Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney, the writer/director/producers of Lakelands have signed with US talent management company Berwick & Kovacik. They will be represented by Laura Berwick and Becca Kovacik, producers of the Academy Award-winning film Belfast.
Co-directors Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney will be represented by Laura Berwick and Becca Kovacik. Berwick and Kovacik represent clients such as Kenneth Branagh, Sam Elliot, and Kevin Kline. They will be working alongside their UK agents Katie Battcock and Camilla Young of Curtis Brown Talent.
Higgins and McGivney’s debut feature Lakelands is set within the world of smalltown GAA. It was recently released on VOD platforms by Wildcard Distribution following its theatrical release in May.
Lakelands was filmed on location in their hometown Granard, Co. Longford, and surrounding areas such as Gowna, Cavan. The film stars Éanna Hardwicke (Normal People, The Sixth Commandment), Danielle Galligan (Shadow and Bone, Kin), Gary Lydon (The Banshees of Inisherin), Lorcan Cranitch (Bloodlands, The Dig), Dafhyd Flynn (Michael Inside) and Dara Devaney (Arracht).
The film has picked up a number of awards including Best Irish Film and the Bingham Ray New Talent Award for its lead actors at the Galway Film Fleadh 2022, Best Film at the Kerry Film Festival and the Bankside Marketplace award at the Galway Film Fair. It had its international premiere at Santa Barbara Film Festival and its UK premiere at Glasgow Film Festival before winning awards in France and the United States during its festival run. It was nominated for four IFTAs including Best Film.
The duo are currently developing a number of projects with Screen Ireland including their feature script Bonfire, as well as a slate of projects as producers.
Speaking about the film, writer-director Robert Higgins said: “We’re very excited to be working with Berwick & Kovacik on our upcoming slate of projects alongside our UK representation at Curtis Brown. We really clicked from the first meeting and can’t wait to see what the collaboration might bring.”
Writer-director Patrick McGivney added: “It’s always been a goal of ours to work within the US film sector and we hope that working alongside Berwick & Kovacik will help make this happen.”
