Irish Film: Animation Song of the Sea to premiere @ Toronto International Film Festival

Song of the Sea, the new animated feature film from Kilkenny-based studio Cartoon Saloon, and Miss Julie starring Colin Farrell and Jessica Chastain, will both have their World Premieres at the internationally renowned Toronto International Film Festival next month.

Directed by Tomm Moore, Song of the Sea is Cartoon Saloon’s eagerly-awaited follow-up to their Academy Award® nominated feature ‘The Secret of Kells’, which won international acclaim and received multiple awards worldwide and the film will screen as part of the children’s section of the TIFF.

“I am excited to be screening Song of the Sea at the Toronto International Film festival for its world premiere. This film
has been a labour of love for many years now for our team of artists, not just here in Ireland but in all five of our co-production studios. It is an honour to premiere it at such a prestigious festival.  I trust it will prove a great launch pad for the film internationally to animation fans and families who are looking for a film full of music, magic and myth” said the film’s director Tomm Moore.

James Hickey, Chief Executive Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board said “We are very proud that both Song of the Sea and ‘Miss Julie’ have been selected for the Toronto International Film Festival, where we hope they achieve both critical acclaim and international sales. Both films showcase the wide range of creative talent working in Ireland across animation and live action filmmaking. We believe that Song of the Sea has everything it takes to achieve similar success to the ‘Secret of Kells’ which received an Academy Award® nomination for Best Animated Feature Film in 2010.”

Both films are eligible for the festival’s Audience Award and Miss Julie will also compete for the International Federation of Film Critics Award which is awarded to a film in the Special Presentations programme.

Directed by Liv Ulman Miss Julie stars Jessica Chastain, Colin Farrell and Samantha Morton and tells the story of an aristocrat’s daughter (Chastain) in 19th century Fermanagh who attempts to seduce her father’s valet (Farrell), in an affair which quickly goes to dark places. Miss Julie was co-produced by Subotica in Ireland and filmed on location
in Fermanagh.

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is one of the most prestigious film events of the year and is seen as an early indicator of Oscar-worthy films, with Time magazine declaring it as “the most influential film festival, period.” Previous films to receive a premiere at the festival include Silver Linings Playbook, The King’s Speech and Argo. Among those expected to attend this year’s festival include Robert Downey Jr., Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Robert Pattinson and Al Pacino.

Song of the Sea and Miss Julie were supported by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board and Irish audiences will have an opportunity to see these films in early 2015.