The official selection lineup of the 64th edition of the Cannes Film Festival was unveiled this morning, April 14th festival chief, Thierry Fremaux and Irish co-production, ‘This Must be the Place’ is one of the features chosen to compete at the event. Co-produced by Irish production company, Element Films, the feature has been selected for Official Competition at the French festival, which takes place from the 11th-22nd May.
The feature which shot last August in Dublin marks Italian director Paolo Sorrentino's English feature debut and stars Oscar-winners Sean Penn (Milk, Mystic River), Frances McDormand (Fargo) and musician David Byrne alongside Irish talent in the form of Simon Delaney (Zonad, Happy Ever Afters), Olwen Fouere (Space Truckers) and newcomer Eve Hewson.
In the film Sean Penn plays Cheyenne, a wealthy former rock star living in Dublin, embarks on a quest to find his father's persecutor, a Nazi war criminal hiding out in the US. He journeys across the heartland of America to track down and confront his father's nemesis. ‘This Must be the Place’ an Irish-Italian co-production between Irish production company Element Pictures and Indigo Film and Italy’s Lucky Red. Ed Guiney (The Guard) and Andrew Lowe (Zonad) co-produced the film for Element Pictures and the group’s distribution company, Element Pictures Distribution has secured the Irish rights to the film for its 2011 release.
Shooting on 35mm, the film’s director of photography was award winning cinematographer Luca Bigazzi (Il Divo, Così ridevano). The feature was made with a budget of over €20 million, with funding provided by the Irish Film Board, Eurimage, Medusa, Indigo Film, Intesa Sanpaolo Bank and ARP Selection France.
Ireland’s Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaelteacht Jimmy Deenihan commented on the good news, saying: "The film industry here is attracting major productions due to the availability of world class cast and crew as well as stunning locations and excellent facilities. The improved changes to Section 481 Film Tax Relief Scheme also demonstrate our commitment to and our confidence in film as an integral part of Ireland’s future plans for economic growth. The extension of Section 481 until the end of 2015 is a very significant vote of confidence in the Irish audiovisual sector. The clear message is 'Ireland Must Be The Place' for great film-making."
IFB Chairman, James Morris commented on the financial benefit the film has provided thus far, noting that: “First of all it created jobs and spend in the Irish economy on local goods and services when it filmed on location here. The film will now go on to promote Ireland in a positive light internationally to millions of audiences around the world.”
