The Irish language feature film ‘Cré na Cille’ has been selected for screening at the Shanghai International Film Festival (12 – 24 June 2007). Directed by Robert Quinn, the film has been selected as one of 16 international films for the highly prestigious Jin- Jue Award.
The Shanghai International Film Festival is the only Chinese international film festival and is amongst the largest film festivals in Asia. The Jin-Jue award is the highest award given at the Shanghai International Film Festival and the jury this year includes Chinese director Chen Kaige, Spanish director, screenwriter and producer Fernando Trueba, German Cinematographer Michael Ballhaus, Italian actress and producer Maria Grazia Cucinotta, French director and screenwriter Luc Jacquet and Japanese director Kohei Oguri.
‘Cré na Cille’, translated as Graveyard Clay, was shot last year to commemorate 100 years since the birth of the book’s author Máirtín Ó Cadhain. ‘Cré na Cille’ is considered to be the major contemporary Irish language novel and the film adaptation was shot with a cast and crew of 60 people in a variety of locations around Conamara.
Directed by Robert Quinn and produced by Ciaran Ó Cofaigh for Connemara based production company ROSG, the film stars Bríd Ní Neachtain as Caitríona Pháidín, with Mac dara Ó Fátharta (Ros na Rún), Peadar Lamb, Joe Steve Ó Neachtain, Diarmuid Mac an Adhastair and Máire Ní Mháille in supporting roles.
“To be amongst the final 16 films selected out of hundreds for competition at the Shanghai International Film Festival is an immense achievement. I think it is absolutely amazing that Irish culture can be received so well in many continents in such different ways and admired and respected in all. Our presence at the Shanghai International Film Festival will certainly help expose both Ó Cadhain’s work and the Irish language to a much wider audience,” says producer Ciaran Ó Cofaigh
The 94 minute film premiered in Galway last December and will be screened by TG4 later this year.
