Venice Film Festival Decides on ‘Essential Killing’ | The Irish Film & Television Network

The film [previously titled Essence of Killing] is produced and directed by veteran Polish director Jerzy Skolimowski and stars Vincent Gallo (Arizona Dream) and Emmanuelle Seigner (La Vie en Rose). The provocative thriller tells the story of an Afghan man, captured by American forces in Kabul, who finds himself transported to a nameless European country. He manages to escape into the vast frozen woodland, a world away from the desert home he knew. Forced into extreme survival mode, he must kill anyone who strays into his path.

The script was written by Skolimowski and Ewa Piaskowska, and produced by Skopia Film in co-production with Element Pictures. An Irish/Polish/Norwegian/Hungarian co-production, the film was partly funded by the Irish Film Board and was shot in Israel, Poland and Norway with the sound post-production in Ireland. Element Picture’s Andrew Lowe (Five Minutes of Heaven) and Ed Guiney are both Executive Producers on the film with Adam Sikora (Angelus) as the director of photography.

Speaking on behalf of Element Pictures, Producer Andrew Lowe commented

“We are delighted that Venice is honouring Jerzy Skolimowski by selecting ‘Essential Killing’ for competition, and we are particularly pleased for the small Irish crew who played a key creative role in the making of the film, together with Ardmore Sound who did such a wonderful job on the sound post production. This was all made possible by the support of the Irish Film Board, and in particular its Chief Executive, Simon Perry. The last time that Element Pictures was in Venice was in 2002 with The Magdalene Sisters, which went on to win the Golden Lion that year, so it is exciting to be back for the World Premiere of Essential Killing.”

Irish audiences will get an opportunity to see ‘Essential Killing’ in cinemas when it goes on limited theatrical release later this year.

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