Mister John, Run And Jump amongst IFB backed features

Samson Films’ Mister John, the first Irish-Singapore co-production, has picked up funding from the Irish Film Board.

It is one of projects backed in the latest round of Irish Film Board funding.

Short film Oscar nominee Steph Green has also received support for her feature film debut Run and Jump, which is being written by Ailbhe Keogan and was selected for the Sundance Labs in 2010.

Peter McDonald, who made the award-winning short Pentecost, has received development funding for The Steamroller which he is co-writing with Irish actor Michael McElhatton who will also star in the project. 

Meanwhile Jim Sheridan is also developing a re-imagined version of the feature film Into the West.

Six animation projects have also picked up funding including Boulder Media’a co-production Astrid Silverlock & the Staff of Virtue and Brown Bag Films’ The Wooden Sword, directed by Paul Bolger.

Also receiving funding is Neil Jordan’s vampire film Byzantium, starring Saoirse Ronan, Gemma Arterton and Sam Reilly. Shooting will take place in a number of locations around Ireland, including Dublin and Wicklow.

“We envisage that these production investments alone will result in generating production activity of up to €38 million and will ensure that 2012 will be another year of sustained activity for the Irish film, television and animation industry,” said James Hickey, chief executive of the Irish Film Board.