Paul Mercier’s Irish thriller Pursuit, is off to China where it will feature at the 19th Shanghai International Film Festival, which this year runs June 11th to 19th.
The film will play up to 5 times at the festival, as part of the Jackie Chan Action Movie Week. This strand, which was introduced for the first time last year, is aimed at commending excellent filmmakers who have made great contributions to the world’s action movies by showcasing the extraordinary performances of stunt and action actors, and technical innovations in special effects.
Pursuit is a modern retelling of the Irish legend of Diarmuid and Grainne, a tale of love, betrayal and revenge, and the desire for a life beyond crime. It features a strong cast of Irish actors, lead by Ruth Bradley (Grabbers, Rebellion) and Barry Ward (Jimmy’s Hall, The Truth Commissioner), alongside Liam Cunningham (Let Us Prey, Game of Thrones), Brendan Gleeson (Calvary), Owen Roe (Intermisson) David Pearse (Grabbers, The Guard), Don Wycherley (Ondine, Bachelors Walk), Dara Devaney (An Bronntanas), Dónall Ó Héalaí (My Name Is Emily), Ciarán O’Brien (Ripper Street), and Emmet Kirwan (Jack Taylor).
The film is written and directed by Paul Mercier, and produced by Anne Gately of An Pointe Productions. The project was driven by the BAI Sound and Vision Scheme, with additional funding from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, TV3, and Telegael. Cinematography comes from Billy Keady, with Production Design by Ferdia Murphy, Costume Designer was Bláth Noone, with Music from John Dunne.
The Shanghai International Film Festival is China’s only A-category international film festival accredited by the Federation of Film Producers Associations, and is one of the largest film festivals in East Asia. Last year, the festival received a record number of 2,096 film submissions from 108 countries, and screened 391 films 1,275 times on 51 screens in 45 movie theaters in 17 Shanghai districts, reaching an audience of over 300,000, and earning nearly $2.9 million in box office.
The 19th Shanghai International Film Festival runs June 11th to 19th.