Irish-shot mini-series ‘Titanic: Blood and Steel’ was among the big winners at last week’s prestigious Monte Carlo TV Festival.
The Irish/Italian co-production picked up the award for Outstanding European Producer in the drama category with the prize going to Italian production company De Angelis Productions (DAP) and the show’s executive producers Guido De Angelis, Nicola De Angelis and Ciaran Donnelly. Irishman Donnelly (The Tudors) also directed the 12-part series.
Other winning productions on the night included global hits such as ‘Desperate Housewives’ and ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’. HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones,’ which was shot on-location in Northern Ireland, picked up the prize for Outstanding International Producer.
Speaking to IFTN, Donnelly said he was delighted for the show. He added: "It’s wonderful to have the series acknowledged in this way, it' a great endorsement of cinematic television drama and the power of the story."
‘Titanic: Blood and Steel’ was filmed last year in Serbia and Dublin with Irish locations used including Henrietta Street, Dublin Castle and Earlsfort Terrace. The €30m 12-part series was co-produced in Ireland by Paul Myler of EPOS Films.
The series has been broadcast in Italy, while the US rights have been bought by Lionsgate. No air date or broadcaster has yet been finalised for Ireland or the UK, although IFTN understands that the series will be broadcast here this autumn.
Acting talent on the series includes Kevin Zegers (Dawn of the Dead), Derek Jacobi (Gladiator), Alessandra Mastronardi (I Cesaroni), Neve Campbell (Wild Things), Chris Noth (The Good Wife) and Massimo Ghini (Raccontami).
Irish cast on the project include Gerard McCarthy (Hollyoaks), Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones), Liam Cunningham (The Wind That Shakes the Barley), Kate O’Toole (The Dead), Branwell Donaghey (The Crimson Petal and the White), Michael McElhatton (Spin the Bottle) and Martin McCann (Killing Bono). The director of photography was James Welland (Spooks).
Picture and CGI post-production took place at Windmill Lane, with sound post-production completed at Ardmore Studios. Production manager for the project was Jo Homewood (In America), with Tom Conroy on production design. Costume Design was by Luciano Capozzi. Stephen O'Connell (Camelot) was the lead editor on the series, which he co-edited with Windmill Lane's Philip Cullen.
