Fresh Irish Filmmaking Talent to Feature at the Cork Film Festival
Cork audiences will get a chance to see some of the latest Irish features from promising up and coming directors and established filmmakers including THE OTHER SIDE OF SLEEP, LOTUS EATERS, CHARLIE CASANOVA and THE PIER at the Cork Film Festival which kicks off on the 6th November.
THE OTHER SIDE OF SLEEP, Rebecca Daly's dark, dream-like debut feature starring Irish actress Antonia Campbell Hughes has had much international success being officially selected for the Directors Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival as well as the renowned Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year. Alexandra McGuinness' stylish first-feature LOTUS EATERS also stars Antonia Campbell-Hughes as an ex model and struggling actress on a path of self-destruction. Written by Alexandra with Brendan Grant, it premiered at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year.
Independently written, directed and produced by Terry McMahon, CHARLIE CASANOVA stars award-winning Emmett J.Scanlan as a sociopath who knocks down a girl in a hit-and-run then uses a deck of cards to determine his fate. It has previously screened at the Edinburgh Film Festival and the SXSW Film Festival in the US.
New Irish cinema from an established director includes Gerard Hurley's THE PIER which tells the story of Jack McCarthy's return to Ireland after 20 years in America to help his ailing father. Filmed on location in Cork, it stars Gerard along with Lili Taylor (Six Feet Under, High Fidelity) and Karl Johnson (Hot Fuzz, The Illusionist). Produced by Black Equus Production, it had its world premiere at the prestigious Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
Irish/Slovenian co-production CIRCUS FANTASTICUS (aka Silent Sonata) written and directed by Janez Burger, is a drama about a family traumatised by war that slowly rediscovers colour in their lives when a circus encamps by their house. Almost entirely without wor ds, a special bond develops between the family and the strange circus guests. The film was co-produced by Morgan Bushe for Fastnet Films in Ireland and Staragar Productions in Slovenia.
Audiences will also be able to see Irish documentaries with BALLYMUN LULLABY and OFF THE BEATEN TRACK included in the festival line-up.
BALLYMUN LULLABY, directed by Frank Berry is an inspiring documentary about Ron Cooney, a music teacher who teaches children in the Ballymun Music Programme in Dublin while OFF THE BEATEN TRACK, directed by Dieter Auner is a beautifully observed, powerful but gentle documentary about the changing world of shepherds in Transylvania. Both documentaries were produced with funding from the IFB.
The Corona Cork Film Festival will take place 6th - 13th November.
Screening Times in the Gate Cinema:
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK Wed 9th Nov @ 5pm
LOTUS EATERS Thurs 10th Nov @ 7pm
CIRCUS FANTASTICUS Fri 11th Nov @ 5pm
CHARLIE CASANOVA Fri 11th Nov @ 7pm
BALLYMUN LULLABY Sat 12th Nov @ 12pm
THE OTHER SIDE OF SLEEP Sat 12th Nov @ 5pm
THE PIER Sat 12th Nov @ 7pm
More About
THE OTHER SIDE OF SLEEP
Scripted by Rebecca Daly and Glenn Montgomery and filmed on location in Offaly last year, THE OTHER SIDE OF SLEEP tells the story of Arlene who is like a ghost in her life. She lives in a small town in the midlands - surrounded by field after field, woodlands and laneways to disappear down and never come back... One morning Arlene wakes in the woods beside the body of a young woman. Someone watches from the trees. The body is soon discovered and suspicion spreads through the community. Increasingly drawn to the girl's family - her grieving sister and accused boyfriend - Arlene barricades herself in at night, afraid to sleep. Haunted by grief buried and delayed, Arlene's sleeping and waking realities soon blur. And all this time someone is watching her.
THE OTHER SIDE OF SLEEP was produced by Irish company Fastnet Films (Colony, Kisses), and European co-producers Rinkel Film & TV Productions and KMH Film Productions. The film was funded by Bord Scannán na hEireann / the Irish Film Board, the Netherlands Film Fund and Hungarian Motion Pictures Foundation.
LOTUS EATERS
Written by Alexandra with Brendan Grant, the film shot on location in Wicklow, Westmeath and London last year. It was produced by Fastnet Films with funding from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB).