Three Irish Films Announced for Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Irish films Shadow Dancer, Grabbers and Anton Corbijn: Inside Out have been officially selected for the 66th Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) 2012 next month. The festival, which takes place from the 20th of June to the 1st of July, is the world's longest continually running festival.
SHADOW DANCER is set in 1990s Belfast and is a heart-wrenching thriller about a woman forced to betray all she believes in for the sake of her son. It is directed by Oscar winner James Marsh (Project Nim, Man on Wire), written by Tom Bradby and has a stellar cast including Clive Owen (Children of Men, Inside Man), Gillian Anderson (The Last King of Scotland) and Andrea Riseborough (Never Let Me Go, W.E). Irish actors include Aidan Gillen (Love/Hate, The Wire) and Domhnall Gleeson (True Grit, Sensation).
The film which was produced by Andrew Lowe and Ed Guiney for Element Pictures and Chris Coen for Unanimous Entertainment has had a successful year having had its world premiere at the A-list Sundance Film Festival while also being officially selected for the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year. The film was funded by the British Film Institute, BBC Films, Wild Bunch Production and LipSync Productions with the participation of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board.
GRABBERS, which also had its world premiere at Sundance is a comical twist on the classic suburban horror-flick. Directed by Jon Wright from an original screenplay by Kevin Lehane, the story captures the idyll and charm of a rural Irish fishing village, as the peace of the enchanting Erin Island community is shattered by an invasion of giant squid-like creatures from the sea, known as "grabbers", who start picking off the villagers. Handsome but washed up local policeman O'Shea is forced to sober up and team up with uptight, teetotal policewoman Lisa to protect the island's population from the tentacle, fang-jawed, barb-tongued creatures. The film was produced by Forward Films in the UK, Samson Films in Dublin, in association with High Treason Productions, Nvizible and The Salt Company with finance from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ Irish Film Board, the UK Film Council, High Treason, LimeLight and Northern Ireland Screen.
The documentary ANTON CORBIJN: INSIDE OUT is an intimate and revelatory portrait of the influential Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn and follows him as he works with, amongst others, long time collaborators U2, Depeche Mode, Lou Reed and Metallica. The documentary is the product of more than two years filming by director Klaartje Quirijns, whose close personal relationship with Anton allowed her unprecedented asses to both the man and his work. The film which is a co-production between Fastnet Films, LEV Pictures and Savage Film with finance coming from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, the Dutch Film Fund, the CoBo Fund, the Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF) and VPRO, screened in competition at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.
The Edinburgh International Film Festival takes place from the 20thof June to the 1st of July.
About Edinburgh International Film Festival
EIFF has developed into a crucial business hub for the UK and international film industry, a key attraction for Edinburgh, and one of the world's best loved audience festivals. With an emphasis upon new talent, discovery and innovation, EIFF's vibrant programme of films and events combines a commitment to audience edification and pleasure with a strong on going stake in the development of the UK and Scottish film industries.