Small Things Like These, starring Oscar-nominated Cillian Murphy, has more than 40 productions scheduled for Irish screens in 2024, with industry activity last year “steady” despite global turmoil. ”, the state development agency reported.
Murphy, who was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar on Tuesday for his role in Oppenheimer, will lead the film adaptation of Claire Keegan’s novel alongside Eileen Walsh, which will have its world premiere at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival. He is also one of the producers of this movie. There’s a festival next month.
“I am delighted that Small Things Like These is joining the shortlist for Irish Screen in 2024. “Working on this film with my crew was an incredible experience,” Murphy said.
“These are great times for Irish filmmaking and we are proud to be involved in bringing Irish stories to screen that tell us who we are – our past and our present.”
Screen Ireland’s schedule spans a total of 20 features: eight television dramas, seven animated series, 10 documentaries, 31 short films and three projects made for the RTÉ Storyland scheme.
Other film highlights include the crime thriller “Bring Them Down,” starring Barry Keoghan. The Irish language film “Kneecap” recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The European co-production The End is the latest project from acclaimed director Joshua Oppenheimer. Four Mothers is an Irish drama directed by Darren Thornton and starring Fionnula Flanagan.
Claire Byrne’s Ready or Not, Brian Durnin’s Her directorial debut includes Spilled Milk, Brendan Canty’s Christie, and Eva Birthisle’s Kathleen Is Here.
Irish-backed TV dramas include the RTÉ thriller The Boy That Never Was, directed by Hannah Quinn and based on the Karen Perry novel by crime writer and screenwriter Joe Spain. The Hardacres, a historical drama produced for Channel 5.Second season of comedy drama “The Dry” For RTÉ and ITV.
Animation projects include Maddie + Triggs, Doodle Girl and the interactive multi-platform project Where The Wild Geese Go, and documentaries include everything from Joking Housewives to Charlie Byrd’s True Crime Investigation, Ransom ’79”.
Total production expenditure in the screen industry in the Irish economy last year amounted to €322 million. This is down from 361.5 million euros in 2022, but can be considered a decent result given the high level of international turmoil associated with the long strike by writers and actors in the United States.
Later, the Writers Guild of America and the actors union Sag Aftra reached new agreements with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, lifting their 148-day and 118-day suspensions, respectively.
Both 2023 and 2022 saw reduced activity in Irish industry compared to the coronavirus pandemic in 2021, when production spending in Ireland reached a record €500 million.
“We are very proud of the strong performance of local production during the last year of global industry uncertainty. We look forward to delivering these new Irish stories, our language and We look forward to bringing culture to audiences around the world,” said Desiree Finnegan, Chief Executive of Screen Ireland.
“This is a testament to the strength of Irish filmmaking and the skill and passion of all those working in the screen industry.”
This year, the agency plans to launch a new talent academy for its visual effects (VFX) and post-production departments.