Major Irish film productions announced at Cannes Film Festival market

Irish film held a large presence at this year’s Cannes Marché du Film, with several deals being announced for Screen Ireland-supported films. Sci-fi drama Lola, and animated feature film Niko - Beyond the Northern Lights, were among several Irish films to sell distribution rights across the world.

The Marché du Film runs concurrently with the Cannes Film Festival every year, and is the world’s busiest global film market, with producers and directors attempting to find funding and distribution networks. Screen Ireland, the state agency for the Irish film, television and animation industry, hosted the Irish Pavilion at the market.

Screen Ireland-supported projects announced during the festival included Ita Fitzgerald’s West The Road. Starring Imelda Staunton, Hannah Waddingham and Siobhan McSweeney, the film follows a group of women who track down their childhood friend’s long lost child. Production is set to begin in Kerry before the end of the year.

Other projects announced include vampire horror Feed, starring young Irish actors Clinton Liberty and Niamh McCormack, and acclaimed Irish documentary director Ken Wardrop’s latest film I Hate Christmas.

This year's Marché du Film saw screenings of Irish films such as Lola directed by Andrew Legge, as well as Kneecap, the much anticipated documentary about the popular Irish language rap group. Kneecap was featured at the festival as part of the Great8 showcase. The documentary follows the three man rap group as they confront the legacy of ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland.

Lola sold North American distribution rights to Dark Sky Films, and is expected to be released in North America in early August. With score from Neil Hannon, the mockumentary, is filmed entirely with vintage cameras, and takes a cynical look at a possible fascist reality.

There was also a screening of the Irish supported The Damned, a psychological horror directed by Thordur Palsson, and starring Game Of Thrones star Rory McCann, while production begins in Ireland this week on Fréwaka, an Irish-language horror film written and directed by Aislinn Clarke.