Three feature film awards for the new low budget scheme Catalystproject, have been announced. The successful projects, ‘Redux’, ‘One Hundred Mornings’ and ‘Eamon’, were selected from over 45 submissions received.
Launched earlier this year, the Catalystproject invited filmmakers to complete a series of intense workshops on the art of low budget filmmaking, receiving advice directly from Irish and international award-winning filmmakers. The aim of the project was ultimately to support three new filmmaking teams to produce a new low budget feature film while providing them and their crew with individually tailored top-class mentoring from industry experts as they move towards production. The three successful teams will get a €250,000 funding award and each of the films are intended to be released theatrically in cinemas across Ireland and screened on TV3.
‘Redux’ is written and to be to be directed by award winning cinematographer PJ Dillon (Kings, 32A, Timbuktu) and produced by Alex Jones and John Wallace. Set in rural Ireland the film tells the story of a young wife and mother who becomes unsettled when a series of strange, unexplained events lead to the appearance of Karl, a friend from her past.
‘One Hundred Mornings’, written and to be directed by Conor Horgan and produced by Louise Curran, is set in a remote rural hideaway, where two warring couples try to survive a world-changing threat.
The third project, ‘Eamon’, is a dark satirical family drama where a family go on a holiday to escape their problems. However, a week of relaxation becomes a fight for physical and emotional survival. The project is written and to be directed by Margaret Corkery and produced by Seamus Byrne.
"The aim of Catalyst is to take risks in order to find and liberate really fresh talent. The jury have made bold choices which I am confident will be vindicated by the three films that can now start production immediately,” said Simon Perry, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board Chief Executive.
Liz Gill, the Artistic Director of catalystproject said “I’m honoured to be involved in Catalyst and amazed at the breadth and depth of the talent who applied. It bodes well, not just for this project, but the future of Irish film.”
Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, FÁS Screen Training Ireland, Filmbase, The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, TV3 and the Arts Council devised the scheme.
