Two Irish producers, Alan Maher of Dublin-based Marcie Films and Chris Martin from Belfast-based Indie Movie Company, have been selected to take part in the European Film Promotion’s Producers On The Move at the Cannes Film Festival, May 17th to 28th.
Alan Maher was a Senior Production Executive at the Irish Film Board until 2012, overseeing around half of the funded feature films and all of the documentary output. He set up Marcie Films (formerly Roads Entertainment) in 2013, produced the documentary Being A.P. and served as the Irish partner for Maya Zinshtein’s documentary Forever Pure. Maher saw Pat Collins’ biopic Song of Granite premiere at SXSW this March and is now raising the finance for Hong Khaou’s drama Trade, which is written by Mark O’Halloran.
I am delighted to be selected as Ireland’s Producer on the Move for the EFP (European Film Promotion) in Cannes this year, following in the footsteps of some of the producers I most admire in the industry. Following on from the success of Pat Collins’ Song of Granite at SXSW in March, it’s terrific to be able to highlight our company, Marcie Films, at the world’s most famous film market. The Producer on the Move scheme will also provide me with a perfect opportunity to showcase Trade our latest feature film, written by Mark O’Halloran and to be directed by Hong Khaou, which we are planning to shoot in the autumn with the support of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board in collaboration with The Bureau, to be sold by Protagonist.
Alan Maher – Marcie Films
Chris Martin produced the independent drama Peacefire before launching his Belfast-based production outfit Indie Movie Company in 2009. Since then, he has produced the award-winning feature Good Vibrations and the acclaimed documentaries A City Dreaming by Mark McCauley and I Am Belfast by Mark Cousins. He served as executive producer on a series of low-budget feature productions backed by Northern Ireland Screen and is now expanding into TV drama.
Producers on the Move sees 20 of the most promising up-and-coming European producers selected to take part in a 5-day tailor-made programme of round-table pitching sessions, 1:1 speed- dating and case studies, as well as industry meetings. Producers selected had to meet the key requirements that they have experience in an international co-production and an international theatrical release in their portfolio.
For a full list of Producers on the Move participants visit the European Film Promotions website.