Six Irish Titles Announced For Edinburgh International Film Festival
Posted: 31st May 2017
The line-up for the 2017 Edinburgh International Film Festival has been announced, with six Irish films included in the programme. Emer Reynolds' The Farthest and Aisling Walsh’s Maudie will both screen in Competition at the festival—in the documentary and international feature film categories, respectively. Irish/Norwegian co-production The King’s Choice will compete for the Audience Award, while Brendan Muldowney’s thirteenth century Irish epic, Pilgrimage, Conor McDermottroe’s culture clash comedy, Halal Daddy and Frankie Fenton’s award-winning doc, It’s Not Yet Dark will also screen at the 71st iteration of the prestigious festival.
Emer Reynolds' NASA Space Voyager doc, The Farthest will compete for Best Documentary Feature Film in Edinburgh, having previously screened at the Tribeca Film Festival. Depicting NASA's Voyager Mission, The Farthest celebrates magnificent machines as well as the men and women who built them and the vision that propelled them farther than anyone could have ever hoped. Produced by John Murray and Clare Stronge at Crossing the Line Productions with funding from the IFB, this awe-inspiring documentary showcases one of humankind’s greatest achievements that in all likelihood will outlast humanity.
Aisling Walsh’s Maudie received its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in September 2016, also screening in Special Presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival in the same month. Maudie tells the story of real-life Nova Scotian folk artist, Maud Lewis, who is hired by a curmudgeonly miser to work as his housekeeper. Produced by Parallel Films in Dublin, the film details the relationship between the pair and how Maud goes on to become a well-loved artist.
Directed by Erik Poppe, Irish/Norwegian co-pro The King’s Choice is an epic film about the real events, which turned a brave man into the people's king. On the 9th of April 1940, German troops invade Oslo. The king of Norway is faced with a choice, which will change his nation forever. Irish producers on the film included Jackie Larkin and Lesley McKimm for Newgrange Pictures.
Brendan Muldowney’s Pilgrimage is set in an Ireland ravaged by tribal war and pagan superstition in 1209AD. The film centres on a group of monks who undertake a pilgrimage to transport their monastery's holiest relic to Rome. When the true significance of the relic is revealed, the journey becomes much more treacherous, and the group's faith and loyalty to one another are tested. The film is produced by Conor Barry and John Keville of Savage Productions alongside Renoit Roland of Wrong Men Films. Pilgrimage previously screened at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Produced by Deadpan Pictures, Conor McDermottroe’s Halal Daddy is included in the European Perspectives strand of Edinburgh. The film follows Raghdan Aziz as his new home in the west of Ireland seems to be the perfect getaway from his controlling Bradford-based Muslim father, Amir. However, when Amir lands on his doorstep with a birthday present of the keys to a halal meat factory, things go awry for happy-go-lucky Raghdan.
Following its screening at the Sundance Film Festival, where it received scores of critical acclaim, Frankie Fenton’s It’s Not Yet is based on award-winning Irish filmmaker Simon Fitzmaurice’s acclaimed memoir of the same name following his diagnosis with Motor Neuron Disease (ALS) in 2008. The documentary chronicles Simon’s life from the point of his diagnosis at the age of 34. Narrated by Colin Farrell, this life-affirming documentary covers the full spectrum of Simon’s journey, including showcasing behind-the-scenes footage of him directing his first feature film—My Name is Emily—through the last physical attribute he has control over; his eyes.
Established in 1947, the Edinburgh International Film Festival is the world’s oldest continually running festival and the 2017 edition of the festival will take place from 21 June – 2 July.
For more information, please visit www.edfilmfest.org.uk