10 CinÉireann / May 2018
STORYBOARD
Féilte/Festival news
The Galway Film Fleadh, has announced the first four films that will play at their 30th annual festival, taking place from 10th – 15th July. These include the premieres of three Irish films: Ross Whitaker’s documentary Katie, David Gleeson’s drama Don’t Go, and Telegael’s stop-motion animation Captain Morten and the Spider Queen. They are joined by Matthew Holness’ British horror Possum.
Katie is Ross Whitaker’s documentary on Irish boxing champion Katie Taylor. The film follows Taylor as she recovers from losing her Olympic title in Rio 2016 and charts her comeback as she furthers her career in professional boxing. Bray native Taylor is widely regarded as one of the greatest Irish sportspersons and was instrumental in getting Woman’s Boxing added to the Olympics in 2012. During her amateur career Taylor claimed 19 major medals, including an Olympic gold in London in 2012. After less than a year as a professional Katie Taylor added two World titles to the 5 she had already won in the amateur ranks by defeating Anahi Sanchez for the WBA belt before an estimated 50,000 fans at Principality Stadium in Cardiff last October, before uniting that belt with the IBF one by defeating Victoria Noelia Bustos in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York last month.
The documentary is produced by Ross Whitaker and Aideen O’Sullivan (When Ali Came To Ireland) for True Films and Venom with Andrew Freedman (His & Hers, Mom and Me) as Executive Producer with funding from the Irish Film Board / Bord Scannáin na hÉireann, RTÉ, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and Wildcard Distribution. Wildcard will release it in Irish and UK cinemas this summer.
Don’t Go is the story of a man who, following the tragic loss of his daughter, convinces himself he can bring her back if only he can hold onto her hand in a recurring dream. The script was written by Ronan Blaney (Boogaloo and Graham) and director David Gleeson. The cast is led by international stars Stephen Dorff (Blade) and Melissa George (The Slap, Grey’s Anatomy), with support from a host of Iris actors including Simon Delaney (The Conjuring 2, The Good Wife), Aoibhinn McGinnity (Poison Pen, Love/Hate), Gavin O’Connor (Charlie, The Tudors), Lalor Roddy (Michael Inside, Rebellion), Luke Griffin (Noble, Pure Mule), Charlotte Bradley (Veronica Guerin, An Bronntanas), and Laurence O’Fuarain (The Limit Of, Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope).
Don’t Go marks David Gleeson’s return to directing duties following Cowboys and Angels (2003) and The Front Line (2006). His new film Tolkien from Fox Searchlight and Chernin Entertainment has just been announced and will begin shooting in September in London, starring Nicholas Hoult playing the role of ‘Lord of the Rings’ writer, JRR Tolkien. Nathalie Lichtenthaeler (As If I’m Not There) produces for Wide Eye Films, with Michael Helfant and Bradley Gallo as executive producers for Amasia Entertainment. Cinematography is by James Mather (Frank) with production design by Tracey O’Hanlon (Red Rock). Isobel Stephenson (Mr Selfridge, Garage) is the editor and post-production will take place at EGG post Production in Dublin. Financing comes from the Irish Film Board, Amasia Entertainment, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, and Northern Ireland Screen.
Captain Morten and the Spider Queen tells the story of a dreamy, 10-year-old boy who whiles away his days fantasizing about captaining his own ship and trying to avoid the ire of his devious and reluctant guardian: Mean Spinster Anna (Pauline McLynn). Morten’s fantasizing goes some small way to distracting him from missing his father Captain Viks (Brendan Gleeson), who is away at sea. Morten aspires to be a captain some day, just like his dad. After a chance meeting with the mysterious and inept magician Senór Cucaracha (Tommy Tiernan), Morten finds himself shrunken down and aboard the deck of his very own toy sailing ship. But Morten has company in the form of an eerily familiar insect crew led by an evil Spider-Queen. With the help of a beautiful butterfly-friend Eliza, Morten must take back control of his ship which is caught up in a threatening storm. Others in the all-star Irish cast include Ciarán Hinds, Jason Byrne, Mario Rosenstock, Michael McElhatton and Neil Delamere. The film introduces young Irish talents Cian O’Dowd and Susie Power as Morten and his friend Elisabeth.
The film is a co-production between Telegael (Ireland), Nukufilm (Estonia), Grid VFX (Belgium) and Calon (UK). The majority of the animation has been produced in Studio Telegael with a crew of more than 30 artists drawn from all over Ireland and further afield.
Each year the Film Fleadh programmes nearly 100 Irish short films, across six days, including drama and documentary, live action and animation, and everything in-between. They also program the largest selection of Irish films at any domestic festival.