ScreenDaily is reporting that Sacha Polak’s Irish co-production Dirty God has been acquired for the UK by Modern Films. The film has also been announced as the opening film for International Film Festival Rotterdam on January 23rd. It is also one of five Irish features premiering at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
Dirty God is a powerful film about motherhood, courage and self-acceptance. Jade is a young mother recovering from an acid attack that has left her with severe facial burns. Her face has been reconstructed, but her beauty is gone. Distanced from her daughter, Jade finds solace in the hidden world of online liaisons where she uncovers the passion and connection she’s craved. But when her life is turned upside down once more, those around can do little to halt her descent. As her family life and friendships start to crumble, Jade takes drastic action, finally finding the path back to her daughter and herself.
Vicky Knight takes the lead, with support from Katherine Kelly, Rebecca Stone, Bluey Robinson, and Dana Marine.
Dirty God is co-written by Polak and Northern Irish writer Susanne Farrell. Polak won the FIPRESCI Award at Berlin International Film Festival in 2013 for Hemel, as well as the CICAE Art Cinema Award in 2015 for Best Film for Zurich. The film is produced by Marleen Slot of Viking Film, Mike Elliott of Emu Film, A Private View. and Conor Barry and John Keville as Irish producers for Savage Productions. It received support from the BFI Development Fund, the Netherlands Film Fund, Flanders Audiovisual Fund, and Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland.
UK sales agent Independent Film Company brokered the deal with Modern Film, having previously sold the rights for France to The Jokers and to the Benelux to Cinéart.