Oscar nominated Irish film producer James Flynn has passed away aged 57.
One of Ireland leading film producers over the past 30 years, Flynn’s credits range from Joel Schumacher’s Veronica Guerin and Alan Parker’s Angela’s Ashes to Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel and Disney’s Disenchanted.
The sad news comes ahead of the 95th Academy Awards where Martin McDonagh’s Banshees of Inisherin has 9 nominations, a film which Flynn co-produced under his film banner Metropolitan.
Flynn first entered the Irish film industry as head of development for John Boorman at his company Merlin Films International. Following that, Flynn served as the business manager and then deputy CEO of the Irish Film Board (now Screen Ireland) between the years of 1993 and 1997. His role with the Film Board saw him analyse movies and TV dramas for development and production finance loans, during which time he produced feature films Angela’s Ashes and Sweety Barrett and TV movies such as Her Own Rules and A Secret Affair, as well as Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog.
Flynn then went on to establish his production company, Metropolitan Films with his wife Juanita Wilson in 1997. Since then, the company has compiled over 80 TV projects and feature film credits including hit TV projects such Vikings, The Tudors, Love/Hate, and Kin.
Remembering Flynn, Oscar-nominated producer and Element Pictures co-founder Ed Guiney, who worked with Flynn on Sweety Barrett, told The Irish Times:
“James was a wonderful person, a brilliant producer – he had an encyclopaedic knowledge of film and was the smartest of all of my generation of producers. He made massive contributions to the industry at the Film Board, as a member of Screen Producers Ireland and as a producer.”
In 2010, Flynn and wife Juanita Wilson’s short film The Door was nominated for an Academy Award. Produced by Flynn and directed by Wilson, the two shared the nomination jointly.
Last year, Flynn received the Best Drama award at the IFTA Film & Drama Awards for Kin, which received 5 awards and 7 nominations.
In a statement released, Metropolitan Films said: “No words can adequately describe the immense contribution James has made to the Irish film and television industry over three decades on both a national and international level.”
“He willingly and generously gave his advice and guidance to all who sought his counsel, from young emerging filmmakers to established Irish and international industry practitioners.
“James fought his recent illness with courage, dignity, positivity, and discretion to the very end. For that reason, we are acutely aware that the news of his passing has been an unexpected shock for all of us and for many people within and beyond the industry.
“Juanita, Morgan, and all of us in the company wish to acknowledge the many personal, heartfelt and well-deserved tributes that have already been paid to James, to thank everyone for their kindness and support at this difficult time, and to share our sympathies with all who join us in mourning the loss of such a remarkable person, a friend, a colleague, and above all, a filmmaker.”
James Flynn is survived by wife Juanita Wilson and children Alex and Anna.
