Irish Production THE LOBSTER is Selected for Official Competition at Cannes Film Festival
Filmed on location in Ireland, THE LOBSTER directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and produced by Irish production company Element Pictures, has been selected for Official Competition at the world-famous Cannes Film Festival, which takes place from May 13th to 24th.
The film, which was funded by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB), boasts a cast including Colin Farrell (Intermission), Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener), John C. Reilly (Chicago), Ben Whishaw (Skyfall), Olivia Colman (Broadchurch), Léa Seydoux (Spectre) and Michael Smiley (The World's End).
THE LOBSTER is a blackly funny love story set in a near future where finding love is a matter of life or death. The film which shot in Co Kerry is written by Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou and produced by Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday, Ceci Dempsey and Yorgos Lanthimos. Executive Producers are Andrew Lowe, Tessa Ross and Sam Lavender. The film was developed by Element and Irish finance for the film came from the IFB.
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys, TD, said: "This is excellent news for the Irish film production sector. Getting selected for Official Competition at Cannes is a much coveted endorsement of a film's high quality and can, of course, help to boost commercial success. This film is also a great example of what can be achieved through international co-productions. THE LOBSTER is following in the footsteps of a number of other Irish Film Board funded productions, which have performed well at Cannes in recent years. I wish all those involved in the film the very best at the festival next month."
Commenting on THE LOBSTER's selection, IFB Chief Executive James Hickey said: "Films such as THE LOBSTER prove that films developed and produced by an Irish company can proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best in the world. With a brilliant cast including Colin Farrell and the magnificent backdrop of county Kerry, Yorgos Lanthimos has crafted a remarkable film which is certain to be enjoyed by audiences around the world."
Speaking on behalf of Element Pictures, Irish producer Ed Guiney said "Yorgos is one of the most visionary film-makers working today and THE LOBSTER is a profoundly moving, brilliantly funny and disturbing meditation on modern love. Cannes competition is the perfect place to launch this film. We are very grateful to all our partners including the Irish Film Board for their support."
Previous IFB-funded films produced by Element Pictures and selected for Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival include Jimmy's Hall in 2014, This Must Be the Place in 2011 and The Wind that Shakes the Barley in 2006, which won the festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or.
The 68th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will be held from May 13th to 24th 2015.
About THE LOBSTER
THE LOBSTER is a feature film co-production involving Ireland, the UK, Greece, France and the Netherlands.
Film4, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board, Eurimages, the Netherlands Film Fund, Greek Film Centre and BFI present in association with Protagonist Pictures, with the participation of CANAL+, CINE+ and Aide aux Cinémas du Monde, Centre National du Cinéma et de l'Image Animée, Ministère des Affaires Étrangères et du Développement International, Institut Français an Element Pictures, Scarlet Films, Faliro House, Haut et Court, Lemming Film co-production in association with Limp and with the support of the MEDIA Programme of the European Union.
For more information, please contact Gráinne Curtin at grainne.curtin@irishfilmboard.ie