Irish Films Get Cannes Exposure

The Irish film industry will be well represented at the 2010 Cannes International Film Festival.

All Good Children, directed by Alicia Duffy, has been officially selected for the Directors Fortnight section, and with lots of Irish films screening and selling in the Cannes Film Market which runs from May 12th to 23rd.

Based on a novel by Sam Taylor, the film stars Jack Gleeson (A Shine of Rainbows) and newcomers Austin Moulton, David Brazil and Imogen Jones.

Produced by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures together with Jonathan Cavendish, Tom Dercourt and Patrick Quinet for Caveman, Cinema Defacto and Artemis Productions, the film is an Irish/Belgian/French co-production and was made with the support of Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board (IFB), Eurimages, Wallimage, CFB Centre du Cenema, Sofica, Preachat TV Cryptee and CRRAV.

Simon Perry, Chief Executive of the Irish Film Board, commented: "The Cannes film festival is quite simply the most important event in the calendar for the film industries of the world and it's a real boost for Ireland this year to be among the countries with a film in the official selection - a director's first feature film, too."

Ireland's leading film producers will be travelling to the festival, which is also the largest and most important film market in the world, to source finance for their upcoming feature films. The market provides an opportunity for Irish producers to meet with international film financiers, sales agents and film distributors.

This year there will be a number of new Irish films selling in the market including The Guard, directed by John Michael McDonagh which stars Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle and Colm McCarthy's chilling thriller Outcast starring James Nesbitt which received much critical acclaim when it premiered at the South By South West Festival in the US earlier this year.

The Irish Pavilion in Cannes is the central point for the Irish presence at the festival, promoting Irish film and Ireland as a film location.

During the festival the Irish Pavilion will host a number of panel sessions and networking events to take advantage of the unique opportunity to promote Irish film talent to the international film industry.

The Pavilion also provides an opportunity to endorse Irish production services and competitive tax incentives, whilst acting as a high-profile, well-resourced base for the Irish film industry and its guests attending the Cannes Film Festival and Market.

(BMcC/GK)