CinÉireann / May 2018 7
U.S.-based production company Union Entertainment Group is set to expand into Ireland with the launch of UEG Global. This new company will be based in Dublin with the intention of bringing North American film and TV projects to shoot in Ireland.
As part of the news they have also announced that they have teamed up with Irish production companies Zanzibar Films and Five Knight Films to co-produce two new films based in Ireland.
The deal with Zanzibar includes CEO Edwina Forkin acting as a consultant for UEG Global, as well as the companies launching a joint venture called Heart of Darkness Pictures.
The intention is for this Los Angeles-based company to allow North American feature film and TV projects to utilise Ireland’s remarkable landscape and competitive S481 tax incentive (which allowed for the reclamation of 32% of production spend in Ireland). In addition HODP will provide financing and full service production resources within Ireland and throughout Europe.
HODP’s first two films will be The Murphys written and directed by Kaitlin McLaughlin and Here Are The Young Men, written and directed by Eoin Macken, based on Rob Doyle’s novel.
UEG President of Production Noah C. Haeussner, Zanzibar Films CEO
Edwina Forkin and Producer Katherine Leblond will preside over production at Heart of Darkness Pictures.
Thrilled that Noah Haeussner of UEG Global are choosing Ireland to bring in further exciting projects, delighted to be co-producing The Murphys – based on a true story. After a five minute standing ovation at their world premiere last night of Arctic with Mads Mikkelsen – The world is their oyster.
Edwina Forkin, CEO – Zanzibar Films
Cardboard Gangsters producer Richard Bolger of Five Knight Films will also act as a consultant and will make an untitled coming-of-age feature with UEG Global.
UEG has previously acted as a producer on Janis: Little Girl Blue and was recently at Cannes with the Mads Mikkelsen-starring Arctic.
Through continuing our expansion into Europe, we look forward to both discovering new voices and working with seasoned filmmakers in Ireland and around Europe to tell unique stories.
Noah C. Haeussner, Producer – UEG
The Writers Guild of Ireland has announced the nominees for the 2018 ZeBBie Awards. The ZeBBie Awards are annual awards created by the WGI — named in honour of O. Z. Whitehead — to acknowledge the best script(s) written by Irish playwrights and screenwriters during the previous year.
Frank Berry’s Michael Inside, John Butler’s Handsome Devil, and Nick Kelly’s The Drummer and the Keeper compete for Best Feature Film Script, while Benjamin Cleary’s Wave, Tom Collins’s An Béal Bocht, Niamh Heery’s Pause compete for Best Short Film Script.
Best Television Script
Sharon Horgan (and Rob Delaney) – Catastrophe (Series 3, Ep. 6)
Conor McPherson – Paula (Ep. 1)
Paul Walker – Red Rock (Series 3, Ep. 167)
Best Feature Film Script
Frank Berry – Michael Inside
John Butler – Handsome Devil
Nick Kelly – The Drummer and the Keeper
Best Short Film Script
Benjamin Cleary – Wave
Tom Collins – An Béal Bocht
Niamh Heery – Pause
The 2018 ZeBBie Awards Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, 27 June 2018.