28/11/2005

Between now and Spring 2006, Seven feature films are going to be shot in Northern Ireland with support from the Northern Ireland Film & Television Commission- NIFTC.
Two feature film debuts with star actors in the lead roles have already started filming: Nial Heery’s In Like Flynn starring Iain Glen (read the News), and Brian Kirk’s Middletown starring Matthew MacFadyen (Pride & Prejudice). The first film about an unemployed driver who becomes a country music celebrity is produced by Subotica Entertainment with international sales handled by Moviehouse Entertainment. Middletown, the first feature film by the director of BBC Drama Murphy’s Law, is the story about an overzealous Reverend who returns to his hometown and becomes enmeshed in a battle of wills with his brother. The script is written by Daragh Carville and Michael Casey (The Mighty Celt).
Also filming now in the north-west of the province is 48 Angels, the second film by Marion Comer (Boxed). It’s the story of two boys from opposite sides of the sectarian divide and of a terrorist who finds he’s now lost his place in the world. The film is produced by John McDonell and Robert Medema (Reflected Light Pictures).

January will see the shooting of Puffball, the reunion of Don’t Look Now filmmaker Nicolas Roeg and actor Donald Sutherland (read the News). Samantha Morton and Miranda Richardson also star in the supernatural thriller sold internationally by Wild Bunch.
February will be the turn of another chiller, the teen horror film Shrooms to start filming. Produced by Treasure Entertainement , the project will reunite the writing/directing partnership of Man About Dog Pearse Elliott and Paddy Breathnach.
Finally two feature films are scheduled to start filming in March 2006: Sin Spree a dark drama and rites of passage film by the same creative team behind Middletown will be the first in the NIFTC’s low budget Feature scheme, and the high profile film Closing The Ring by veteran filmmaker Richard Attenborough will shoot in Belfast and surround. The romantic drama set in the US and Ireland, is about a woman (Shirley MacLaine) whose life is changed when she finds a gold ring on an Irish hillside. The UK/Irish/Canadian co-production is sold internationally by Content International.