Two up and coming Irish actors Sam Keeley and Aisling Franciosi have been chosen to feature as part of a major focus on new talent in the
pre-eminent international film industry publication Screen International which aims to spotlights up-and-coming actors and filmmakers that will be making waves in the years to come. Major stars who the focus of were previous Screen International “Stars of Tomorrow” include Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Robert Pattinson James McAvoy and John Boyega (who has recently been cast in Star Wars: Episode VII).
After appearing in TV series The Fall, Dublin-born Aisling Franciosi
joined the cast of Ken Loach’s Jimmy’s Hall which filming on location in Leitrim with support from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) and the BBC series Quirke.
Sam Keeley has played key supporting roles in two IFB funded features What Richard Did directed by Lenny Abrahamson and the Other Side of Sleep directed by Rebecca Daly. Keeley takes the lead in the up and coming film Monsters: The Dark Continent and also has a choice role in Ron Howard’s Heart of the Sea.
Screen Contributing Editor Fionnuala Halligan curates the stars after considering hundreds of names each year. Halligan consults with industry experts including casting agents, talent agents, managers, producers and directors to find the hottest rising talents in Britain and Ireland.
Commenting on her selection this year Halligan highlighted the inclusion of Irish talent in the selection commenting: “Opening Stars of Tomorrow out to include talent from the republic of Ireland and young heads of department has been tremendously exciting…but now more than ever the pressure is on with the number of places. I’ve had my eye on Sam and Aisling for a while, particularly with Sam whom I noted in his debut The Other Side of Sleep some years ago. It’s no surprise to me how his career is powering on and there is great excitement in the industry about his Monsters role. I’ve seen some footage and it is definitely his film. Aisling registered strongly with me in The Fall and it was a coincidence that she had been cast in Jimmy’s Hall.”
James Hickey, Chief Executive Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board added “Bord Scannán na hÉireann / The Irish Film Board is focused on developing and providing opportunities for Irish creative talent in front of and behind the camera. We are delighted to see Sam and Aisling achieve international recognition for their work. They have both worked on projects that have been financed by the IFB and we hope they go to achieve long last careers.”