The main slate of the Telluride Film Festival has been announced with three Irish films out of the 27 overall scheduled to screen.
Paddy Breathnach’s ‘Viva’ and Lenny Abrahamson’s ‘Room’ will receive their world premieres while Ken Wardrop's feature documentary ‘Mom and Me’ has also been chosen to screen.
The Telluride Film Festival is unique in that it does not announce the programme until the day before the Festival commences. Irish films which have debuted at Telluride have included Gerard Barrett's ‘Pilgrim Hill’ and Lance Daly’s ‘Kisses’.
‘Room’ is produced by Element Pictures and No Trace Camping with funding from the Irish Film Board and is told through the eyes of a five year old who is held captive in a room along with his mother. The film stars Brie Larson, William H. Macy and Jacob Tremblay. Earlier this year, Filmnation Entertainment sold out all international rights to the film.
‘Room’ is directed by Lenny Abrahamson with Emma Donoghue adapting the screenplay from her own novel. The film was post-produced at Screen Scene in Dublin. The creative team includes Abrahamson’s regular collaborators, editor Nathan Nugent (‘Frank’) and composer Stephen Rennicks (also ‘Frank’).
Directed by Paddy Breathnach (‘Man About Dog’), ‘Viva’ is written by Mark O’Halloran (‘Adam and Paul’) who also stars in the film. The majority of the film was shot in Havana and there was also a short shoot in Dublin. The project is supported by the Irish Film Board, Windmill Lane Pictures, RTÉ and Treasure Entertainment. It is produced by Robert Walpole, Rebecca O'Flanagan (both of Treasure Entertainment) and Cathleen Dore.
Key crew members include DoP Cathal Watters, Production Designer Paki Smith and editor Stephen O'Connell.
Set in Cuba, ‘Viva’ tells the story of Jesus, an eighteen year old Cuban, who is lost and struggling to realize his true identity.
'Mom and Me' is produced by Andrew Freedman of Venom film and co-produced by Paul Thomas Islwyn at Bulb Films Cardiff with backing from the Irish Film Board and Ffilm Cymru Wales (formerly Film Agency Wales).
The film is Wardrop's second feature documentary following his hugely successful Irish documentary His & Hers". This time Wardrop has travelled to the USA to explore the complex relationships men have with their mothers. Shot across the state Oklahoma, voted America's manliest State, the film offers a candid and moving portrait of tough guys and their even stronger Moms.
James Hickey, CEO Irish Film Board commented on the three Irish films selection to Telluride: ‘‘It's wonderful to see three new Irish feature films premiere at such a revered and exclusive international festival as Telluride. Some of the world's most renowned films make their debut there every year. It is a tremendous honour to have Irish cinema represented at Telluride once again and congratulations to the teams involved".
