Golden Globe Nominations for the Irish Film Industry and IFB Funded films 'The Guard' & 'Albert Nobbs'
The spotlight will be on Ireland and Irish talent at next month's Golden Globes with Irish actor Brendan Gleeson and the Irish co-production ALBERT NOBBS receiving a number of nominations including Best Song co-written by Irish musician Brian Byrne and sung by Sinead O'Connor. Michael Fassbender was also nominated for Best Actor for Motion Pictures Drama for his performance in Shame.
Commenting on this very positive news for the industry James Hickey, Chief Executive of Bord Scannán na hÉireann / Irish Film Board (IFB) said
"Congratulations to all the Irish nominees. This is great international recognition for Irish creative talent working in the film industry. We are delighted to see the wide range of nominations which showcase Ireland on the international stage, underlining Ireland's reputation as a cultural hub. Funding from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board is key for projects such as The Guard and Albert Nobbs to be produced in Ireland, creating opportunities for Irish talent to work on these projects.
Brendan Gleeson has received a nomination for Best Actor in Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy for his role in Irish box office smash THE GUARD funded by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board . John Michael McDonagh's comedy-thriller sees Gleeson as an unorthodox Irish policeman who joins forces with a straitlaced FBI agent, played by Don Cheadle, to take on an international drug-smuggling gang. Gleeson had been previously been nominated for two Golden Globes for his roles in Into The Storm and In Bruges.
ALBERT NOBBS which filmed in Dublin earlier this year has received three nominations for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (Glenn Close), Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Janet McTeer) and Best Original Song (Lay Your Head Down which was written by Brian Byrne and Glenn Close and sung by Sinead O'Connor). Both Close and McTeer received Screen Actor Guild Award nominations earlier this week for their roles in the film with McTeer also nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.
Meanwhile GAME OF THRONES, which filmed in Northern Ireland and carried out all of its post production in Screen Scene in the Republic of Ireland was nominated in the Best TV Series category.
The Golden Globe Awards, which are given out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, are among the most widely-watched honours programmes leading up to the Oscars in February.
This follows hot on the heels of news just announced that the IFB funded Irish short film PENTECOST was shortlisted to the final ten in the race for an Oscar nomination for Best Short Film.
More About THE GUARD
THE GUARD is an Irish/UK co-production, backed by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board and Section 481 as well as international financiers. It's produced by Chris Clark and Flora Fernandez Marengo for Reprisal Films and Ed Guiney (Garage) and Andrew Lowe (The Wind that Shakes the Barley) for Element Pictures.
More About ALBERT NOBBS
ALBERT NOBBS directed by Rodrigo Garcia stars five-time Oscar nominee Glenn Close as a woman passing as a man in order to work and survive in 19th century Dublin. The film which shot on location around Dublin city centre earlier this year boasts an all-star line-up alongside Close and McTeer including Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, Jane Eyre), Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass, Nowhere Boy), Pauline Collins (You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger, Shirley Valentine) as well as Irish actors Brenda Fricker (My Left Foot), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Tudors) and Brendan Gleeson (The Guard).
ALBERT NOBBS marks Close's first screenplay credit, as well as her feature film producing debut. The film was produced by Alan Moloney for Parallel Films in Ireland along with Glenn Close, Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn for Trillium Productions and Mockingbird Pictures with support from WestEnd Films, Chrysalis Films and the Irish Film Board. The US rights to the film were acquired by Liddell Entertainment and Roadside Attractions during the year and a US release is likely soon.