Oscilloscope Acquires Joe Heaney Biopic, Song of Granite
Posted: 11th May 2017
Oscilloscope Laboratories has announced that it has acquired U.S. rights to Pat Collins's film about traditional Irish singer Joe Heaney, Song of Granite. Co-written by Collins, Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde, and Sharon Whooley, the film had its world premiere at this year's SXSW Film Festival. Oscilloscope will open the film theatrically later this year.
Enigmatic and complex, Joe Heaney was one of the greats of traditional Irish singing (sean nós). Shaped by the myths, fables, and songs of his upbringing in the west of Ireland, his emergence as a gifted artist came at a personal cost. Featuring performances from Colm Seoighe, Macdara Ó'Fátharta, Jaren Cerf, Lisa O'Neill, Damien Dempsey, and sean nós singers Micheál O'Confhaola and Pól Ó Ceannabháin, and beautiful black and white cinematography, Song of Granite is a distinct portrait of Heaney's life and a marvelous exploration of music and song.
About the acquisition, filmmaker Pat Collins said, "I have long been an admirer of Oscilloscope's exceptional library of titles and am delighted to be working with Dan and his team on Song of Granite."
O-Scope's Dan Berger said, "Pat's unique and genre-defying telling of Joe's story is all at once informative, engaging, and formally inventive. Towing the line between fiction and documentary we get a new and fascinating insight into a man little-known but highly-deserving."
The film was produced by Alan Maher and Jessie Fisk of Marcie Films with Martin Paul-Hus of Amerique Film. Executive Producers are Philip King, Tina Moran, and Keith Potter. The film was financed by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/Irish Film Board, SODEC, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Telefilm Canada, and TG4. Song of Granite will open the prestigious Galway Film Fleadh in Ireland in July of this year.