Irish film industry set to make waves at the Cannes Film Festival 2024
Posted: 14th May 2024
-
Minister Catherine Martin TD travels with Screen Ireland delegation to promote European co-production opportunities
-
5 Irish films to receive their World Premiere, and over 20 projects actively selling in the marketplace
The Irish film industry is set to make international waves at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival this week, where five Irish films will receive their World Premiere across the programme – an unprecedented number for the prestigious film festival. The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D., will attend the business marketplace of the Cannes Film Festival – the Marché du Film – on Friday to meet with international industry stakeholders, and to promote Ireland and France’s recent co-production partnership.
The five Irish films receiving their World Premiere at Cannes include two Screen Ireland-supported projects which are selected for Official Competition and Un Certain Regard: Ali Abassi’s The Apprentice and Ariane Labed’s September Says, respectively.
Irish director Lorcan Finnegan’s The Surfer will receive its world premiere in the Midnight Screenings strand. On Becoming a Guinea Fowl will screen in Un Certain Regard and Yorgos Lanthimos’ highly anticipated latest film Kinds of Kindness is in Official Competition. Dublin-based Element Pictures produced both these films, as well as September Says – and for an Irish production company to have three films at the festival is, in itself, a remarkable feat. Irish talent in front of and behind the camera is further represented across the festival this year, with the selection of Andrea Arnold’s Bird in Official Competition, starring Barry Keoghan and with Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Robbie Ryan.
Screen Ireland - the state agency for the Irish film, television and animation industry - manages the Irish Pavilion at the Marché du Film every year, to support the delegation of over 200 Irish producers and filmmakers as they meet with international sales agents and distributors to sell their films internationally, and pitch new projects to potential production partners.
Minister Catherine Martin to promote European co-production and France/Ireland feature film partnership.
European co-production forms a key part of the business conducted at the Cannes Film Festival – with Irish producers meeting European co-production partners to discuss potential projects, as well as new ways of cooperating across national film funds.
In partnership with Screen Producers Ireland and Le Syndicat des Producteurs Indépendants, Screen Ireland will host a networking event on Friday to highlight the recent Cinematic Co-Production Agreement between France and Ireland, which commenced in July 2023. Minister Martin will speak at the event, which is designed to bring together Irish and French producers to discuss potential project collaborations.
Minister Catherine Martin said:
“I would like to extend my congratulations to the creative teams behind the five Irish films that will premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, and to Barry Keoghan and Robbie Ryan whose work will also be showcased at the festival. The Irish screen industry continues to go from strength to strength and Cannes is an important annual promotional and business platform. The Cinematic Co-Production Agreement we signed with France has now come into effect and will support the development of closer working relationships with French producers and production companies.”
Screen Ireland supports business activity at the Marché du Film, the Cannes marketplace
At the Irish Pavilion, Screen Ireland promotes Ireland’s offering as an international production partner, its diverse filming locations, its film and television tax incentive, which has recently been improved, and most crucially, its creative talent – from filmmakers to highly skilled crew nationwide.
Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, said:
“The Marché du Film represents a valuable business opportunity for Irish producers and filmmakers. Screen Ireland’s priority this week is to support the development of film production partnerships between Ireland and international partners, particularly with European co-producers. The Cannes Film Festival showcases a very strong presence for Irish film this year, and we’re proud to showcase the breadth of Irish film coming to the international market. Screen Ireland is delighted to welcome Minister Martin to the Irish Pavilion at the Marché du Film this year. Through the Irish Pavilion, we will continue to highlight Ireland’s strong offering as a global production hub – particularly in terms of creative talent and highly skilled crew.”
The Irish Pavilion will promote over 20 projects actively selling in the marketplace, as well as many more coming to market in the coming months. These projects include animated feature film Niko: Beyond the Northern Lights, Irish co-production The Damned, award-winning documentary The Flats, and upcoming Irish-language horror film Fréwaka. This year, the agency will also host international networking opportunities between Ireland and countries like France, New Zealand and Australia.
Spotlight on emerging Irish talent
Screen Ireland’s presence at Cannes is key to promoting Irish film projects, Ireland’s tax incentives and facilities for international production, but most crucially it highlights Ireland’s filmmaking talent itself – which is a core element of the country’s attraction for co-producers.
Producer on the Move is a European partnership to highlight the most dynamic emerging producers from across Europe, led by European Film Promotion (EFP), of which Ireland is a member country. Ireland’s Producer on the Move this year is Evan Horan, a producer at film and TV production company Keeper Pictures. A priority for Screen Ireland is the championing of new voices, and in 2023, 38% of Screen Ireland productions were directed or written by new filmmakers.
Irish film and creative talent have enjoyed major festival success at Sundance and Berlinale already this year. This strong presence at Cannes represents a further significant business opportunity for the industry, to form new partnerships on future projects and productions.