Irish Film Board And Culture Ireland Unite To Celebrate Screening Of 'Garage'

The Irish Film Board and Culture Ireland have held a reception in Cannes following the official presentation of Lenny Abrahamson's powerful film 'Garage' in the Director's Fortnight section of the festival.
Olivier Pere, the Artistic Director of the Director’s Fortnight, paid tribute to the production team and the Irish film industry, before the screening played to a packed international audience. The special event was attended by the star of the film Pat Shortt, director Lenny Abrahamson and script writer Mark O’Halloran.
The Irish reception will highlight other recent industry successes such as 'Once', directed by John Carney, which won the Audience Award for World Cinema at the Sundance Film Festival. Once has gone on to sell in over 30 countries internationally and opened to much critical acclaim in the US this weekend. Once producer Martina Niland has also been selected as the Irish producer on the Move at the festival.
This is the first time Culture Ireland and the IFB have worked together to promote Irish cinema to the international industry.
Patrick Sutton, Board member of Culture Ireland said: "It makes sense for us to work closely with the national agencies to maximize opportunities for artists and filmmakers in promoting their work to the international arena. Film is an important part of Irish culture and we want to develop new and and diverse audiences for Irish cinema."
Simon Perry Chief Executive of Bord Scannan na hEireann/the Irish Film Board said: "Garage has been a highpoint at the festival for us, and we also have two particularly strong new films screening in the Cannes market Kings and How About You, both of which celebrate particular aspects of Irish life and are beautifully directed. Working with Culture Ireland is a natural fit to ensure these films receive the international recognition they deserve."
(DS/SP)