18/02/2013 - Eclectic mix of independent Irish films due for release

Irish audiences will be served up a diverse mix of locally produced films in the coming weeks. First up is the February 22 release of Mike Cockayne’s The Hardy Bucks Movie (photo), based on the award-winning television series about slackers taking a road trip to support the Irish team in the Euro 2012 Football Championships. Produced by Hardy Films it was funded by the Irish Film Board (IFB), Universal and RTÉ.

February 22 also sees the release of Alex Gibney’s Best Documentary IFTA winner Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House Of God that examines the abuse of power in the Catholic Church. The film is produced by Below The Radar Films and funded by the IFB, HBO and Wide View.

On March 1, it’s the turn of Ciarán Foy’s psychological horror Citadel [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. The film, which won the Audience Award at last year’s SXSW festival and joint Best First Feature Award at the Galway Film Fleadh was produced by Blinder Films and Sigma Films with funding from the IFB and Creative Scotland. March also sees the release of Alan Brennan’s sci-fi comedy Earthbound. Produced by Paper Dreams and Ripple World Pictures, the film was the joint winner of Best First Feature with Citadel at Galway.

Another March release is Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn’s Good Vibrations [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], about Belfast music legend Terri Hooley. Winner of Best Irish Feature prize at the Galway Film Fleadh, it is produced by Treasure Entertainment and Canderblinks, and financed by IFB, BBC Films, Northern Ireland Screen, BBC Northern Ireland, Immaculate Conception Films, Matador Pictures and Cinema One.

IFB IFTA Rising Star winner Gerard Barrett’s IFB-produced grim pastoral drama Pilgrim Hill releases in April.