EXCLUSIVE: The UK’s Bankside Films has landed key deals, including Vertigo for UK-Ireland, on UK-based Irish filmmaker Ita Fitzgerald’s feature debut West The Road.
A first look still has been unveiled with production underway in County Kerry, Ireland.
Further deals include airlines (Encore Inflight Limited), Australia-New Zealand (Rialto Distribution) and Hungary (Cinetel).
Genevieve O’Reilly and Charlene McKenna have joined the previously announced cast of Imelda Staunton, Philippa Dunne and Charlie Murphy.
A group of women are brought together by the death of their childhood friend. When they discover that she was forced to give her daughter up for adoption at the age of 15, the group embark on a journey in search of the child, with a donkey called Thatcher in tow.
Producers are Matthew James Wilkinson for the UK’s Stigma Films and John Wallace of Ireland’s Cowtown Pictures. Backing comes from Screen Ireland and the UK Global Screen Fund. Co-producers are Isabelle Georgeaux of Pont Neuf Productions and Jamie Harvey.
Previously sold territories include Benelux (Paradiso), Bulgaria (Beta), Former Yugoslavia (MCF), Eastern Europe (HBO), Israel (Nachshon) and Spain (A Contracorriente).
Filmmaker Fitzgerald described it as a ”deeply personal project inspired by real events and stories within my own family. I wrote the script after the death of my sister and set it in the wild and dramatic landscape of my South Kerry home. Seeing it brought to life by this world-class female cast is like winning the lottery.
”The film is a love letter to all the wonderful Kerry women in my life and I want the film to feel like an unforgettable night out with your funniest friends, sisters, and aunties. There will be tears, but by God there will also be mighty craic.”
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