The IFTA nominated Irish features, ‘Parked’ , 'Sensation' and ‘Circus Fantasticus’ and Irish produced documentary, ‘Off the Beaten Track’ and short film, 'Tiong Bahru' have all been officially selected for the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) which will take place from 26th January to the 6th of February.
Founded in 1972, the IFFR has profiled itself as a promoter of alternative and innovative films. The festival is one of the larger film festivals in Europe alongside Cannes, Berlin, Venice and Locarno.
Produced by Katie Holly (The Savage Eye) and directed by Tom Hall (Wide Open Spaces) ‘Sensation’ details the relationship between Tipperary farmer Donal Duggan, played by Domhnall Gleeson (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) and a veteran Kiwi escort, played by Luanne Gordon (King Kong). They begin as client and call girl, evolve into something like lovers, then business partners and finally co-defendants.
Irish/ Finnish co-production, ‘Parked’ is directed by Darragh Byrne (Wide Angle), written by Ciaran Creagh, and features the acting talents of Colm Meaney (Get Him to the Greek), Colin Morgan (Merlin), Milka Ahlroth (Twisted Roots), Stuart Graham (Hunger), Michael McElhatton (Perrier’s Bounty) and David Wilmott (The Guard). The feature centres around the unlikely duo of Fred, a middle-aged mobile homeless man, and Cathal, a 21 year old with a serious dope problem. Both men live out of their cars and are drawn together through a common bond of having a troubled history and positive attitude to life. The feature’s Irish producers are Dominic Wright (Lapland Odyssey) and Jacqueline Kerrin (Retreat).
’Off the Beaten Track’, produced by Suin Ni Raghallaigh (Poen House), Cristian Mungiu (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days) and Dieter Auner (photography, Mebollix) who also directed centres around a young shepherd in Transylvania whose trade comes under threat as his brother and friends migrate for seasonal work to Germany.
Feature drama, ‘Circus Fantasticus’ is an international co-production between Morgan Bushe (The Runway) for Fastnet Films in Ireland and Staragara Productions in Slovenia. Written and directed by Janez Burger (Ruins), is a drama which tells the story of Stevo, who is left alone with his daughter and son and the dead body of their mother when the war finishes. When a travelling circus comes to town they get to know the group of characters of all ages who make up the troupe and hope and laughter return to Stevo and his children.
Finally, short film 'Tiong Bahru' from Irish filmmakers Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor has also been selected to show at the festival. Written and directed by Christine and Joe and made in collaboration with over 150 members of the local community and shot with an all-Singaporean crew, the film follows the lives of three characters of very different ages over the course of a day as they reveal to their families and friends their hopes and desires.
The International Film Festival Rotterdam will take place from 26th January - 6th February. For a full list of nominees visit http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/en/
