Strong showing in Cannes for Irish films

Ken Loach-directed Irish Civil War story The Wind that Shakes the Barley leads a strong showing of Irish films at this year's Cannes Film Festival, which runs from May 17 - 28.

The Wind that Shakes the Barley is in the festival's official competition, with 13 other Irish films selling in the Cannes market.

Among these are creepy genetic manipluation flick Isolation, written and directed by Cork's Billy O'Brien.

Irish actors Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins, Red Eye), Liam Cunningham (Breakfast On Pluto, A Love Divided, Showbands), rising stars Padraic Delaney (Pure Mule, The Clinic) and Orla Fitzgerald (Love is the Drug, The Last Furlong) will walk down the red carpet with director Ken Loach next Thursday, at the world premiere of The Wind That Shakes The Barley in Cannes.

The Wind That Shakes The Barley will be released by Pathe in Ireland on June 23. It is the first Irish film in official competition at the Cannes Film Festival since John Boorman’s film The General in1988.

The full list of Irish films screening in the Cannes Film Market is:

- 48 Angels (Marion Comer)

- Studs (Paul Mercier)

- The Wind That Shakes The Barley (Ken Loach)

- Johnny Was (Mark Hammond)

- Winter's End (Patrick Kenny)

- The Tiger's Tail (John Boorman)

- Shrooms (Paddy Breathnach)

- The Front Line (David Gleeson)

- Small Engine Repairs (Niall Henry) (aka In Like Flynn)

- Wilderness (Michael J. Bassett)

- Winter's End (Patrick Kenny)

- Isolation (Billy O’Brien)

- Pavee Lackeen (Perry Ogden)