Terry McMahon’s ‘Charlie Casanova’ has been acquired by Optimum/Studio Canal, the distributors behind ‘The Hurt Locker’, ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ and ‘The Wrestler’ in a deal that includes a 2012 UK and Irish cinema release.
The film was written, independently produced and directed by Terry McMahon and later supported by the Irish Film Board. It tells the story of a ruling class sociopath played by Irish actor Emmett Scanlan (Hollyoaks, The Guards) who kills a working class girl in a hit and run and then uses a deck of playing cards to determine his fate.
It was the first Irish film ever selected for the Narrative Feature Competition at SXSW. ‘Charlie Casanova’ has been touring the festival scene, being selected for the Edinburgh Film Festival before returning home to make its Irish debut at this year’s Galway Film Fleadh where it received Best First Feature award.
Reacting to the deal, Terry McMahon said, “Some of my favourite films of all time are in that Optimum/Studio Canal library and for ‘Charlie Casanova’ to be brought into the fold of such a magnificent company is the stuff of filmmaking fantasy.”
