Cannes do attitude for Irish films at film fest

Two Irish feature films are in the running for glory at Cannes Film Festival, while more than a dozen more are selling well at the festival’s market, Le Marché du Film.

Supported by the Irish Film Board, John Boorman’s latest film, Queen and Country, a sequel to his Oscar-nominated Hope and Glory, has been chosen for the prestigious Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes. It had its world premiere at Cannes last evening.

Boorman’s films The General and Excalibur previously competed at Cannes, with the former earning him Best Director.

Jimmy’s Hall, directed by Ken Loach, will screen tomorrow at the prestigious Grand Théatre Lumière. The film shot for seven weeks in Sligo and Leitrim last summer and stars Irish actors Barry Ward (Family, Psych Ward), Simone Kirby (Pure Mule, Single Handed), and Andrew Scott (The Stag, Sherlock), along with a strong supporting Irish cast.

Loach was the winner of the coveted Palme d’Or in 2006 for The Wind that Shakes the Barley.

The Irish Pavilion in Cannes — hosted by the Irish Film Board — is the focal point for the Irish industry and is set up to promote Irish film to the international community, to market Ireland as a destination for large film projects and to provide business support for the Irish industry.

Among the Irish productions on view at festival are Frank, directed by Lenny Abrahamson, biopic Noble, horror Let Us Prey, and romantic comedy Standby, which has already secured a distribution deal.

Other Irish films going to Cannes include Mary McGuckian’s The Price of Desire, Brooklyn, starring Saoirse Ronan and Domhnall Gleeson, biopic Jimi: All is By My Side, comedy Life’s a Breeze and Greek-Irish co-production The Lobster.

But Cannes isn’t all about screenings. Equally important is the annual Marché du film, one of the most important markets for the global film industry, and Irish film has had a strong presence there in recent years.

Already, a number of Irish productions have had global film distribution rights snapped up.

Room, based on Emma Donoghue’s best-selling novel, has been acquired by A24 Films. It will star Brie Larson as a mother who has to hide a secret from her son.

Irish-American sci-fi Young Ones, starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult, has sold to the US, Canada, and Britain.