Irish Abroad: A host of Irish stars to visit Les Arcs European Film Festival

Irish stars and directors will be in the spotlight, as Ireland is the country of focus at this year’s Les Arcs European Film Festival, kicking off on Saturday, December 13th. We’ve highlighted the Irish involvement in this famous festival before, but know we’ve even more news!

A host of Irish stars from both in front of and behind the camera will be in attendance. This includes actors Jack Reynor (Dollhouse), Liam Cunningham (Perrier’s Bounty, Game of Thones), Andrew Scott (The Stag, Sherlock), Richard Dormer (Good Vibrations), Ruth Bradley (Grabbers), David Wilmot (Good Vibrations), Hugh O’Conor (The Stag), Peter McDonald (The Stag), Rupert Evans (The Canal) and Moe Dunford (Patrick’s Day), who was selected this week to receive the European Shooting Stars award at the Berlinale Festival.

The event will screen a wide range of Irish films and events with Q&A’s from Irish directors attending the festival which include Neil Jordan (Michael Collins), John Crowley (Intermission), Ian Fitzgibbon (Perrier’s Bounty), Terry McMahon (Patrick’s Day), Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn (Good Vibrations), John Butler (The Stag) and Ivan Kavanagh (The Canal). Writer Kevin Lehane (Grabbers) and producer Michael Garland will also attend.

The jury for the festival includes rising Irish star Jack Reynor, who won acclaim for his performance in What Richard Did and who recently received international attention with a starring role in Transformers: Age of Extinction.

The festival also hosts a busy co-production market where the a teaser from the new Irish film My Name is Emily, directed by Simon Fitzmaurice and starring Evanna Lynch (the Harry Potter series), will be presented as a Work in Progress. A number of Irish films have also been selected to be presented in the co-production market which aims to raise international finance for films in early stage development.

The festival will feature a panel on the upcoming Irish fantasy film The Lobster. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, the film was shot on location in Co. Kerry and stars Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, John C. Reilly and Ben Whishaw.

The event will also put the spotlight on Ireland’s thriving animation industry with screenings of Song of the Sea, as well as the improved Irish tax incentive for film and television which comes into effect in January 2015.

Irish groups Kíla and up and coming Irish band Slow Skies will perform live music at the festival and take part in the festival Music Village focus. Kíla contributed to the soundtracks of animated films Song of the Sea, which will screen at the festival, as well as the Academy Award®-nominated The Secret of Kells.

The event takes place on the ski resort of Les Arcs from December 13th to 20th 2014 an is supported by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, Culture Ireland and the Irish Film Institute.