Sales deals and launches for upcoming Irish films at the Marché du Film this year
Posted: 25th May 2023
Sales deals have been announced for Screen Ireland-supported films at the Cannes Film Festival this year, including sci-fi drama LOLA and animated feature film Niko — Beyond the Northern Lights. Screen Ireland, the state agency for the Irish film, television and animation industry, hosts the Irish Pavilion, a yearly presence for Irish film at the Marché du Film – the marketplace that runs alongside the festival – and is delighted to welcome news on a range of projects being released worldwide and going into production this year.
Irish film projects selling in the market
With over 20 projects selling at the Marché du Film this year, as well as many others coming to market over the next few months, Irish film had a strong presence across the market, with sales agents brokering deals for distribution across multiple territories.
Prior to the market beginning, the animated feature film Niko — Beyond the Northern Lights, from Galway-based animation studio Moetion Films, had already made several presales in multiple territories including Poland, South Korea, Turkey, Benelux and Bulgaria.
Andrew Legge’s LOLA, produced by Alan Maher and John Wallace of Cowtown Pictures, sold North American distribution rights to Dark Sky Films. The science fiction drama film will be released in North American in early August.
Screen Ireland-supported projects announced during the festival included Irish comedy West The Road, starring Imelda Staunton and Siobhan McSweeney, which is due to start production later this year; along with vampire horror Feed, starring up-and-coming Irish actors Clinton Liberty and Niamh McCormack. The latest film from acclaimed Irish documentary director Ken Wardrop, I Hate Christmas, was also picked up for sales during the market; while “un-romantic comedy” Night & Day, an adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s novel, announced key casting and introduced the film to buyers this week. Kneecap, the highly anticipated film about the Irish-language rap group, was featured as part of the Great8 showcase, while production begins in Ireland this week on Fréwaka, an Irish-language horror film written and directed by Aislinn Clarke.
European co-production funds from France to Luxembourg
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.
On Thursday, Screen Ireland hosted several events to mark last year’s historic signing of the Cinematic Co-Production Agreement between France and Ireland. In partnership with France’s CNC, the agency brought together French and Irish creative teams to discuss 10 selected projects for potential co-production opportunities. This also included an informational panel to discuss the Agreement’s potential for French and Irish producers alike.
This week also saw the launch of the Ireland / Luxembourg Co-Development Fund, aimed at female and non-binary filmmakers. This collaboration between Film Fund Luxembourg and Screen Ireland was originally announced in 2019 at the Cannes Film Festival, and is now open for applications. For more details, click here.
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 Kathryn Kennedy, who was selected to take part in the programme during the Festival de Cannes. Kathryn founded Kennedy Films in 2012, producing Simon Fitzmaurice's multi award-winning feature debut My Name is Emily, and Frankie Fenton's documentaries It's Not Yet Dark and Atomic Hope: Inside the Pro-Nuclear Movement.
Rising Stars Ireland, a partnership between Screen International and Screen Ireland, launched its feature issue at the Cannes market this year. Rising Stars Ireland is an international showcase of 10 emerging Irish creatives across acting, directing and screenwriting. For more details on the 10 Rising Stars for 2023, click here.