Wildcard Distribution has acquired the Irish and UK Rights for Aoife McArdle’s debut feature film Kissing Candice with a theatrical release due in the coming months.
The coming-of-age story stars Ann Kelly as Candice, a 17-year-old who longs to escape the boredom of her seaside town, only finding solace in her vivid imagination. When a boy she dreams about (played by Ryan Lincoln, Cardboard Gangsters) turns up in real life, she becomes increasingly entangled with a dangerous local gang.
Ann, whose previous work includes the RTE series Rebellion, received an IFTA nomination yesterday in the Actress in a Lead Role – Film category for her role in Kissing Candice where she is up against Saoirse Ronan (Ladybird) and Sarah Bolger (Halal Daddy).
I’m thrilled to be working with Wildcard on the release of Kissing Candice in Ireland and the UK. This is a film that’s been crafted for a youth audience so we couldn’t have found a better partner.
Aoife McArdle, Writer/Director
Kissing Candice is one of the most original and exciting Irish films I have seen in recent years, and introduces Aoife McArdle as a visionary new voice in Irish cinema. We look forward to working closely with Aoife and producer Andrew Freedman on the cinema release in the coming months.
Patrick O’Neill, Managing Director – Wildcard
The film which shot on location in Dublin, Louth and Wicklow had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last September. It’s the feature film debut from award-winning music video director Aoife McArdle and was produced by Andrew Freedman of Venom Film (His & Hers, Kelly & Victor, Mom & Me) and Sally Campbell of Somesuch with funding through the Irish Film Board’s Catalyst Scheme.