Irish Film CITADEL by First Time Director Ciaran Foy is first choice for Prestigious US Festival SXSW 2012 Programme
Irish/Scottish co-production CITADEL, the psychological horror debut from talented Irish writer - director Ciarán Foy, is to have it's World Premiere as part of the Midnighters Section of the prestigious international film and music festival South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. The festival, renowned for discovering new talent and trailblazers, announced their early decisions today with CITADEL among one of the first 10 films chosen in the Midnighters Section to be included in their 2012 programme which runs from March 9th -14th.
Blurring the boundary between real-life experiences and a darker fictional world, Citadel is an unsettling, original and powerful story - an agoraphobic father teams up with a renegade priest to save his daughter from the clutches of a gang of twisted feral children.
Writer / Director Ciarán Foy "I'm thrilled to have my world premiere at the renowned SXSW. Traditionally some of the best genre films in the world have come out of SXSW, so to be selected is a real honour".
Commenting on the news James Hickey, Chief Executive Bord Scannán na hÉireann /the Irish Film Board said: "SXSW has become a festival of significance importance on the international film industry calendar in terms of generating international attention and sales for a film. It is a great achievement for CITADEL, the debut feature film from up and coming Irish filmmaker Ciaran Foy be selected for this prestigious line-up and it will serve as an excellent launch pad for the film. We wish Ciaran and his Irish and Scottish producers much success with the international launch of their film and look forward to working with them in the future."
The film features Aneurin Barnard (We'll Take Manhattan, Ironclad, Hunky Dory, Elfie Hopkins and The Gammons, Screen International Rising Star) in the lead role of Tommy, alongside Scotland's finest, James Cosmo (Braveheart, Troy, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Runway, and his Scottish BAFTA winning performance in Donkeys ) in the role of The Priest, and Wunmi Mosuka (I am Slave, One Night in Emergency and Stephen Poliakoff's Dancing on the Edge) as Marie. Co-stars include Ingrid Craigie and Amy Shiels.
CITADEL is produced by Katie Holly (Blinder Films) and Brian Coffey (Sigma Films). Executive producers are Gillian Berrie, Kieron J. Walsh and David Mackenzie.
Commenting on the selection Producers Katie Holly and Brian Coffey said: ''We're absolutely thrilled that Citadel has been selected for the Midnight programme, and that the festival have chosen it to be one of the first films to be announced. SXSW is such a cool and exciting festival brimming with outstanding work. It's the perfect home to debut Citadel''
CITADEL is Ciarán Foy's debut feature film. A graduate from the National Film School of Ireland, Ciarán's short film The Faeries of Blackheath Woods won nine best short film awards at international festivals. CITADEL is a psychological horror, based partly on his own experiences of unprovoked urban attack and the resulting agoraphobia.
CITADEL is a Blinder Films and Sigma Films Co-Production, and is funded by the Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, Creative Scotland, Section 481 and UK Tax Credit.
Robbie Allen, Creative Scotland said: "We are delighted that Citadel will receive its world premier at one of North America's leading film festivals. Creative Scotland is committed to the development of new and emerging filmmakers and we are very pleased to be partnering with the Irish Film Board to give writing, directing and producing talent from our respective nations the opportunity to create work that is recognised internationally.'
About SXSW Film and Conference Festival:
The SXSW® Film Conference and Festival features a dynamic convergence of talent, smart audiences and industry leaders in a uniquely creative environment. A hotbed of discovery and interactivity, the event offers invaluable networking opportunities and immersion into the art and business of independent film. The Film Conference buzzes with world-class speakers, creatives and innovators in a productive social atmosphere. Simultaneously the internationally acclaimed Film Festival program celebrates raw innovation and emerging talent, featuring provocative documentaries, comedies, genre standouts and more.