CinÉireann November 2017 | Page 11

Principal photography has commenced on the Pembridge Pictures and Umedia production A Girl from Mogadishu – a true story based on the testimony of Ifrah Ahmed, who – having escaped war-torn Somalia – emerged as one of the world’s foremost international activists against Gender Based Violence. Filming in Belgium commenced October 18th, 2017 and will complete in February in Ireland and Morocco.

A Girl from Mogadishu stars Aja Naomi King (How to Get Away with Murder, Birth of a Nation) as Ifrah, Martha Canga Antonio (Black) and Barkhad Abdi (Blade Runner 2049, Eye of the Storm, Captain Phillips) as well as Somali icon, Maryam Mursals. The film is directed by Mary McGuckian.

Protagonist Pictures has released the first image from Chanya Button’s Vita & Virginia, which recently completed filming in Dublin with producers Blinder Films. Button directs the film, from a script by Dame Eileen Atkins based on her play of the same name.

CinÉireann / November 2017 11

Ian FitzGibbon’s recently wrapped Irish feature Dark Lies the Island has secured an international sales deal with Independent, who will present the film to potential buyers.

The film has a script from Kevin Barry, based on characters from his short story collection of the same name. It is described as dark comedy that rips with violent tension. Set in a small Irish town and unfolding over the course of one week, a long-standing family feud comes to a head and forces the men to face the truth.

The film follows the romance and friendship between authors Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West. Elizabeth Debicki stars as Virginia Woolf, with Gemma Arterton playing Vita Sackville-West. It is produced by Katie Holly for Blinder Films and Evangelo Kioussis of Mirror Productions.

A Girl from Mogadishu

Vita & Virginia

Dark Lies the Island