The Irish Screen America festival, which takes place from September 22nd to September 25th in Los Angeles and from September 30th to October 2nd in New York, will host the New York Premiere of RTÉ’s new female-centred, darkly comic drama series, Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope.
Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope follows two Cork twenty-somethings, Aisling and Danielle, whose relationship and lifestyle starts to spiral out of control. Fuelled by mad nights out and bolstered by a sense of entitlement, these girls are running away from the reality that’s hurtling toward them.
The series stars up-and-comers Seána Kerslake, fresh off the critically acclaimed premiere of A Date for Mad Mary, and Nika McGuigan (Philomena, Traders) as Aisling and Danielle. Amy Huberman leads a strong supporting cast including Norma Sheahan (Moone Boy) and Steve Blount (Moone Boy).
Produced for RTÉ2 by Deadpan Pictures, with support from the BAI Sound and Vision Fund and with Content Media handling international sales, Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope, is written by Stefanie Preissner and produced by Ailish McElmeel. The six-part series is directed by Cathy Brady (E4’s Glue) who is no stranger to Irish Screen America, having given a Director’s Masterclass at last year’s festival.
RTÉ executive producer Comedy, Music & Talent Development, Justin Healy said:
We are delighted that Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope will have its international premiere at Irish Screen America this September. Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope is a funny, engaging and realistic drama aiming to capture what life is really like for Irish women as they navigate their way through all the drinking, dating and drama of their 20s. It brings a unique Irish sensibility to universal themes that we are sure will resonate with Irish and international audiences.
Director of Irish Screen America, Niall McKay added:
We consider it the responsibility of Irish Screen America to highlight the best new work from the Irish audio-visual sector in the U.S. and Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope is exemplary of the kind of creative producing that is a model for all film and television these days. And it’s an added bonus that the creative triumvirate of writer, producer and director at the heart of this fresh new series all happen to be women.
Irish Screen America supports and guides Irish media-makers by showcasing their work and fostering partnerships in the two largest cities for the entertainment industry in the United States – New York and Los Angeles. The festival hosts screenings, industry panels, discussions and masterclasses.
The first two episodes of Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope, will premiere in LA on Saturday September 24th at 9pm and in New York on Saturday October 1st at 8pm. Director Cathy Brady and producer Ailish McElmeel will be in attendance. For further information on this year’s festival, including ticket info and further program announcements, see www.irishscreenamerica.com, Facebook (NY), Facebook (LA), or Twitter.