Cork film may go global

TALKS to secure worldwide distribution rights for a movie shot in Cork are at an advanced stage following its premier in Cannes last week.

First-time movie director Mark Mahon, who shot Strength and Honour starring Vinny Jones, Michael Madsen and Richard Chamberlain in Cork earlier this year, said yesterday that his legal team were in negotiations with a number of major distribution companies following its world premier.

“We are very hopeful of striking a deal,” he said.

Michael Madsen jetted in to Cannes last Thursday to attend the premier but co-star Vinny Jones couldn’t make it because he was shooting another movie in England.

The director of the Corona Cork Film Festival, Mick Hannigan, also spent 10 days with his team in Cannes scouting for movies for this year’s event.

“We each saw between 40 and 50 films each and are now preparing a database of the films we would like to secure,” he said.

He described Mr Mahon’s movie as a “powerful piece of film making” with “great power and emotional resonance”.

“Vinny Jones gives a superb performance as a tough Traveller boxing champion,” he said.

Included on Mr Hannigan’s wish-list for screening at this year’s festival are the hit Irish movie Garage, starring Pat Shortt, the Coen Brothers’ No Country For Old Men, the animated French film, Persepolis, based on the graphic novel by Iranian author, Marjane Satrapi, and Michael Moore’s scathing Sicko documentary on the US medical system.

“It was a great Cannes festival this year with rich pickings. We will be compiling an extensive shopping list,” he added.