Creative BC and Screen Ireland (formerly the Irish Film Board) are pleased to announce the recipients of their inaugural international co-production development fund. Through the newly formalized funding partnership, Creative BC and Screen Ireland collaborated to support five motion picture projects, each with Canadian and Irish producers.
The project slate crosses genres and formats, growing and developing content including television series, documentaries and a feature film. The five successful projects selected are:
-
In Blood produced by Underground Films and Hoodwink Films
-
Crossfire produced by Tile Films and Soapbox
-
Children of the Church produced by Wildfire Films and Screen Siren
-
Cry from the Sea produced by Shinawil and Sepia
-
Recovery produced by Samson + Goonworks
This fund is the first international co-development program of its kind in Western Canada, with each partner contributing $75,000 toward the total $150,000. Included in the program’s intent is a focus on increasing gender parity in leadership roles, and four of the five successful projects are led by female producers.
Previous co-productions between Ireland and Canada have produced internationally acclaimed award-winning projects, such as Room, Brooklyn, Maudie and The Breadwinner. The new program serves to deepen relationships between the countries and to promote B.C. collaborations with Ireland’s motion picture producers and creators.
“Our government is proud to shine an international spotlight on our local talent” said Lisa Beare, Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, “The recipients of this program will form invaluable global connections that will allow British Columbia creators to reach new global audiences.”
“Originating through a trade mission to Ireland in November 2016, our funding partnership has now successfully been formalized and resulted in new collaborations and opportunities for B.C. creators,” said Prem Gill, CEO, Creative BC. “This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase stories with a unique combination of British Columbian and Irish perspectives.”
“We are delighted to announce the recipients and eagerly anticipate the growth of our relationship with B.C. and the development of fresh stories bridging international perspectives. We look forward to working with the creative teams behind each successful project, helping to bring these projects through to production,” said James Hickey, Chief Executive, Screen Ireland.
About SCREEN IRELAND
Screen Ireland the national development agency for Irish filmmaking and the Irish film, television and animation industry, investing in talent, creativity and enterprise. Screen Ireland’s mission is to support and promote Irish film, television and animation through fostering Irish artistic vision and our diverse creative and production talent, growing audiences, and attracting filmmakers and investment into the country. Screen Ireland is committed to providing leadership, direction and advocacy for the Irish screen industries, as well as supporting writers, directors and production companies through investing in Irish filmmaking talent. The agency delivers on its mission through generating inward investment by promoting Ireland as a film location as well as promoting Irish films to major international markets.
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @ScreenIreland Website: www.screenireland.ie
About CREATIVE BC
Creative BC is an independent agency created and supported by the Province of BC to sustain and help grow BC’s creative sector (film and television, digital and interactive media, music, and magazine and book publishing industries). The agency delivers a wide range of programs and services to expand BC’s creative economy. These include the administration of the provincial government’s tax credit programs for film and television; development funding and export marketing support; and motion picture production services to attract inward investment and market BC as a destination for domestic and international production. The agency acts as an industry catalyst and ambassador to help BC’s creative sector reach its economic and creative potential both at home and globally.
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @creativebcs Website: www.creativebc.com
