With principal photography underway in Sligo, Conor McDermottroe’s debut feature, ‘Occi vs. the World’ which he wrote and is directing will star up and coming actors Martin McCann (Closing the Ring, soon to be seen in Tom Hank’s ‘Pacific’) and Jodie Whittaker (Venus, St. Trinian’s) and also features the Irish actors Gerard McSorley (Omagh), Marcella Plunkett and Brid Brennan.
‘Occi vs. the World’ tells the story of a young man’s search for his father. Born an illegitimate, Occi (short for Austin) and his mother are treated as social pariahs in the community where he grows up in 1970’s Ireland where he has to overcome social injustice, mental illness, and find his place in the world. The script is based on McDermottroe’s critically acclaimed stage play ‘Swansong’.
The film is a German/ Irish co production between the Berlin based Florin Film and Irish companies Zanzibar Films and Borderline Productions.
Hermann Florin from Florin Films first saw McDermottroe's stageplay at the Art's Festival in Galway a few years ago. “I was stunned by the story and the performance,” he recalls. “After the show myself and Conor discussed the project over a few pints and we made a pact that Occi would make it to film. Finding my Irish co-producers was very easy, in Edwina Forkin and Tom Maguire I simply found the best. Together with the German DoP Alex du Prel and a fabulous Irish-German team I am expecting a unique and intense film.” Hermann continues: “A Woman’s Hair directed by Conor won best film in The Venice Short Film Festival in 2005 so his debut feature will be greatly anticipated.”
The MEDIA Programme of the European Union assisted them with this project and finance has come from the Irish Film Board, Section 481, RTE, Eurimages, Kinowelt and ZDF/Arte.
Simon Perry Chief Executive, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board said: “Occi Versus the World is one of many Irish films which have chosen to shoot in a rural location in Ireland, ensuring that the four corners of Ireland are presented to the rest of the world through the medium of film. This production will bring local jobs and local spend to Sligo and will ultimately promote the region to international audiences.”
Post-production will be handled by CinePostproduction in Germany. International sales are being handled by The Little Film Company who are based in LA.
’Occi vs. The World’ is the first of a slate of co-productions under the Zanzibar/Borderline strategic alliance announced by Edwina Forkin and Tom Maguire during the Galway Film Fleadh.
