1 Chair’s Note Chair’s Screen International handpicking Irish filmmakers to watch in the coming years. However, it’s not just this critical acclaim we’re proud of, as what really struck us was how our films resonated so deeply with audiences, offering glimpses of other worlds or forgotten traditions — perfectly encapsulated by Emer Reynolds’ NASA Space Voyager feature documentary, The Farthest and Pat Collins’ searing monochromatic character portrait, Song of Granite. In 2017, we also welcomed a new board who will continue to provide strong and stable leadership for the sector. Achieving the goals laid out in our Five-Year Strategy, Building on Success, remains a priority. At the Galway Film Fleadh, we announced a series of initiatives to incentivise and encourage female talent to apply for funding, as we continue to aim for 50/50 gender parity across all our schemes. Investing in Irish talent, creativity and enterprise is a key remit of the In a pivotal scene from John Butler’s beautiful 2017 IFB and we strive for this showcase of Irish creative coming-of-age drama, Handsome Devil, the passionate talent to be as equal and diverse as possible from school teacher, Mr Sherry (played by Andrew Scott), application stage to realisation and funding. The IFB urges his students to never speak in a borrowed voice; also affirmed our support for the victims of bullying teaching them about the power of vocalising their and sexual harassment and outlined our intolerance of most authentic selves. As we look back at 2017 and companies who do not have best practice policies and ahead to 2018, we are proud to reflect on a slate that procedures in place. offers a truly diverse, nuanced, complex, and above all, authentic portrait of contemporary Ireland. Towards the end of the year, we welcomed a much- needed increase in funding, as well as a new Minister From the testaments of hope and acceptance in for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, Nick Kelly’s The Drummer and the Keeper and T.D. It is vital that we see a sustained increase Butler’s aforementioned Handsome Devil, to the in funding so that we can realise our ambitions deconstructions and critiques of socially solidified to showcase the full potential of the Irish screen gender norms in Nora Twomey’s The Breadwinner, industries. We look forward to working with the alongside the harsh realities of impressionable youth Minister on Creative Ireland, and particularly on Pillar culture in films such as Frank Berry’sMichael Inside 4 to further establish Ireland as a centre of excellence and Aoife McArdle’s Kissing Candice, the definition of for media production. ‘Irish film’ continues to evolve and transform, as well as entertain and delight. Supporting this multiplicity In what was an undeniably trying and revelatory year of diverse Irish voices remains an integral goal of Bord for global entertainment industries, we must continue Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB). to lobby for equality and are duly reminded of the seminal power of film, as what we see on screen not Building on the unprecedented success of 2016, only reflects society, but challenges, subverts and in 2017, Irish talent continued to be recognised ultimately transforms it. and lauded on the international stage thanks to major festival selections and awards from Toronto Dr Annie Doona to Cannes. Alongside these, Irish creative talent Chair remained in the spotlight thanks to leading industry Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ publications such as The Hollywood Reporter and the Irish Film Board 2 01 Contents About Us About Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Peek Zoo 59 Take Me Swimming 90 Board (IFB) is the national development The Day Henry Met 60 The Swimmer 91 agency for Irish filmmaking and the Irish Ballybraddan 61 The Tattoo 91 film, television and animation industry, investing in talent, creativity and enterprise. Angela’s Christmas 62 Time Traveller 92 The agency supports writers, directors and — Tomato Can 92 production companies across these sectors Live Action TV 63 Where is Eva Hipsey? 93 by providing investment loans for the Nightflyers 63 — development, production and distribution of film, television and animation projects. — Released in 2017 94 Feature Documentaries 64 MAZE 96 The agency also supports and promotes the Chief Executive Introduction 04 Katie 66 Handsome Devil 96 Irish screen industries at major international Industry Highlights 2017 06 Jihad Jane 68 The Killing of a Sacred Deer 97 markets and festivals, promotes inward investment, Ireland as a location for — Keepers of the Flame 69 The Farthest 98 international production and provides Irish Features 14 Shooting the Mafia 70 The Drummer and the Keeper 98 support for companies filming on location Never Grow Old 16 A Mother Brings Her School Life 99 in Ireland. The agency manages Screen Float Like a Butterfly 18 Son to be Shot 71 Grace Jones: Training Ireland, the national training and development resource, created specifically Wolfwalkers 20 Losing Alaska 72 Bloodlight and Bami 99 for the Irish screen sectors. Highway 22 One Million American Dreams 73 Halal Daddy 100 A Girl From Mogadishu 24 The Life After 74 Tomato Red 100 Dark Lies the Island 26 The Man Who Dared to Dream 75 Sanctuary 101 Chief Executive James Hickey Marketing & Communications The Hole in the Ground 28 Caught in the Crossfire 76 Lost in France 101 Deputy Chief Executive Teresa McGrane — Metal Heart 30 Wings and a Prayer 77 The Secret Scripture 102 Marketing & Communications Manager Louise Ryan Business Affairs Marketing Executive Mags O’Sullivan Don’t Go 32 The Camino Voyage 78 A Dark Song 102 — Dublin Oldschool 34 Windmill Lane 79 Revolutions 103 Financial Controller Celine Forde Administration Damo & Ivor: The Movie 36 — Pilgrimage 103 Business Affairs Manager Cian McElhone — Business Affairs ExecutiveAileen McCauley Executive Assistant Niamh O’Reilly Cellar Door 38 Short Films 80 Moon Dogs 104 Business and Finance Assistant Jade Murphy The Meeting 40 A Different Kind of Day 83 Without Name 104 Training Limbo 42 An Island 83 It’s Not Yet Dark 105 Production, Development & Distribution — — Training Executive: Creativity & Creative — Bellwether 84 Kevin Roche: Project Managers Lesley McKimm, Celine Haddad, Collaboration Gráinne Bennett The Widow 43 The Bird and the Whale 84 The Quiet Architect 105 Dearbhla Regan Training Executive: Production & Technical Papi Chulo 43 Bordalo II: A Life of Waste 85 Maudie 106 Production & Distribution Manager Emma Scott Sorcha Loughane — Catcalls 85 Nails 107 Production & Development Executive Sarah Dillon Training Co-ordinator Emer MacAvin Schemes & Applications Co-ordinator Jill McGregor Finance Executive Susanne Cassells Feature Co-Productions 44 Departure 86 Song of Granite 108 Production & Development Assistant Jennifer Smyth Communications Executive Críona Sexton The Little Stranger 46 Deposits 86 In the Name of Peace: Vita & Virginia 48 Hey Ronnie Reagan 87 John Hume in America 108 Inward Production Production Catalogue Co-ordinated by — Jamie Tuohy and Aisling O'Halloran Birthmarked 50 Late Afternoon 87 The Man Who Inward Production Manager Steven Davenport Sonja: Queen of Ice 52 Macarooned 88 Invented Christmas 109 Board Members Inward Production Assistant Gráinne Kernan Justice.net 54 Mother & Baby 88 Rocky Ros Muc 109 — Dr Annie Doona (Chair), Kate McColgan, — NEON 89 Condemned to Remember 110 Larry Bass, Katie Holly, Mark Fenton, Animation TV 56 Nice Night For It 89 Return to Montauk 110 Rachel Lysaght, Marian Quinn The Overcoat 58 Smithy & Dickie 90 Film Directory 112 02 03 Introduction for global audiences as well as accolades such as Brown talent and the wider industry. Bag Films being named as Kidscreen’s top animated production company in the world, it is little wonder At the Galway Film Fleadh, we were particularly that The Hollywood Reporter cited the Irish animation pleased to announce a series of groundbreaking new industry as a booming exemplifier of the “growth and funding initiatives for female writers and directors as rising international profile” of the Irish screen industries. part of our ongoing commitment to gender equality in the Irish film industry. Achieving diverse and balanced In 2017, we also bore witness to the ascent of Irish representation is an utmost priority for us. documentary, as Irish filmmakers delighted and entertained as well as challenged and inspired. From In September, we were delighted to announce a the life-affirming message of Frankie Fenton’s incredibly partnership with RTÉ to launch a joint-funding initiative moving, It’s Not Yet Dark, to the fantastical possibilities for new comedy, supporting new Irish-scripted comedy conveyed through Emer Reynolds’ much-lauded The projects, with export potential. Farthest, as well as the importance of fighting for your beliefs in Feargal Ward’s IDFA-selected, The Lonely 2018 Battle of Thomas Reid, these documentaries stand as a Notable upcoming titles include Mary McGuckian’s A powerful testament to our innate storytelling talent. Girl From Mogadishu, based on the testimony of activist Ifrah Ahmed; Carmel Winters’ Float Like A Butterfly, Inward Production telling a touching story of self-determination and family Of course, helping to reinforce Ireland’s reputation as bonding; and Emmet Kirwan’s Dublin Oldschool, a 2017 marked another significant year for Irish creative At Cannes, The Killing of a Sacred Deer not only a thriving film, TV and animation industry, alongside contemporary and revelatory odyssey through Dublin. talent and