27/02/2008

Northern Ireland Screen has announced funding support for newly launched production company Generator Entertainment through the Northern Ireland Screen Fund supported by Invest NI.

Set up by producers Simon Bosanquet (Ripley’s Game [+see also:
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interview: Liliana Cavani and John Mal…
film profile], The Life and Death of Peter Sellers [+see also:
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film profile]) and Mark Huffam (Mickybo & Me, Mamma Mia), the company has an initial slate of five films, four of which will shoot in Northern Ireland in the first half of 2008. The budgets are expected to be in the range of £1.5m.

Shooting has already begun on supernatural thriller Red Mist, directed by Paddy Breathnach (Shrooms [+see also:
trailer
film profile]). The Fund has contributed £247,737. It will also support the company’s Chatakwa Falls, which begins shooting in March.

Another Generator project is Mickybo director Terry Loane’s adventure film Vanilla Gorilla. The film deals with a captive albino gorilla with sign language skills that manages to communicate his plight to a little girl, which sets off a daring international escape plan. Pierce Brosnan will star and the film begins shooting in South Africa in March.

In addition, the Fund will also support Green Park Films’ Cherry Bomb, which follows three teenagers across a drug and alcohol soaked wild weekend. Lisa Barros d’Sa and Glen Leyburn will direct.

Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen said, “Last year the big Hollywood film (City of Ember) afforded a great deal of experience for many local cast and crew and brought over £9m into Northern Ireland. But we have always sought to nurture local talent and support our indigenous filmmakers. Our latest round of funding to Generator Entertainment and Green Park Films reflects our continued commitment to building a sustainable production sector here.”