European Accolades for Three Irish Films, Cinematographer Robbie Ryan and Actor Michael Fassbender
Juanita Wilson's debut feature film AS IF I AM NOT THERE, Element Pictures ESSENTIAL KILLING and SILENT SONATA produced by Fastnet Films have been nominated for this year's European Film Awards which will be presented in Berlin on December 3rd. Meanwhile Irish talent has also been making the headlines in Venice with Michael Fassbender and cinematographer Robbie Ryan picking up awards at the Venice Film Festival.
Irish actor Fassbender won the Best Actor for his performance in Shame directed by Steve McQueen while acclaimed Irish Director of Photography Robbie Ryan, a graduate of IADT won Best Cinematographer for Andrea Arnold's adaptation of Wuthering Heights.
The European Film Awards honour the best in European Cinema every year including Best European Film, European Director, European Actress and European Actor.
AS IF I AM NOT THERE picked up three major awards at the Irish Film and Television Awards earlier this year for Best Film, Best Script and Best Director. The film tells the story of a young woman from Sarajevo whose life is shattered the day a soldier walks into her apartment and tells her to pack her things and she is imprisoned in a warehouse in the remote region of Bosnia. Wilson, whose short film The Door was nominated for a Best Short Film Oscar last year was named as one of Variety's Ten Directors to Watch in 2011 earlier this year.
From legendary Polish filmmaker Jerzy Skolimowski (Deep End, The Shout) ESSENTIAL KILLING stars Vincent Gallo (Tetro, Buffalo 66) and Emmanuelle Seigner (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly). Captured by the U.S. military in Afghanistan, Mohammed (Vincent Gallo) is transported to a secret detention center in Europe. After the vehicle he is in crashes, he is on the run in a snow-blanketed forest, a world away from the desert home he knew. Forced into extreme survival mode, Mohammed must face killing everyone who strays into his path. It picked up the coveted Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival last year.
Irish/Slovenian co-production SILENT SONATA, written and directed by Janez Burger, is a drama which tells the story of Stevo, who is left alone with his daughter and son and the dead body of their mother when the war finishes. When a travelling circus comes to town they get to know the group of characters of all ages who make up the troupe and hope and laughter return to Stevo and his children. Transformed by the heightened experience of the circus they decide to join it for a new life on the road.
An international co-production between Morgan Bushe for Fastnet Films in Ireland and Staragara Productions in Slovenia the film swept the boards picking up an impressive eight awards at its premiere at the Slovenian Film Festival last year.
The European Film Awards will take place in Berlin on 3rd December.