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It has sold across Europe, the US and Canada, Russia and Cis and India.

French sales outfit Charades has unveiled a series of global sales on Irish filmmaker George Kane’s eccentric comedy Apocalypse Clown, following its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh, where it won the prize for best Irish film.

Apocalypse Clown has sold to Capstone Pictures (through Telepool) for the US and Canada; Telepool for German-speaking territories; Njuta for Scandinavia, McF Megacom for the Adriatics; Arna Media for Russia and Cis; Pictureworks for India; and Aardwolf for airlines.

Read Screen’s Apocalypse Clown review here

As previously announced,...

The 35th Galway Film Fleadh ended Sunday evening with the Competition jury handing the festival’s top prizes of Best Irish Film to Apocalypse Clown, directed by George Kane, and the Generation Jury Award to Scrapper by Charlotte Regan.

Written by Demian Fox, George Kane, Shane O’Brien, and James Walmsley and produced by Morgan Bushe and James Dean, Apocalypse Clown follows a troupe of failed clowns as they embark on a chaotic road trip of self-discovery after a mysterious solar event plunges the world into anarchy. Scrapper, which stars Harris Dickinson (Triangle of Sadness), follows Georgie, a dreamy 12-year-old girl who lives happily alone in her London flat, filling it with magic. Suddenly, her estranged father turns up and forces her to confront reality.

Also among the winners on the night was Lie of The Land, directed by John Carlin. Written by Tara Hegarty and produced by Chris Patterson and Margaret McGoldrick,...

’The Martini Shot’, starring Matthew Modine, John Cleese and Derek Jacobi, will also world premiere.

The Galway Film Fleadh has lined up a number of world premieres of Irish films for this year’s festival, which runs from July 11-16, including Lisa Mulcahy’s Lies We Tell, George Kane’s Apocalypse Clown and The Martini Shot, starring Matthew Modine, John Cleese and Derek Jacobi.

Lies We Tell is the story of an heiress who is forced to embrace her family’s dark legacy, starring Agnes O’Casey, David Wilmot, Holly Sturton and Chris Walley. Produced by Blue Ink Films and backed by Screen Ireland,...

“Apocalypse Clown,” an ensemble comedy directed by BAFTA-nominated George Kane (“Timewasters”) has been boarded by Charades for international rights excluding the U.K. which is handled by Vertigo Releasing.

The movie was penned by Shane O’Brien, James Walmsley and Demian Fox from the comedy outfit Dead Cat Bounce. The film is headlined by David Earl, Natalie Palamides (“Nate — A One Man Show”), Amy De Bhrún (“The Bachelor Weekend”), Fionn Foley (“Dublin Oldschool”), Tadhg Murphy (“Brassic”) and Ivan Kaye (“Gunpowder Milkshake”).

Filmed on location in Dublin and Kildare, in Ireland, the film tells the tale of a troupe of failed clowns and an ambitious reporter who embark on a chaotic adventure of self-discovery after a mysterious solar event plunges the world into anarchy.

“I cannot wait to finally unleash this madness on audiences,” said Kane. “Our writers have crafted an ambitious, relentless and joyously silly script — the likes of which you...

Exclusive: German sales firm Beta Cinema has revealed multiple deals for BIFA-nominated psychological-thriller Kindred.

The UK feature debut, starring Tamara Lawrance (The Long Song), Jack Lowden (Fighting With My Family) and BAFTA-winner Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve), has sold to Sky Cinema for the UK and Ireland, Signature Entertainment for Australia/New Zealand and South Africa, Imagine Film for Benelux, Russian World Vision for Cis and Empire Networks for the Middle East. Beta will continue sales at the upcoming virtual EFM.

In Kindred, plagued by mysterious hallucinations, a pregnant woman suspects that the family of her deceased boyfriend has bad intentions for her unborn child.

Directed by Joe Marcantonio, the film was previously released by IFC Midnight in the U.S. Actor Lowden and producer Dominic Norris (Modern Life Is Rubbish) produce through their recently-launched Scotland-based production banner Reiver Pictures.

Also among cast are Chloe Pirrie (The Queen’s Gambit) and Edward Holcroft...

IFC has announced that they have acquired North American rights to Kindred, with plans to release the film this November:

From the Press Release: IFC Midnight announced today that it is acquiring North American rights to Kindred, directed by Joe Marcantonio and produced by Dominic Norris & Jack Lowden of Reiver Pictures. Kindred explores themes of control and a young woman’s struggle with the slow breakdown of her own sense of reality in this twisted psychological drama, with a screenplay by Marcantonio and Jason McColgan. The film stars a breakout performance by Tamara Lawrance (The Long Song), Jack Lowden, Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve), and Edward Holcroft. John Keville & Morgan Bushe of Fastnet Films serve as Executive Producers alongside Norman Merry & Peter Hampden of Lipsync Productions, Phil Hunt and Compton Ross of Head Gear Films, Serotonin Films and Gareth Wiley. IFC Midnight will release the film on November 6th, 2020. When her...

Exclusive: IFC Midnight we have learned has acquired North American rights to the Joe Marcantonio psychological drama Kindred which they’re planning to open on Nov. 6.

Kindred follows mother-to-be Charlotte. She collapses upon receiving the news that her boyfriend Ben suddenly dies in an accident. She wakes up in Ben’s family home, a crumbling old manor house in the middle of nowhere with Ben’s overbearing mother, Margaret, and his controlling stepbrother, Thomas. They are determined to care for her, at least until the baby arrives. Grief stricken and increasingly haunted by visions possibly brought on by the pregnancy, Charlotte accepts their help. But as the days go by she begins to doubt their intentions and her suspicions grow. Are they drugging her and keeping her captive, with the aim of taking her unborn baby? As her visions intensify and the haze of lies grows, Charlotte decides that her...

Beta Cinema handles international sales

IFC Midnight has acquired North American rights to Joe Marcantonio’s psychological drama Kindred and has set a November 6 release.

Beta Cinema handles international sales on the story of a pregnant women who is taken into care by the overbearing family of her recently deceased boyfriend.

Unsure whether the family mean harm or if she is succumbing to strange visions, she plots her escape.

Tamara Lawrance stars with Jack Lowden, Fiona Shaw, and Edward Holcroft.

Marcantonio and Jason McColgan co-wrote the screenplay. Dominic Norris and Lowden of Reiver Pictures produced.

John Keville and Morgan Bushe...

Sarah Bolger is set to star in the historical true-crime drama Black Donnelly's, based on the infamous Irish-Canadian Donnelly family and their local feud and grisly massacre in 1880.

Bolger will play the role of Johannah Donnelly, a brave mother and ruthless protector of her children and property while her husband Jim Donnelly was imprisoned. Adam MacDonald penned the screenplay and will direct Black Donnelly's, while Owen Kelly of Antigravity Entertainment and Jonathan Bronfman of Jobro Productions and Morgan Bushe of Fastnet Films will co-produce the Canada-Ireland collaboration.

Production on the indie is set for next year. “I’m ...

Sarah Bolger is set to star in the historical true-crime drama Black Donnelly's, based on the infamous Irish-Canadian Donnelly family and their local feud and grisly massacre in 1880.

Bolger will play the role of Johannah Donnelly, a brave mother and ruthless protector of her children and property while her husband Jim Donnelly was imprisoned. Adam MacDonald penned the screenplay and will direct Black Donnelly's, while Owen Kelly of Antigravity Entertainment and Jonathan Bronfman of Jobro Productions and Morgan Bushe of Fastnet Films will co-produce the Canada-Ireland collaboration.

Production on the indie is set for next year. “I’m ...

The Newport Beach Film Festival, which kicks off April 24 and continues through April 27, will honor five talented artists who will be on hand to accept their awards. The event kicks off opening night with the West Coast premiere of Sundance indie hit “Luce,” a provocative racial drama from director Julius Onah starring Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, Tim Roth and rising star Kelvin Harrison Jr. The fest closes with the world premiere of “Part of Water,” a documentary about local lifeguard hero Ben Carlson who lost his life saving a drowning swimmer in 2014.

Between those bookends, Nbff screens the Ted Bundy crime drama “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile,” starring Zac Efron as the notorious serial killer; “Official Secrets,” Gavin Hood’s political thriller starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes; and the world premiere of “The Tony Alva Story,” which chronicles the life of the skateboarding legend.

The fest and Vans...

The TorinoFilmLab and Series Mania have announced the nine projects participating in this year’s SeriesLab, an intensive mentorship program that culminates March 26 in Lille when participants will present their projects to an industry audience at the Series Mania Forum.

A joint venture conceived to address the challenge of developing screenwriting talent in the European TV industry, SeriesLab mentors creative talent from across the continent by bringing together writers, creators and showrunners from nine series in early-stage development.

The program shepherds participants through the entire process of creating a TV series concept via a four-month course composed of three residential workshops and two online sessions. With the support of established script consultant tutors and other industry experts, the participants develop a commercial mini-bible and outline the treatment of the pilot.

“I’m really excited about the wonderful work our tutors and participants have done during these months,” says Nicola Lusuardi,...

Docs include The Dread, and My Home, In Libya.

Cannes selections Birds Of Passage and Border will compete with the likes of Transit and Non Fiction for the Gold Hugo at next month’s 54th Chicago International Film Festival.

Artistic director Mimi Plauché announced on Friday (14) the international competition line-ups at the 54th Chicago International Film Festival, which runs from October 10–21.

The longest running competitive film festival in North America will feature two world premieres – Guie’dani’s Navel (Mexico) and the documentary Father The Flame (USA) – and showcase 16 films in the main International Feature Film Competition, 14 films in New Directors Competition,...

It will be the world premiere of the Irish crime drama starring Michael Smiley.

The world premiere of Irish comedy drama The Belly Of The Whale, the debut of producer turned director Morgan Bushe, will open the 30th anniversary edition of the Galway Film Fleadh (July 10-15).

Michael Smiley, Lewis McDougall and Pat Shortt star in the film about a teenager who breaks free from his foster home in an Irish seaside town in a bid to reclaim his family’s caravan park and salvage his friendship with his best friend and drinking partner. They join forces with others, hatching...

The Irish famine drama also stars Stephen Rea, Freddie Fox.

Production has commenced on Irish famine drama Black 47 starring Hugo Weaving (Hacksaw Ridge) and Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent (Iris).

The eight-week shoot will take place in Connemara, Kildara and Wicklow.

Black 47 is directed by Lance Daly, whose previous films include Life’s A Breeze and Kisses. Daly teamed with Pj Dillon (Rewind), Pierce Ryan (Standby) and Eugene O’Brien (The Flag) to write the screenplay.

Set in Ireland during the Great Famine, the drama follows an Irish Ranger named Feeney, who has been fighting for the British Army abroad, as he abandons his post to reunite with his family. Despite experiencing the horrors of war, Feeney is shocked by the famine’s destruction of his homeland and the brutalisation of his people and his family.

When Feeney sets on a destructive path to avenge his kin, an ageing British soldier is sent to stop him before...

Exclusive: Growing Dublin-based distributor is inking deals for key local fare as well as sub-licensing for London-based distributors.

Irish distributor Wildcard Distribution has secured a wide and varied slate of forthcoming releases - including new projects from some of Ireland’s strongest emerging filmmakers.

Two crime-themed films, The Young Offenders and Cardboard Gangsters, which have completed production, will have their world premieres at the Galway Film Fleadh in July.

The Young Offenders is inspired by the bizarre case of Ireland’s biggest-ever drug seizure in 2007. The haul, off the coast of West Cork, took place after a boat capsized, leaving bales of cocaine floating in the water.

It fired the imagination of first-time feature director Peter Foott, whose film focuses on two Cork city teenagers who embark on a 160km road trip to steal some of the bales. The film will be released in Ireland this autumn.

Also on the company’s release slate is Cardboard Gangsters, the new...

Exclusive: The European film industry business training programme has selected its 16 producers and executives for the week-long sessions with senior industry professionals in Los Angeles from September 15-19.

The participants span nine countries and represent all areas of the industry and will hear from and interact with Los Angeles-based studios executive and other professionals.

This year’s participants are:

Conor Barry, producer, Savage Production Ltd;

Sara Boss, senior sales executive, K5 International;

Morgan Bushe, co-owner, Fastnet Films / WildCard Distribution;

Helena Danielsson, executive producer, producer and CEO, Hepp Film International;

Katie Ellen, senior distribution manager, film fund, British Film Institute;

Simon Gillis, associate director, legal and business affairs, Universal Pictures International Entertainment;

Teun Hilte, managing director, Under The Milky Way UK;

Mark Lane, producer and company director, The Tea Shop & Film Company;

Graeme Law, finance director, Prescience Film Finance;

Anthony Mestriner, agent, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates Ltd;

Claire Mundell, producer, Synchronicity Film Ltd;

Natja Rosner, head of sales...

Richard Linklater's Boyhood won best feature and Daniel Ziv took the documentary prize for Jalanan in the People.s Choice awards at the 63rd Melbourne International Film Festival.

Argentine director Manuel Abramovich.s The Queen was named best short and Eddy Bell.s Grey Bull was best Australian short.

The Swinburne Award for emerging Australian filmmaker went to Ben Briand for Blood Pulls a Gun, a short which had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival.

Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Boyhood follows a child named Mason (Ellar Coltrane) as he grows up in front of the cameras. Featuring Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as his parents and newcomer Lorelei Linklater as his sister, the Universal film previews this weekend and next weekend before its September 4 launch.

Jalanan looks at three charismatic buskers . Boni, Ho and Titi . over a five-year period as they navigate the economic,...

Irish producer Morgan Bushe of Fastnet Films has been selected to take part in the European Film Promotion's Cannes-based programme Producers On The Move. Bushe, whose production credits include 'The Other Side of Sleep', is one of 25 producers from across Europe who have been handpicked by the Efp to take part in the networking event over May 19–22. It takes place during the Cannes International Film Festival, which runs over May 16-27.

Risteárd Ó Domhnaill and Rachel Lysaght's Shell to Sea feature documentary, 'The Pipe' has been awarded the Grand Prix at Circom, an awards ceremony hosted by the network of regional European broadcasters. In the Circom category of Sport Programme, the BBC West Midlands' 'Late Kick Off' nabbed the top prize whilst Fastnet Films' 'Gualainn le Gualainn' was commended by the jury. The four part TG4 series looks at the history of Irish Rugby and is directed by Andrew Gallimore and produced by Morgan Bushe (The Other Side of Sleep) and Conor Barry (Mr Crocodile in the Cupboard).

Bosnian war drama As If I Am Not There received three Ifta awards for Best Film, Director and Script for the film's Irish writer/director Juanita Wilson at tonight's Ifta awards, celebrating the Irish film and television industry.

Martin MCCann was named Best Actor for 'Swansong - Story of Occi Byrn', while Amy Huberman was got Best Actress for 'Rewind.'

Pierce Brosnan and Saorise Ronan took home the supporting honours at the awards with Brosnan winning Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'The Ghost', while Ronan's part in The Way Back earned her the supporting actress honour.

In the international categories, 'The Social Network' won the best international film, with its star Jesse Eisenberg winning Best Actor. Annette Bening took Best Actress for 'The Kids Are All Right'.

Winners Of The 8th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards:

Outstanding Contribution to Industry...

Thanks to the Irish Film Board, you can blag tickets to Signatures and Reality Bites at the Cork Opera House on Saturday, November 13th at 4pm. Showcasing the best of upcoming film and documentary talent, this is a great opportunity to see what and who is coming down the tracks in the world of Irish film! To blag said tickets, tune into the show tonight, from 9pm on Corks RedFM. --- The latest series of 'Signatures' and 'Reality Bites', consisting of eight short films and documentaries, will be premiering at this year's 55th Corona Cork Film Festival on Saturday 13th November. This latest batch of shorts highlight the remarkable standard of fresh Irish film-makers, including the multi-award winning producers Andrew Freedman, whose documentary His & Hers has taken the international festival circuit by storm, bagging a host of awards at Sundance, Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, and Traverse in...

An English language feature film co-produced by Ireland and the Netherlands “Nothing Personal” has been shortlisted for the European Discovery-the Prix Fipresci at this years European Film Academy. The award is presented annually to a young and upcoming director. “Nothing Personal” is about Anne who leaves her life behind her in the Netherlands and moves to Ireland. “Alone in her empty flat, from her window Anne observes the people passing by who nervously snatch up the personal belongings and pieces of furniture she has put out on the pavement. Her final gesture of taking a ring off her finger signals she is leaving her previous life in Holland behind. She goes to Ireland, where she chooses to lead a solitary, wandering existence, striding through the austere landscapes of Connemara. During her travels, she discovers a house that is home to a hermit, Martin,” writes IMDb. The movie is written and...

The European Film Academy has announced this year's nominations for the European Discovery – the Prix Fipresci, amongst them is Ireland/Netherlands co-production, 'Nothing Personal'. 'Nothing Personal' is written and directed by Urszula Antoniak (Vaarwel) in her English language feature film debut. It was co-produced by Fastnet Films' Macdara Kelleher (Kisses) and Morgan Bushe (Colony) filmed on location in Connemara. The Ifta nominated film follows a growing intimacy between a young runaway played by Dutch actress Lotte Verbeek (Links) and 'Ondine' actor, Stephen Rea's reclusive loner.

Production will start this November on Ross McDonnell's 'Muerte and Me', a feature length documentary that aims to present a multilayered meditation on the culture of violence on the Us/Mexico border and beyond through the eyes of a cast of characters who are at the epicentre of the escalating strife. The director's debut feature doc 'Colony' will receive an alternative U.S. release in the coming weeks.With Ross McDonnell on board as director and cinematographer, 'Muerte & Me' will begin its first stage of shooting in Mexico at the start of November and filming on the documentary is expected to take six months. Produced by Morgan Bushe at Fastnet Films, 'Muerte & Me' follows on from the success of 'Colony' - the company's previous feature documentary collaboration with McDonnell, which was nominated for an Irish Film & Television Award and selected to participate in the Ida...

Us distributors, Olive films have secured to North American theatrical, TV, video and educational rights to Fastnet Films' 'Nothing Personal', the Irish-Netherlands co-production directed by Urszula Antoniak starring Stephen Rea (Ondine).'Nothing Personal' is the story of a rebellious young woman played by Lotte Verbeek (Links) and an old sage played by Stephen Rea who establish a bizarre relationship. Stephen was Ifta nominated for his role in the film which is produced by Fastnet Films' Morgan Bushe (Colony) and Macdara Kelleher (Princess) along with Sanna Fabery de Jonge (Dummy)...

'Nothing Personal', Urszula Antoniak's English language theatrical feature film debut, has scooped a Leopard for the Best First Feature and a Best Actress Leopard for Dutch actress Lotte Verbeek the Locarno Film Festival. Screening in the International Competition selection at the Italkian Festival, the Dutch-Irish co-production was led by Amsterdam-based Rinkel Film & TV in cooperation with Vpro, Family Affair Films and was co-produced by Macdara Kelleher and Morgan Bushe of Fastnet Films.

'Colony' the Irish documentary from directors Carter Gunn & Ross McDonnell, which explores the unexplainable phenomenon of Colony Collapse Disorder which has left landscapes of empty beehives all across America, has been chosen to be screened in the 'Real to Reel' Category at the 34th International Toronto Film Festival in September. Produced by Morgan Bushe and Macdara Kelleher for Fastnet Films, 'Colony' documents a time of unprecedented crisis in the world of the honeybee through the eyes of both veteran beekeeper, David Mendes, and Lance and Victor Seppi, two young brothers getting into beekeeping when most are getting out. As Mendes tries to save the nation's collapsing hives, the Seppi's try to keep their business alive amidst a collapsing economy.

Composer Louise Heaney has written and recorded the original score to new Swedish – Irish co produced feature film 'Prinsessa'. Co produced by Morgan Bushe of Fastnet Films and Sandra Harms of Breidablick Films, 'Prinsessa' is a heart-warming drama-comedy about overweight 18 year old Maja, whose size makes it difficult for her to be socially accepted and to make her dreams come true.