How film festivals can impact a movie's success — and the Irish films already generating a buzz
Buzz is already building for Andrew Scott, generating early awards season chatter for his role in the forthcoming Elsinore. Picture: Anthony Dickenson/Focus Features
Irish actors, filmmakers and movies are ready for their close-ups as the busiest and buzziest period in the movie calendar gets under way.
The autumn film festival circuit features a number of highly prolific festivals that can be crucial to the success of a film — both in generating word of mouth for audiences and kicking off a potential awards-season run.
They include festivals from Venice in Italy, Telluride in Colorado, Toronto in Canada and the New York Film Festival, all running in close proximity from the end of the summer through to the autumn months. A movie making its debut at these festivals draws huge attention from the film industry, media and audiences alike for its potential on release.
They also help build momentum during awards season, which kicks off with the Golden Globes in early January and runs right through to the Baftas in February and the Oscars in March.
Closer to home, London Film Festival has grown to be a significant festival on the circuit, while Cork International Film Festival (November 12-22) is one of Ireland’s biggest. It can be a significant Irish showcase for both home-grown and international movies.
“There are two big moments on the film calendar — the Cannes Film Festival in May, and the autumn run of festivals that are beginning now,” says Aurélie Godet, director of programming at Cork International Film Festival.
The prestigious festivals run in close proximity to each other, says Godet, to “catch a wave” as prolific new movies make their worldwide debuts.
“Everybody is surfing that wave to catch the attention of the audience. If you want them to get excited, if you want a film to become something anticipated, you need that build-up.”
Cork International Film Festival plays its part in that calendar, and many of the new titles debuting at Telluride, Toronto, Venice, and New York in the weeks ahead will have their first Irish screenings in Cork. Last year, Godet adds, all five of the films nominated for Best International Feature at the Oscars had been screened in Cork.
Godet and her CIFF team are currently deep into planning for this year’s festival and as well as international cinema, Irish film traditionally has a huge role to play.
“It's particularly important for Irish films. We can use some of that spotlight for local talents and filmmakers, either for an Irish premiere or a world premiere. Of course, we’ve [always] been about supporting national artists.”
In what has been a remarkable run of success for Irish films and screen talent, it should come as no surprise that international eyes are on several homemade projects. Irish talent on upcoming international films is also likely to be strong.
Indeed, as summer winds down, buzz is already building for Andrew Scott, generating early awards season chatter for his role in the forthcoming The film, which will screen at Telluride and Toronto before opening the London Festival in October, tells the story of actor Ian Charleson (Scott). It focuses in particular on his performances of in 1989, while seriously ill with Aids. Scott is also a producer on the film, which co-stars Olivia Colman and Billie Piper.
Irish focus will also be on filmmaker Andrew Haigh’s first film since the critically acclaimed which was nominated for six Baftas. Adapted from the short story by Irish author Colm Tóibín, it follows a young man living with his parents in an isolated home in the mountains. Irish actress Caitríona Balfe (Belfast) has been generating word of mouth for her role as his mother in the film.
Saoirse Ronan’s directorial debut, is also on the festival radar after the Screen Ireland-backed short film was selected for Venice, one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. Ronan’s film is one of 15 that will compete for the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film, selected from over 2,500 entries.
Other Screen Ireland-backed projects being unveiled in the coming weeks include Sophie Fiennes' documentary It centres on philosopher Slavoj Žižek as they guide audiences through landscapes of classic film, music, social media, archive and webcasts.
Other Irish films screening at Toronto include Louise Bagnall’s animated film The film follows a boy who is about to spend the summer with a grandmother he barely knows. Bagnall’s acclaimed animated short, was previously nominated for an Oscar.
David Turpin’s drama-mystery Ancestors, starring Cork actor Éanna Hardwicke and Christina Hendricks, will have its world premiere at Toronto. It shows how reality, memory and fantasy intertwine as Beau searches for his missing friend, Tiny.
— which dramatises the story of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home — is headed for Toronto following its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh. Frank Berry’s film is based on the article of the same name, optioned by actor Liam Neeson, and stars Monica Dolan as historian Catherine Corless.
starring Lewis Brophy and Academy Award nominee Barry Keoghan, will receive its world premiere in the Toronto festival's Centrepiece strand, which celebrates the best of international cinema. Set in Ireland’s care system, it centres around a teenager who reconnects with a social worker and also stars Cork actress Eileen Walsh.
Irish-shot films including Werner Herzog’s highly anticipated new drama starring Kate and Rooney Mara, will debut in competition at Venice Film Festival. It centres on two sisters who speak in unison and dream the same dreams. Filmed in Dublin and Wicklow and starring Michelle Yeoh, action film will also premiere at Toronto.
Directed by Irish filmmakers Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor, has been selected for the Official Competition at the London Film Festival. The film is one of 10 titles competing for the festival’s top prize.
Irish interest will also be focused on London-Irish filmmaker Martin McDonagh’s next film following Set before the 1973 Chilean coup, stars Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich as CIA agents. The film will screen in competition in Venice ahead of an anticipated awards-season run.
The sheer scale and depth of Irish filmmaking talent going to the autumn festivals indicates a continuing run of good health.
Like most movie fans, Cork International Film Festival’s Aurélie Godet cannot wait to see what emerges both from Ireland and internationally.
“You feel, like any other film fan, that excitement before even seeing the film — you almost have the film in your mind from the trailer or even the first announcement about with Pedro Pascal,” she says.
“I haven't seen it yet, but I want to. You go through that phase of excitement that you want your audience to feel because that's exactly what you're trying to build and deliver to them, so for me, it's a very important phase.”
