and runs through 31st January 2024. Click here to vote.
The EUFCN Location Award 2023 will be handed out to the winning location and film commission on 18th February, at the European Film Market – EFM 2024 in Berlin.
About EUFCN
The European Film Commissions Network is a non-profit association that supports and promotes the European film industry and culture. It currently represents 99 European film commissions and film institutions from 31 different countries. For more information visit https://eufcn.com/.