2016 marks the 60th BFI London Film Festival, with 380 features and shorts selected from 74 countries.
The festival runs from October 5th-16th and features a strong Irish presence including debut features ‘Without Name’ from Lorcan Finnegan and Peter Foott’s ‘The Young Offenders.'
Irish talent scheduled to participate in the festival include Cillian Murphy (Anthropoid), Seána Kerslake (Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope) and Jack Reynor (Sing Street). Irish producer Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly’s feature project ‘Lady MacBeth is also set to screen, helmed by UK Director William Oldroyd.
Among the Irish features announced is Darren Thornton’s ‘A Date For Mad Mary’, which releases to cinemas tomorrow Friday September 2nd. Watch IFTN’s interview with cast members Seána Kerslake and Charleigh Bailey. Foott’s ‘The Young Offenders’ is also a recent Irish title and releases to Irish cinemas on Friday September 16th.
‘A Dark Song’ is Liam Gavin’s feature title produced by David Collins, Cormac Fox and Tim Dennison, which follows grieving mother Sophie as she attempts to reach her deceased through the powers of the occult. Mark Huberman and Catherine Walker lead the cast in the horror which is produced by Samson Films.
‘Further Beyond’ is a deconstructed biopic from Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor, featuring Denise Gough, Alan Howley, Jose Miguel Jimenez and Aiden Gillen. Its subject is Ambrosio O'Higgins, a mysterious Irish adventurer who left Ireland and eventually became Captain General of Chile in the Spanish Empire. ‘Further Beyond’ is produced by Desperate Optimists and is a debut documentary for Molly and Lawlor.
Jim Sheridan’s latest work ‘The Secret Scripture’ starring Jack Reynor also features in the line-up, with Aidan Turner (Poldark), Rooney Mara (Carol) and Venessa Redgrave (Mission Impossible) also starring. Sheridan co-wrote the script with Johnny Ferguson, based on the 2008 novel of the same title by Irish writer Sebastian Barry.
‘I am Not a Serial Killer’ produced by Floodland Pictures and directed by Billy O’Brien follows a homicidal teenager who curbs his own impulses while also forced to protect the lonely Midwestern town he lives in.
Finally Lorcan Finnegan’s debut feature ‘Without Name’ follows land surveyor Eric into isolated woodlands, where he is greeted by a research assistant and ominous atmosphere which continues to build thereafter. ‘Without Name’ is produced by Lovely Productions with funding from the Irish Film Board.
