IFI Stranger Than Fiction 2013 brings a fantastic programme of new documentary film to Dublin for a 4-day Festival that includes 11 new feature films, with a host of Irish, world and Dublin premieres, a brilliant line-up of guest filmmakers and special guests, two short film selections and, in a new partnership with the Irish Film Board/Bord Scannán na hÉireann, a series of documentary discussions workshops and masterclasses. Now in its 10^th incarnation, the IFI Stranger than Fiction Festival (www.ifi.ie/stf) continues to challenge, inform, amaze and inspire.

Festival Programmer Ross Whitaker said, 'I'm delighted to be welcoming some of the best International and Irish documentaries to IFI Stranger Than Fiction Documentary Festival this year. It's exciting to be holding so many premieres and to be providing what might be in some cases a unique opportunity for cinema loving audiences to see some brilliant documentaries. I’m particularly delighted that so many of the filmmakers, both from Ireland and around the world, will be our guests at the IFI to discuss and contextualise their own work with our audiences’

The Festival opens with a Gala Screening of The Great Hip Hop Hoax that examines the story of ultra-hip Californian rap duo Silibil ‘n’ Brains. Tipped to take the music world by storm, their street cred dramatically imploded when it was revealed that rather than being from LA they were actually Scottish rap hopefuls Billy and Gavin. This is a story of a hoax of astonishing audacity and the lengths people will go to get their break, yet also an ultimately moving film about the reality of living a lie. Director an emerging documentary star Jeanie Finlay (Sound it Out) will attend and take part in a post-show Q+A.

Women’s stories and rights form a key strand of this year’s programme, perhaps unsurprisingly considering more than half of the films in this year’s festival have a female director. One of Britain’s best filmmakers, Kim Longinotto’s new film Salma follows the eponymous Tamil poet as she returns to her village and courageously tells the story of her incarceration at the hands of her parents as a child before being given up to an oppressive arranged marriage.

Fiercely topical for Irish audiences, After Tiller sensitively follows and observes the only four surviving doctors who provide late-term abortions in the U.S after the assassination of Dr. George Tiller in 2009. Filmmakers Martha Shane and Lana Wilson encourage the audience to make up their own minds on this provocative issue but challenge them not to judge. The film will be followed by a Q&A with RTÉ’s Keelin Shanley and one of the films subjects Dr. Shelley Sella.

On July 25^th 2013 a pickup van rammed into the gate of Orbe prison in Switzerland and kept prison guards at bay with rounds from AK-47s, allowing the escape of Milan Poparic one of the notoriously audacious Pink Panther gang of jewel thieves. Havana Marking (director of 2009’s Afghan Star) will attend the festival to present her new work Smash & Grab which tells the Pink Panther gang’s story using extraordinary inside access to the former-Yugoslav crime syndicate that has responsible for perhaps $500 million of thefts across the world.

Closing the Festival, Dragon Girls tells another unique female story, though this time from a male cinematographer-turned-director Inigo Westmeier, who tells the story of three Chinese girls studying at the 30,000 strong Shaolin Tagou Kung Fu School. Winner of Best International Documentary at Toronto’s prestigious Hot Docs Festival, the film captures both the spectacular setting and gruelling nature of the girl’s studies. Westmeier will attend the Festival and take part in a post-show Q+A.

There’s a strong Irish strand in this year’s IFI Stranger Than Fiction, reflecting the ever-increasing strength of domestic documentary scene. John Murray and Emer Reynolds’ will take part in a Q+A after their film Here Was Cuba, which tells the story of the Cuban Missile Crisis as a feature length doc for the first time and finds the personal stories in the midst of the political pressure cooker. Gerry Gregg’s Close to Evil focuses even more intently on a personal thread weaving through the canvas of history as it follows Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental’s journey to Germany to try to meet the 91-year-old woman who once kept him prisoner as a 9-year-old at Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp. Both Gregg and Reichental will be present for a post-show Q+A.

After the hip-hop beats of the Opening Night film fade there’s plenty more music docs to keep those looking for a bit more ear candy happy, both from the Irish and international selection. There’s a World Premiere of Isolda Healy’s Where The Blue Flowers Grow which tells the story of Wicklow hard folk band The Cujo Family (who’ll be there to kick up an acoustic storm in the IFI Foyer before the film). Tradition and change come together in Dónal Ó’ Céilleachair’s Sean-nós documentary Aisling Gheal that follows a new generation, including 10 year-old Shahira Apraku, redefining ‘Irishness’ through language and music on the banks of the Sullane river.

Greg ‘Freddy’ Camalier’s Muscle Shoals asks the questions, why did this tiny Alabama town become the centre of an R’n’B movement in the 1960s with the likes of Aretha Franklin swinging into town to be backed up by local session players the "Swampers”? Featuring interviews from Mick Jagger, Alicia Keys and Candi Staton it’s a guide to magical time and place in American music.

Perhaps the hardest film in the Festival to categorise, Leviathan is also one of the most hotly-anticipated. Winner of the prestigious Michael Powell Award for Best Feature at the Edinburgh Film Festival, this immersive, hallucinatory exploration of an old Atlantic fishing trawler at work is a masterful assault on the senses that will leave no viewer unaffected.

One of Denmark’s most celebrated and provocative documentarians, Jon Bang Carlsen has for decades explored and subverted documentary form to present staged realities. Carlsen will attend a special archive presentation of two of his short films It’s Now or Never and How to Invent Reality demonstrating the scale and invention of his work.

The Festival features two selections of short films, the first curated from Irish and International submissions in collaboration with dynamic short film promoters Eat My Shorts and the second being the Irish Film Board’s Reality Bites World Premiere Event that showcases the films made under this important scheme for emerging documentary filmmakers who’ll then discuss their films in a panel Q+A.

The IFI is collaborating with the Irish Film Board in presenting a series of special events:How to Connect with Modern Audiences (featuring Festival Guest Jeanie Finlay) and Building and Internatonal Documentary Company (featuring Festival Guest Havana Marking);Creating with Archive that looks how to utilise resources such as the IFI Irish Film Archive and Breaking into Documentary that looks at how a filmmaker takes their first steps in a documentary career.

Tickets are on sale NOW at the IFI Box Office on 01 679 3477 or online at www.ifi.ie. You can find out more about all the films and events in IFI Stranger than Fiction on www.ifi.ie/stf

For more media information, images and interview requests Patrick Stewart at the IFI Press Office on 01 679 5744.

Guest interview opportunities (by appointment with the IFI Press Office)

Tickets are on sale NOW at the IFI Box Office on 01 679 3477 or online at www.ifi.ie/stf.

You can find out more about all the films and events in IFI Stranger than Fiction on the website www.ifi.ie/stf

The award-winning CALL GIRL, a political and emotional thriller with nerve and social conscience, will screen at the Irish Film Institute and Light House Cinema from Friday 16th August and will also be available on Volta.ie.

Winner of the Fipresci award at the Toronto Film Festival 2012, CALL GIRL is a Swedish/Norwegian/Irish/Finnish co-production.  Newgrange Pictures (Stella Days, Happy Ever Afters And Forthcoming A Thousand Times Goodnight starring Juliette Binoche) co-produced for Ireland, providing part of the production design team and handled the post-VFX through Windmill Lane Pictures, Dublin.  Inspired by 70’s thrillers such as All The President’s Men, Three Days For Condor And Serpico, CALL GIRL received funding from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board (IFB).

Youth is seductive. Power is corrupt.

Stockholm, late 70’s. The model utopian society. Political neutrality and atomic power march hand in hand with women's liberation and the sexual revolution. But under the polished surface, other desires are eager to be fulfilled. Within a stone’s throw of government buildings and juvenile homes lies the seductive, glittery and dirty world of sex clubs, strip shows, discotheques and apartments used for illicit and profitable rendezvous.

CALL GIRL tells the story of how young Iris is recruited from the bottom rung of society, into a ruthless world where power can get you anything.

Directed by Mikael Marciman (Wallander), and shot by Hoyte Van Hoytema (The Fighter, 2010, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) it stars Pernilla August (Star Wars Episode 1).

To watch the trailer for CALL GIRL visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiU-f7b7WwQ
 
For further information, screenings or talent requests please contact Chris Boyd (chris.boyd@curzon.com)  or Jake Garriock (Jake.Garriock@artificial-eye.com)
For further information regarding Newgrange Pictures, please contact Lesley McKimm (lesley@newgrangepictures.com)
For further information re IFI, please contact Patrick Stewart (pstewart@irishfilm.ie)
For further information re Light House, please contact Tom Lawlor (tomlawlor@elementpictures.ie)

Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board is pleased to announce that the latest round of successful Frameworks teams have been selected.

This is the 18th year of the Frameworks short film scheme, which is dedicated exclusively to the production of animated films.  The scheme was established to develop new talent and skills in the field of animation and has been extremely successful in encouraging innovative and novel work from Irish animators.

Previous Frameworks success stories include Brown Bag Films' Give Up Your Aul Sins and Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty which were both nominated for Oscars in the Best Animated Short Film category and Cartoon Saloon's Old Fangs which was officially selected for the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.  Kealan O'Rourke's The Boy in the Bubble picked up the Audience Award for Favourite Animation Short at the Palm Springs Shortfest in 2012. Tony O'Donoghue's Irish Folk Furniture has enjoyed enormous success on the international festival circuit having won the Best Animation Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival. 

The successful projects selected for funding this year combine creative exploration with an ability to appeal to a broad audience. This year's successful projects are:

• The Worry Word written and to be directed by Jack O'Shea and produced by Damien Byrne. 
• Somewhere Down the Line written and to be directed by Julien Regnard and produced by Jonathan Clarke for Cartoon Saloon. 
• Deadly written and to be directed by Aidan McAteer and produced by Shannon George for Kavaleer Productions.
• Where is Eva Hipsey written by Justin Spooner, to be directed by Orla McHardy and produced by Nicky Gogan for Still Films. 

Frameworks is co-financed by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board, RTÉ and the Arts Council.  The projects will premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh 2014.

A new Irish film THE STAG, produced by Rebecca O’ Flanagan and Rob Walpole’s Treasure Entertainment and starring Andrew Scott (Sherlock), Amy Huberman (Threesome) and Hugh O’Connor (Ripper Street) is set to have its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) next month. This news comes in addition to the announcement that Metro International who are handling world sales for the project has also signed a significant all-rights deal for the UK and Ireland with Arrow Film Distributors.

The addition of THE STAG to the Toronto line up brings the Irish representation at this major festival to six films in total with funding from Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board. 

THE STAG tells the story of a very modern Irish groom-to-be who reluctantly agrees to a stag weekend with his urbane friends camping in the west of Ireland. Much to their dismay they are joined by the brother of the bride, a crazy unpredictable alpha male who adds an explosive edition to the proceedings.

The film is directed by John Butler and co-written by Butler and Peter McDonald. McDonald who was previously nominated for an Academy Award for his short film Pentecost also stars in the film. Other cast include Love/Hate star Brian Gleeson, Michael Legge and Andrew Bennett and the film was shot on location in Dublin and Wicklow.

Commenting on the news director John Butler said “I've heard stories from other film-makers about Toronto audiences, and THE STAG is certainly an audience film, so my co-writer Peter McDonald, the producers and I are particularly thrilled to be accepted into TIFF 2013. This is my first feature film and my first international film festival - I've already packed and am sitting at the door." 

Other Irish films having their world premiere at TIFF include Life’s a Breeze directed by Lance Daly and starring Pat Shortt, All is by My Side, a Jimmy Hendrix bio which filmed entirely on location in Ireland and was co-produced by Subotica Films and The F Word starring Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) which was co-produced by Fastnet Films, John Banville’s ‘The Sea’ starring Ciaran Hinds and the Irish –Canadian co-production Stay, along with the latest film entitled Can A Song Save your Life? from Irish director John Carney (Once).

James Hickey, Chief Executive, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board said “We are delighted to have such a strong line-up of Irish films at Toronto this year. This festival is a major gateway to the North American market and we hope these films will go on to strike sales deals with further international territories across the world.”

For more information contact: Louise Ryan, Marketing and Communications Executive, Bord Scannán na hÉireann the Irish Film Board T) +353 86-329-7819 louise.ryan@irishfilmboard.ie

Irish Films Screening at the Toronto International Film Festival

Life's a Breeze

Director:             Lance Daly 

Writer:                Lance Daly

Producers:          Macdara Kelleher & Lance Daly

Sat 7^th                       11.45     Press & Industry @ Scotiabank 6(Scotiabank Theatre)
 

Sun 8^th                      16.45     Public 1 @ Cinema 3(TIFF Bell Lightbox)
 

Tues 10^th                 14.15     Public 2 @ Cinema 3(TIFF Bell Lightbox)
 

Fri 13^th                     12.45     Public 3 @ Scotiabank 13(Scotiabank Theatre)
 

The F Word

Director:               Michael Dowse

Writer:                  Elan Mastai 

Producers:            David Gross, Jesse Shapira, Jeff Arkuss, Andre Rouleau,
Macdara Kelleher                    
 

Sat 7^th                  21.00    Public 1 @ Ryerson Theatre(Ryerson)
 

Sun 8^th                 08.45    Press & Industry 1 @ Scotiabank 2(Scotiabank Theatre)
 

Sun 8^th                 11.30    Public 2 @ The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema
 

Sun 8^th                 16.00     Press Conference 1 @ HSBC Gallery(TIFF Bell Lightbox)

Stay
 

Director:              Wiebke von Carolsfeld

Writer:                 Wiebke von Carolsfeld

Producer:            Martina Niland, David Collins, Andrew Boutilier, Martin Paul-Hus
 

Mon 9^th                14.30     Press & Industry 1 @ Scotiabank 5(Scotiabank Theatre)
 

Wed 11^th              22.00     Public 1 @ Isabel Bader Theatre(Isabel Bader)
 

Thurs 12^th            13.45     Press & Industry 2 @ Scotiabank 7(Scotiabank Theatre)
 

Fri 13^th                09.00     Public 2 @ Cinema 1(TIFF Bell Lightbox)               

The Sea 

Director:              Stephen Brown
 

Writer:                 John Banville
 

Producers:           Michael Robinson, Luc Roeg, David Collins
 

Sat 7^th                  17.30     Public 1 Cinema 2(TIFF Bell Lightbox)

Sun 8^th                 14.00     Press & Industry 1 Scotiabank 5(Scotiabank Theatre)
 

Sun 8^th                 22.00     Public 2 @ Scotiabank 8 (Scotiabank Theatre)
 

Fri 13^th                 14.45     Public 3 @ Scotiabank 2(Scotiabank Theatre)
 

All is by my Side
 

Director:             John Ridley
 

Writer:                John Ridley
 

Producers:          Tristan Orpen Lynch, Nigel Thomas, Charlotte Walls, Sean McKittrick, Jeff Cullota
 

Sat 7^th                   21.00     Public 1 @ Visa Screening Room(Elgin)
 

Sun 8^th                  11.30     Public 2 @ The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema
 

Sun 8^th                  14.15     Press & Industry 1 @ Scotiabank 1(Scotiabank Theatre)
 

Wed 11^th               13.15     Press & Industry 2 @ Scotiabank 1(Scotiabank Theatre)
 

Sat 14^th                 15.00     Public 3 @ Ryerson Theatre(Ryerson)

The Stag

Director:               John Butler 

Writers:                John Butler & Peter McDonald
 

Producers:            Rebecca O'Flanagan, Robert Walpole
 

Sun 8^th                  18.30      Press and Industry 1 @ Scotiabank 7(Scotiabank Theatre)
 

Tues 10^th                     20.00      Public 1 @ Scotiabank 2 (Scotiabank Theatre)
 

Thurs 12^th                  10.00     Press & Industry 2 @ Scotiabank 11(Scotiabank Theatre)

Thurs 12^th                  14.15     Public 2 @ Scotiabank 2(Scotiabank Theatre)
 

Fri 13^th                        21.30      Public 3 @ Scotiabank 13(Scotiabank Theatre)

Tony O’Donoghue’s short documentary Irish Folk Furniture continues its festival success with screenings at the renowned Telluride Film Festival  this weekend. The animated short film which was produced under Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board’s (IFB) Frameworks scheme has enjoyed enormous success on the international festival circuit picking up numerous awards at festivals including the Sundance Film Festival, Utah, Global Visions Documentary Festival, Canada and the Red Rock Film Festival, Utah to name but a few.  The film, which will screen twice over the weekend preceding the Finnish experimental documentary Remembrance – A Small Movie About Ouul in the 1950s.  

Also included in the line up is the IFB funded Italian/Irish documentary Slow Food Story. Written and directed by Stefano Sardo, Slow Food Story tells the story of a man and the movement which revolutionised gastronomy.  It is the tale of a cultural revolution which has been taking place for the past 25 years and still shows no sign of waning. Element Pictures acted as Irish co-producers working with Indigo Films in Italy.

Also screening at the festival is Paul Duane and David Cairn’s Natan, a documentary about the life of forgotten French filmmaker Bernard Natan who died in Auschwitz.

The Telluride Film Festival which runs from 29^th August – September 2^nd  in Colorado has a very exclusive reputation. The festival prides itself on the fact that it doesn’t reveal its schedule of films until “everyone lands in town” which is why its audiences were the first in the world to laugh with Juno, to observe The Lives Of Others, to visit Brokeback Mountain, to learn the secret of The Crying Game, to experience Blue Velvet, and to witness The Civil War.

For more information and to download a copy of the schedule visit  www.telluridefilmfestival.org

Wildcard Distribution are delighted to announce the acquisition of the worldwide distribution rights to Paul Duane’s critically acclaimed documentary Barbaric Genius which will screen this evening at the Electric Picnic festival in Stradbally.

The Grierson-nominated Irish documentary tells the story of London-Irish ex-wino John Healy and his journey from alcoholism and homelessness to chess master and the world of literary fame and fortune, and untangles the story of his sudden disappearance and the mysteries that grew up around it. John Healy is travelling to Ireland to take part in a Q&A at the festival where he will talk about his book, now a Penguin Classic, The Grass Arena and the documentary Barbaric Genius.

Wildcard is scheduling a release of the film across multiple platforms and on DVD in October which will coincide with The Grass Arena’s 25^th anniversary.

Commenting on the news, director Paul Duane said: "Barbaric Genius struck a chord with Irish people when it screened here in 2011, it hit home with English audiences on its theatrical release in 2012, and in 2013 it will finally be seen worldwide on DVD/VOD and multiple platforms. John Healy's story will continue to inspire people wherever it's seen, and I look forward to his masterpiece The Grass Arena celebrating its 25th anniversary alongside the film's wide release."

Patrick O’Neill, CEO, Wildcard added: “We are so excited to have the opportunity to bring this compelling and critically acclaimed documentary to audiences across the world. John Healy is a fascinating man with such a riveting story to tell that will captivate audiences”.

Here’s what some of the critics said when it was released in cinemas:

“Enthralling” **** The Guardian
”Absorbing” **** Sunday Times
“Stunning” **** Hot Press
”A must-see” **** London Evening Standard

Barbaric Genius will screen at Electric Picnic in the MindField Tent this evening as part of an Irish cinema line-up which is being run by Wildcard.

The film was produced by Duane and Mary Carson for Screenworks with funding from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board (BSÉ/IFB) and RTÉ.

"Niko 2: Little Brother, Big Trouble" has won The Best Feature Film Award by the Kinder Jury at this year's Tokyo Kinder Film Festival. As a prize winner, the film will also be screened at the Tokyo Intl. Film Festival (Oct. 17-25) in Japan.

Produced by Tidal Films (Ireland), Anima Vitae, Cinemaker (Finland), Ulysses Filmproduktion GmbH (Germany) and A.Film Productions (Denmark); Niko 2 sees the little reindeer Niko as he meets his new family, battles to save Christmas, and fights off the White Wolf and her minion Eagles as she seeks revenge for the demise of her brother - the notorious Black Wolf.

The film is the sequel to the internationally successful Niko And the Way to The Stars (2008) which won Best Film awards from both Jury and Audience at Cinekid in 2009 and was sold to more than 120 countries.

Producer Moe Honan said of the accomplishment:

"We are especially proud that Niko 2 has been honoured by the Tokyo Film Festival because of Japan's own strong and unique tradition in animation which makes this market more challenging to break into."

Bord Scannán na hÉireann/Irish Film Board funded feature  A Thousand Times Good Night won the Special Grand Prix of the Jury at the 37^th Montreal World Film Festival, which ended on the 2^nd of September. The Ecumenical Jury gave it a Special Mention.

Directed by Erik Poppe and starring French actress Juliette Binoche, A Thousand Times Good Night follows a famous woman war photographer, Rebekka, who is seriously wounded when following a suicide bomber in Kabul; when she returns home she is met by an ultimatum - job or family.  

The world premiere on Saturday the 31^st of August was received by standing applause from the 1,500 audience, and the following screenings were sold out. "The Montreal grand prix is a prestigious prize in the world of cinema - it certainly highlights Norwegian film, this particular feature and Poppe," said head of international relations; feature films Stine Oppegaard, of the Norwegian Film Institute.

Produced by Finn Gjerdrum and Stein B Kvae for Paradox and scripted by Harald Rosenløw Eeg, A Thousand Times Goodnight stars Irish actors Maria Doyle Kennedy, Lauryn Canny, Larry Mullen J (U2), Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Norwegian actor Mads Ousdal.

Co-produced by Ireland's Newgrange Pictures and Zentropa International Sweden, the film which was mainly shot in Dublin and Morocco, will be domestically released on 18 October by Euforia.

Irish Animation company Geronimo Productions has just received news that it's new animation project "Nelly & Nora" has been selected for International Competition at MIPCOM in Cannes in early October. It was one of many international entries and is now, 1 of 4 finalists that has been chosen by an International Jury to pitch their project at the market to all the world buyers of children's programming and licensing companies.

The series is about two sisters, Nelly & Nora, and their family holidays based in in a camping/caravan park in Ireland, located on a farm beside the sea. Every episode is driven by the weather and whatever the weather Nelly & Nora get outdoors and have great adventures and fun, creating a lifetime of memories. The project was inspired by our obsession with the weather and a typical Irish family holiday and how  the weather plays such an important part in our everyday lives.

Gerard O'Rourke says "This is massive recognition for a collaboration of creative talents in Ireland , a little bit of imagination can go a very long way. It would be fantastic to have a camping holiday in Ireland as a worldwide TV series for younger children".

The project will also be presented   next week at "Cartoon Forum" to all the broadcasters and financiers in Europe; this will take place in Toulouse, France

The project was originated by Gerard O'Rourke, developed with Emma Hogan who is also the Writer and Illustrator.  The music was composed by John Walsh, title track performed by the Carnivale Brothers "The Sun Is Goona Shine".

The project has received development loan finance from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the  Irish Film Board and Media Programme. RTE are supporting the project for its new channel RTEjr
and along with The Sound & Vision Fund (BAI) and Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board the project is very close to going into full production.

Bord Scannán na hÉireann /the Irish Film Board wishes to notify all producers of a change to the next production funding application deadline. The deadline for receipt of applications for consideration at the next meeting in early October will be by close of business Thursday the 26^{t h} of September. 

The normal procedure still applies; producers should consult the How To Apply section on the relevant funding page on the website prior to making an application for further information.

Please note that this applies to applications for Production Funding Only - Fiction Irish Production, Animation and Documentary, Creative Co-Production, Completion Funding and Distribution Funding. It does not apply to Development Funding applications, the upcoming deadlines for which will be September 30^th 2013.

Independent Irish production companies Bandit Films and Still Films will release feature film "Black Ice" in Irish cinemas on September 20th 2013. The film screened at the Galway Film Fleadh in July and had its World Premiere at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival in February. Directed by Johnny Gogan and starring Killian Scott and Jane McGrath, the film is a dramatic action thriller set against the backdrop of the local petrol-head scene in rural Ireland.

Set in rural Donegal, "Black Ice" follows Jimmy Devlin, played by ‘Love/Hate' star Killian Scott, and his complicated relationship with girlfriend Alice Watters, played by newcomer Jane McGrath who has been receiving rave reviews for her feature film debut. The story, set in a clandestine road racing scene where Jimmy is considered "top dog" among the petrol heads, also follows his and Alice's struggle to break into the legit professional rally scene, but there are other forces at work in this shadowy border world threatening to undermine their ambition. The world of cars, whether it be the modified car scene or the rally scene, is a big sub-culture in many countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas. There is a degree of mystery and secrecy around the world of cars, young people and speed.

Set in the period around the Irish economic crash of 2008 "Black Ice" was shot on locations in Sligo and Leitrim, a developing hot-bed of film-making now playing host to the new Ken Loach film. Gogan's third feature after "The Last Bus Home!" and "Mapmaker", "Black Ice" is co-producer Still Films first fiction film foray having previously scored hits with documentaries "Pyjama Girls" and "Seaview".

The title track for the film, performed by Sligo rapper Myster E and Sarah Crummy and written by Johnny Gogan and Myster E is available as a single via iTunes.

Johnny Gogan, director and producer, while expressing his gratitude to the film's wonderful cast commented: "We're really looking forward to the release of the film on September 20th at cinemas across the country and in the North West. All of our cast and dedicated crew worked tirelessly on the project, so to see the final result on the big screen and to have the appreciation of an audience is really important."

Producer Nicky Gogan also commented on the commitment of the cast and crew, noting that "The enthusiasm and energy of the crew has translated onto the screen, where the thrilling high-speed race sequences are brought to life very vividly. Along with the dynamic aspects of the film, there is at its heart a deeply affecting universal story of first love, with people trying to pick up the pieces and make a life for themselves after the economic crash. The film really does have something for everyone, and we think it's a model of how films can be made in Ireland in the future."

The film was produced by Bandit Films and Still Films, with the support of The Irish Film Board / Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board. You can watch the trailer for "Black Ice" here on the media hub.

Irish actress Ella Connolly won two awards for ‘Eliot & Me' at the 12th China International Children's Film Festival: the International Jury Award for Best Performance by a Child Actress and the Award for the Children's Favorite Child Performer.

Famous Chinese actress Jiang Wenli chaired the international jury and singled out Ms. Connolly's performance as "compelling and authentic, with a naturalness rare in child acting. Her character was very believable". The second award was voted by the children's jury, which is made up of 200 children from local primary and middle schools.

The festival, the biggest of its kind in China, is held every two years. This year the festival took place in Siping City in northern China. Over 500,000 children watched the films in the weeks leading up to the festival. ‘Eliot & Me' was the first Irish film to be selected for the festival and the only English language film screened in the competition. Funded by the Irish Film Board and RTÉ, the film tells the tale of 10 year-old Lucy and her efforts to find her missing dog.

Ms. Connolly (13) who attended the closing ceremony said she was exhilarated to win both prizes. She was competing with young actors in films from Belgium, Holland, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Canada, Switzerland, Iran, India, Singapore, Korea, Japan, Indonesia and China.

Called to the stage twice she thanked both juries for the awards. "We flew to Paris, then to Beijing, then to Changchun and then drove to Siping. It's a long way from Ireland but it's so cool to be here." Director Fintan Connolly and producer Fiona Bergin accompanied her to the festival.

"When we were making the film we had no idea we would end up travelling around the world screening it at film festivals. So many kids' films have young boys as their central characters and I wanted to create a story that had a young girl as the hero for a change. I think the audiences like this", said the director. ‘Eliot & Me'has screened at the major children's festivals in Germany, Holland, Belgium, Finland, Greece, Romania and the US. It will have its Irish premiere at Cinemagic in Belfast on 12^th October.

Connolly (Flick) directs his daughter Ella Connolly (Wake Wood), IFTA Best Actress winner Renée Weldon (Trouble With Sex) and David Wilmot (The Guard). The talented crew includes cinematographer Owen McPolin (Ripper Street), editor Guy Montgomery (Parked) and composer Stephen Rennicks (What Richard Did).

"Eliot and Me" was funded by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board and the film's visit to China was supported by Culture Ireland

Celebrating Culture Night this Friday, September 20th, The Irish Film Board / Bord Scannán na hÉireann (IFB) and the internationally acclaimed Irish group HEATHERS will launch a brand new trailer highlighting Irish films, Irish stories and Irish stars across a wide range of film and animation projects over the last twenty years. The launch will take place at the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield and HEATHERS will perform a number of songs, including their new single 'WAITER', which is the soundtrack to the trailer.

The new Irish film trailer includes clips from IFB-funded films over the past 20 years and includes Irish stars like Colin Farrell, Liam Neeson, Brendan Gleeson, Gabriel Byrne, Cillian Murphy, Robert Sheehan, Domhnall Gleeson, Saoirse Ronan, Ruth Bradley, Kerry Condon, Colm Meaney, Pat Shortt, Charlene McKenna, Fionnula Flanagan and Allen Leech, across a wide range of films. Highlighted projects include Intermission, Once, The Magdalene Sisters, Song for a Raggy Boy, Bloody Sunday, The Guard, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Adam and Paul, Garage, Granny O'Grimm and The Secret of Kells.

Commenting on the release of the new trailer, Ellie and Louise Macnamara of HEATHERS said: "We are absolutely delighted that the Irish Film Board have chosen 'WAITER' to soundtrack their new promotional video celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Irish Film Board. Being huge movie fans ourselves, we couldn't think of a better use for one of our songs. And we are especially proud that one of our tracks is being associated with the Irish film industry in this way."

HEATHERS' new single, 'WAITER', will be released nationwide on September 20th.

ABOUT HEATHERS

If 2012 wasn't a big enough year for Ellie and Louise Macnamara (aka Heathers), having signed a global deal with Universal Music Publishing UK, 2013 is continuing their non-stop rise internationally with their second Choice-nominated album, Kingdom, being released by Sony Music Canada, Warner Music Germany and later this year by SONY Red in the USA. In addition, they have experienced tremendous success in the world of film and TV, with numerous tracks from their new album being featured in shows such as 90210 on CBS in the US, Mob Wives on VH1, as well as The Voice, The X Factor, Waterloo Road and various others in the UK.

Recently the band were invited to LA to perform at a pre-Oscars party hosted by J.J. Abrams. Interviewed by a newspaper recently, J.J. Abrams said, "This year, Dublin band Heathers played [at the pre-Oscars party] and my daughter is just nuts about them. We haven't stopped listening to them since."

Following on from the airplay hits ‘Forget Me Knots' and ‘Lions, Tigers, Bears' (the first single from Kingdom), Ellie and Louise are delighted that ‘Waiter', the third single to be released from Kingdom, will be available on the same day as the Irish Film Board trailer - Friday September 20th - through Warner Music Ireland. 

http://www.heathersmusic.net/  

Management: Contact Brian Scally & Ciaran Conroy / info@milestonemanagement.ie / Tel +
353 1 230 3880

Cartoon Forum, a major animation-industry pitching event for upcoming productions, will feature a strong Irish presence at Toulouse this September, including seven Irish productions and a further five Irish co-productions.

The Irish production companies include Avalon Films, Cartoon Saloon, Double Z Enterprises, Geronimo Productions, JAM Media, Kavaleer Productions, Keg Kartoonz, Monster Entertainment, PixelPuffin, Telegael Media, Treehouse Republic and Wiggleywoo.

Some of the highlights from the Irish representation are Nelly & Nora by Geronimo Productions, Early Bird by Jam Media, and The Day Henry Met... by Wiggleywoo, Epic Eric by Treehouse Republic, Fuzzyworld by Avalon Films & Monster Entertainment, Tipto by Kavaleer Productions and Puffin Rock by Cartoon Saloon, all seven of which have been developed with the support of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board.

The 24th edition of Cartoon Forum Toulouse, which takes place from September 17th to 20th, will bring together 800 professionals from 30 countries with the aim of boosting co-productions and speeding up financing.

Of the 69 projects in consideration this year, nearly half are co-productions between two or more countries, and 45% of the projects are aimed at children aged 6–12 years. More than 500 animation series have obtained over 1.7 billion euros in financing from the forum to date.

Cartoon Forum Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées is organised by Cartoon, the European Association of Animation Film, with the support of the Media Programme of the European Union, CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée), Région Midi-Pyrénées, Mairie de Toulouse, la communauté urbaine de Toulouse Métropole, Casino Barrière and France Télévisions.

A co-production between Dublin's Venom Films, makers of the acclaimed documentary His & Hers, and the UK-based Hot Property Films (Bodysong, I Could Read the Sky), Kelly+Victor is a haunting, candid depiction of a young couple embarking on a passionate and transgressive love affair.

When Kelly (Antonia Campbell-Hughes) meets Victor (Julian Morris) on the dancefloor of a Liverpool nightclub, their attraction is instant. But she is escaping a brutish former lover, and he is being dragged into a world of drugs; when they make love, their darker instincts take over. 

Adapted from the novel by Niall Griffiths, Kelly+Victor is set against the backdrop of a highly cinematic Liverpool, and features a searing soundtrack by artists like King Creosote & Jon Hopkins, Wild Beasts and Bill Ryder-Jones (ex-The Coral).

Kelly+Victor was produced with the support of The Irish Film Board/Bord Scannán na hÉireann. It opens nationwide on Friday, September 20th.

For anyone who missed the 2013 Real Deal film conference at the Galway Film Fleadh, you'll find our podcasts here (links below).

Speakers included our own BSÉ/IFB project managers and a bevy of producers, distributors and film executives from the UK and Ireland. Over the day, they discussed emerging international trends in filmmaking, looking at what producers should be doing to meet the new demands of the marketplace, from development through to production and market exploitation.

Part 1: "Future Conversations - "Evolution or Revolution"

Welcome address by James Hickey, Chief Executive, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/Irish Film Board, and opening words by our moderator, international film and creative industry specialist Angus Finney, followed by a conversation with BSÉ/IFB project managers Rory Gilmartin, Mary Callery and Keith Potter, who give their thoughts on development and creative producing.

Part 2: Future Business - "Low Budget, Big Ambition"

An exploration of the practicalities, the do's and don'ts of making a film on a tight budget, without sacrificing artistic intent or market aspirations. Our case study here is the wonderful feature film The Stag; producer Rebecca O'Flanagan (Treasure Entertainment) gives her input. 

Part 3: Future Ideas - "Hybrid Distribution"

In time of turbulent change and disruptive technologies, we explore new ways to connect with audiences. Speakers include Emily Best of Seed&Spark; Eduardo Panizzo of Coffee & Cigarettes; David Shear of Shear Entertainment and Anita O'Donnell of re:fine Group.

Part 4: Future Business - "The Future Is Here"

A discussion on the multiplatform UK release of Ben Wheatley's A Field in England, Shane Meadows's Made of Stone and Sophie Fiennes's The Pervert's Guide to Ideology with Sara Frain and Gabriel Swartland of Picturehouse UK. 

Bord Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board-hosted seminars — featuring tutors who have worked on international blockbusters like Twilight, District 9 and Elysium— are designed to grow and develop the burgeoning visual-effects industry in Ireland

 A host of multi-award-winning international visual-effects practitioners flew into Dublin this week to participate in a ground-breaking visual-effects training programme organised by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board through its training arm, Screen Training Ireland. The programme will involve a number of training modules over the next five months and will see attendees receive world-class tuition in the area of visual effects.

Designed in collaboration with award-winning digital-effects companies Windmill Lane VFX and Screen Scene VFX, this innovative programme, entitled ‘VFX: Script to Screen', is targeted at developing new skills and talent in the Irish VFX sector. By introducing people in the industry to global leaders in the field, the aim is to inspire the creative film community to push the boundaries of VFX and develop new and innovative stories for global audiences. This will help those working in the sector in Ireland to secure more opportunities within this increasingly important part of the film and television industry. 

Commenting on the new programme, Teresa McGrane, Deputy Chief Executive of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board, said, "We're delighted to have attracted some of the leading figures in the industry to Ireland for this important training programme. The use of technology and the introduction of visual effects in film has led to huge changes in film in the last decade. Films such as Elysium have really given people an opportunity to push the boundaries in the industry. It is important that, in this sector, like most others across the economy, people continue to up-skill and acquire new skills so that they can compete and lead on a global stage.

"Irish talent competes very well in the visual-effects sector and have been involved in the production of major international titles including Game of Thrones, The Last Days on Mars and Lockout, among other titles. The investment in this programme is our way of supporting the further development of interest in a sector, which is growing constantly, while also ensuring that Ireland remains strategically placed to grow and benefit from the significant opportunities available globally."

The training programme will provide producers, directors and key creative from Europe and Ireland with an overview of visual effects from development to post-production over three intensive, practical modules, and will give them access to the highest level of local and international visual-effects talent.

As part of the first module of the programme, Screen Training Ireland will deliver two key masterclasses to the wider screen sectors.

In the first masterclass, Frazer Churchill, VFX supervisor on The World's End, Children of Men and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, will discuss the key creative relationships between the VFX supervisor, director, cinematographer and production designer.

In the second masterclass, Oscar-nominated VFX supervisor Peter Muyzers will discuss the current VFX industry and how real collaboration between VFX and filmmaking professionals can bring about progress. Peter was nominated for an Academy Award® for best achievement in Visual Effects for District 9; he was also honoured with nominations from BAFTA and the Visual Effects Society for his work on the film. Most recently, he teamed up with director Neill Blomkamp again for the film Elysium as overall VFX supervisor. His other credits include The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, where he also played a key role as digital production supervisor.

Other tutors who will be in Dublin for Screen Training Ireland's ‘VFX: Script to Screen' programme include Florian Gellinger (VFX Supervisor, Cloud Atlas, X-Men: First Class); Claes Dietmann (VFX Producer, Let the Right One In); Øystein Larsen (VFX Supervisor, Trollhunter); Stefan Lange (VFX Cameraman, Alexander and Die Another Day); and Paddy Eason (VFX Supervisor, Grabbers, The Borgias, I Give it A Year and Prince of Persia: Sands of Time).

For further information please contact Louise Ryan, Marketing and Communications Executive, Bord Scannan na hEireann/the Irish Film Board) +353 86-329-7819, louise.ryan@irishfilmboard.ie

‘VFX: Script to Screen' is funded by the MEDIA Programme of the EU and Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board.

The untold story of New York's greatest legend and one of the most iconic images of the 20th Century opens at the Quad Cinema, New York, tonight, September 20th.  

Director Seán Ó Cualáin tells the story of the iconic photo 'Lunch atop a Skyscraper', which has become a symbol of the indomitable working man. Taken during the construction of the GE Building, the photo depicts eleven workmen taking their lunch break while casually perched along a steel girder, boots dangling 850 feet above the sidewalk of 41st Street, with Central Park and the misty Manhattan skyline stretching out behind them.

For 80 years, the identity of the eleven men — and the photographer that immortalized them — remained a mystery: their stories, lost in time, subsumed by the fame of the image itself. But then, at the start of the 21st century, the photograph finally began to give up some of its secrets.

A First Run release, Men at Lunch was financed by TG4, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board and The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.  

Watch the trailer here:

http://www.thisisirishfilm.ie/trailers/men-at-lunch-lon-sa-speir

The overall budget for Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB), the national agency for the Irish audio-visual production sector, has been cut by 5.7% bringing it to €14.03 million for 2014.

This funding is broken down into the capital and administration budget for the agency. The capital budget has been announced as €11,277,000 for 2014, reduced from €11,989,000 in 2013. This represents a cut of 5.2%.The administration budget for the agency is €2.7 million decreased from €2.9 million in 2011 which represents a cut of 7.5%. Since 2008 the annual budget for the agency has been cut by 39.5%.

Despite the overall cut in funding over recent years the IFB has strived to ensure a continuation of production activity in Ireland presenting a strong economic and cultural return on the Government investment in the agency.

Over the course of 2012, the IFB invested in 30 film and television projects which led to €118m being raised in foreign direct investment by Irish producers on IFB funded projects. €80m of this was invested directly into the Irish economy through the purchase of local services and employment.

Recent successful feature films include THE STAG which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, LAST DAYS ON MARS which was selected for Directors Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival, THE HARDY BUCKS MOVIE which was released to box office success earlier this year. Recent IFB funded animation projects include BAFTA award winning ROY, NEWSBAG currently being broadcast on TV3 and SONG OF THE SEA currently in production with Kilkenny based company Cartoon Saloon.

Major International productions being produced in Ireland this year with the support of the IFB include PENNY DREADFUL co-produced by Octagon Films and QUIRKE starring Gabriel Byrne developed and produced by Element Films and Tyrone Productions.