Eight Irish films to feature at Toronto festival

Eight Irish films are due to feature at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival which opened on Thursday.

"Handsome Devil’ includes Andrew Scott (‘Sherlock’), Moe Dunford (‘Vikings’), Amy Huberman (‘The Stag’), Michael McElhatton (‘Game of Thrones’), Fionn O’Shea (‘The Siege of Jadotville’), and Nick Galitzine in its cast."

Six Irish feature films will screen at the festival with Jim Sheridan’s The Secret Scripture

featuring Rooney Mara and Jack Reynor, Aisling Walsh’s Maudie starring Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke, Alan Gilsenan’s Unless, Lorcan Finnegan’s IFB Catalyst Project Without Name, John Butler’s Handsome Devil , and Gerard Barrett’s Brain on Fire.

The programme also includes Vincent Gallagher’s short film Second to None and Forever Pure, a feature documentary from Roads Entertainment.

Irish Film Board CEO James Hickey will participate in a panel discussion taking place as part of this year’s TIFF Industry Conference.

The panel will focus on co-producing with Europe and will address how the continent’s evolving borders and changing financial landscape impacts co-productions and international access to working with Europe.

‘Maudie’ will have a gala presentation at the Toronto festival. The unlikely love story from Aisling Walsh (‘Song for a Raggy Boy’) stars Sally Hawkins (‘Blue Jasmine’) and Ethan Hawke (‘Boyhood’).

“Toronto International Film Festival is one of the most important film festivals in the world and offers us an ideal platform to pitch opportunities for co-production and inward investment into Ireland to the many North American and international participants at the festival,” said Mr Hickey.

“Canada has also been a very important co-production partner for Ireland in the past, with recent successes including Room and Brooklyn,” he added.

Fionn O’Shea, star of John Butler’s Handsome Devil, has been selected to participate in the 2016 International Actors Programme at TIFF while the festival’s Talent Campus participants for 2016 include You’re Ugly Too director Mark Noonan.

This is a is a comprehensive five-day artistic development programme that takes place during the festival, supporting the next generation of creators by providing them with opportunities to develop their careers.

"Handsome Devil’ includes Andrew Scott (‘Sherlock’), Moe Dunford (‘Vikings’), Amy Huberman (‘The Stag’), Michael McElhatton (‘Game of Thrones’), Fionn O’Shea (‘The Siege of Jadotville’), and Nick Galitzine in its cast."

Meanwhile, Irish film will be strongly represented at the 60th Cork Film Festival, which takes place from November 6 to 15.

The Irish Film Board will bring 11 of the films funded under their initiatives to the festival, supplementing the 10 other Irish produced or co-produced feature films and documentaries.

TRAILERS

[media=youtube]https://youtu.be/cd4K6qICqC8/media]