Production Catalogue Production 1 Chair’s Note Chair’s Telling Irish stories on screen and supporting Irish creative talent telling these stories has always been a key focus of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB). Over the past year we have shown that these stories are enjoyed by audiences both at home and globally and have again proven what we believe to be the strength of Irish creative talent on screen. We are working on two major initiatives in 2016: the launch of a five year strategy for the IFB and a joint IFB/BAI Strategy on Training. We expect to publish both of these reports in the spring of 2016. They will then form the basis of future planning and development across the sector in the coming years. In 2015, the IFB acknowledged the underrepresentation of women in the Irish film industry. This is an issue which cannot be ignored. Actions are needed to address the gender inequality issue and the IFB is concerned enough to act and take a lead on this matter. We have outlined the measures we will be taking to address the problem and we are eager to implement them in 2016 and beyond. I took the role of Acting Chair of the IFB this year after the sudden passing of our esteemed Chairman Bill O’Herlihy. In his two years as Chairman of the IFB, Bill was a tireless advocate of the Irish film industry and his hands-on approach to the role was a clear indicator of his enthusiasm. We at the IFB were proud to call him a colleague and a friend and he is greatly missed. We begin 2016 with the confidence that IFB-funded films are ranked as being among the very best in the world. In 2015, Ireland was represented on the world stage from the Academy Awards®, to the world’s leading film festivals, to major box office successes with both Irish and international audiences. The IFB is proud to continue supporting Irish creative talent in the Irish film and TV industry. Dr Annie Doona Acting Chair Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board (IFB) 2 01 About Us About Contents Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Moon Dogs 48 January Hymn 83 Board (IFB) is the national development The King’s Choice 49 Maidhm 83 agency for Irish filmmaking and the Irish The Last King 50 The Great Fall 84 film, television and animation industry, investing in talent, creativity and enterprise. P.O.V. 51 They Shoot People 84 The agency supports writers, directors and — Unhinged 85 production companies across these sectors Animation TV 52 Violet 85 by providing investment loans for the Kiva Can Do! 54 — development, production and distribution of film, television and animation projects. Puffin Rock 56 After ’16 86 Little Roy 57 — The agency also supports and promotes — Released This Year 92 the Irish screen industries at major Feature Documentaries 58 Brooklyn 94 international markets and festivals, promotes inward investment, Ireland as a The Farthest 60 Song of the Sea 94 location for international production and Older Than Ireland 62 The Lobster 95 provides support for companies filming on The Queen of Ireland 64 Two By Two — location in Ireland. The agency provides Crash and Burn 66 Ooops... The Ark Has Gone 95 a strategic vision for industry training through Screen Training Ireland. Hostage to the Devil 67 The Queen of Ireland 96 It Tolls For Thee 68 Get Up & Go 96 Chief Executive Introduction 04 In Loco Parentis 69 11 Minutes 97 Chief Executive James Hickey Administration Industry Highlights 2015 06 66 Days 70 Older Than Ireland 97 Deputy Chief Executive Teresa McGrane — — Lost in France 71 Patrick’s Day 98 Executive Assistant Niamh O’Reilly Executive Assistant: Production & Development Irish Features 14 Going Viral 72 You’re Ugly Too 98 Business & Legal Affairs Jade Murphy The Secret Scripture 16 Atlantic 72 In A House That Ceased to Be 99 — Financial Controller Celine Forde Pilgrimage 18 Blood Sisters 73 The Hallow 99 Business & Legal Affairs Executive Oisín O’Neill Screen Training Ireland The Breadwinner 20 The 4th Act 73 I Used to Live Here 100 Business & Legal Affairs Co-Ordinator Aileen McCauley — Handsome Devil 22 Rocky Ros Muc 74 Let Us Prey 100 Executive Assistant: Business & Legal Affairs Training Executive: Creativity Gráinne Bennett I Am Not a Serial Killer 24 It’s Not Yet Dark 74 Glassland 101 Gráinne Kernan Training Executive: Production & Technical Accounts Assistant Martina Mullarkey Sorcha Loughane Tomato Red 26 Grace Jones: Apples of the Golan 101 Training Executive: Business & Enterprise A Dark Song 28 The Musical of my Life 75 The Canal 102 Helen McMahon Production, Development & Distribution Unless 30 Forever Pure 75 Queen & Country 102 Training Co-Ordinator Emer MacAvin — The Truth Commisioner 32 — A Doctor’s Sword 103 Communications Executive Críona Sexton Project Managers Mary Callery, Rory Gilmartin, Finance Executive Susanne Cassells Without Name 34 Short Films 76 Pursuit 103 Keith Potter The Young Offenders 36 45 79 Miss Julie 104 Production & Distribution Manager Emma Scott Production & Development Executive Sarah Dillon Production Catalogue Co-Ordinated by Lost in the Living 38 A Coat Made Dark 79 Ghosthunters — On Icy Trails 105 Schemes & Applications Co-Ordinator Jill McGregor Gráinne Curtin, Ciarán Hall Sanctuary 40 Blight 80 The Legend of Longwood 105 — City of Roses 80 Being AP 106 Marketing Board Members Features Co-Production 42 Displaced 81 Tana Bana 106 — — Brain On Fire 44 Filleadh an Athair 81 The Stranger 107 Marketing & Communications Manager Louise Ryan Dr Annie Doona (Acting Chair), Seamus Deasy, Katie Love & Friendship 46 Geist 82 Film Directory 108 Marketing Executive Mags O’Sullivan Holly, Kate O’Toole, John Rice, Maurice Sweeney Maudie 47 How Was Your Day? 82 02 03 Introduction the Irish cultural landscape, but also creates Irish jobs Two – Ooops... the Ark Has Gone from Moetion Films focus will be placed on promoting the Irish screen and helps to promote Ireland and its indigenous talent. took over €4 million in Ireland and the UK, while Conor industries as part of ongoing government policy. Horgan’s timely documentary The Queen of Ireland This year we will see new films from established was very well received by critics and at the box office. The Future Irish directors such as Jim Sheridan’s The Secret We very much look forward to seeing how audiences — Scripture, John Carney’s Sing Street, Rebecca Daly’s respond to our upcoming slate of films this year. 2015 saw the emergence of a long-overdue discussion Mammal, Juanita Wilson’s Tomato Red and John on gender equality in Irish film, and in particular Butler’s Handsome Devil. Films from up-and-coming Documentary the underrepresentation of women in the Irish film Irish talent include Without Name by Lorcan Finnegan, — industry. It is a key priority of the IFB to address the Pilgrimage from screenwriter Jamie Hannigan and The feature documentary filmOlder Than Ireland was issue of inequality in the industry and is a subject The Breadwinner from Nora Twomey. The IFB is also an early contribution by the IFB to the 1916 centenary which we will continue to address in 2016. proud to continue supporting projects featuring rising celebrations. 2015 was another great year for Irish Irish acting talent including Fionn O’Shea (Handsome documentaries at the domestic box office, and the 2016 will begin with the Irish cinema release of Devil), Niamh Algar (Without Name), Tara Lee (Moon IFB is anticipating another interesting year for the Room, Lenny Abrahamson’s remarkable fifth feature Dogs) and Lauren Kinsella (You’re Ugly Too). To ensure factual genre with upcoming productions including as director, which alongside Brooklyn has received continued development of the industry, Screen The Farthest directed by Emer Reynolds, Crash and nominations at January’s Golden Globe Awards. Room Training Ireland, part of the IFB, provides training and Burn directed by Seán Ó Cualáin and In Loco Parentis has been nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama, career development throughout the sector. directed by Neasa Ní Chianáin and David Rane. Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama and Best Screenplay – Motion Picture with Global Reach at Festivals Animation a nomination for Brooklyn in the category of Best Success for Irish Film in 2015 — — Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – — In 2015 Irish films continued to have a global reach with The IFB continues to invest in animated films and Drama, and I wish both films the best of luck at the In 2015 Irish creative talent brought wonderful visual a strong Irish presence at several of the world’s leading television series’ and remained a major funder awards. January also sees the Official Selection of stories to audiences at home and abroad through film festivals. This began in January when no less than of the Irish animation sector in 2015. Among the seven films at the renowned Sundance Film Festival. IFB-funded feature film, TV drama and animation. five IFB-funded productions screened at the Sundance projects backed by the IFB are Cartoon Saloon’s The The Irish lineup is Love & Friendship, Sing Street, In early 2015 Cartoon Saloon’s Song of the Sea Film Festival, with Jack Reynor winning an award for Breadwinner, the second series of the highly popular Mammal, The Land of the Enlightened, Viva, The represented Ireland at the Academy Awards® when his performance in Glassland and Brooklyn securing a Puffin Rock, Kavaleer’s wonderful Kiva Can Do! and Lobster and the animated short A Coat Made Dark. it was nominated in the category of Best Animated record distribution deal from Fox Searchlight Pictures.