A further two low budget features started shooting in Dublin last week, bringing to seven the total of low budget films shot or shooting in Ireland so far this year. The two latest additions to the low budget reanimation of Ireland's production sector are Fatface Films' Halo Effect and Zanzibar Productions' Headrush.

Both films are Dublin-set contemporary stories with budgets in the region of Euros 1m. Both are supported by the Irish Film Board under the provisions of its low budget initiative which allows for a budget contribution of up to 60% to films whose budgets do not exceed Euros 1m.

Headrush is a black comedy written and directed by Shimmy Marcus and centred around a crime caper. It is an Ireland, UK and Netherlands co-production which received Euros 92,000 support from Eurimages. The film has a budget of Euros 1m, including deferment, and is produced by Edwina Forkin of Zanzibar Productions (Irl) and co-produced by Christine Alderson (UK) and Marc Bary (NL). Tristan Lynch of Dublin's Subotica Films is exec producing.

Headrush is being filmed on the HD digital format between November 18 and December 20, mostly on location in Dublin but also at Ardmore Studios and on location in Amsterdam. Post production takes place at The Farm, London and Reel2Reel, Amsterdam. Backers include The Irish Film Board, Eurimages, RTE, Xtravision, Rotterdam Film Fund, NPS, Paradiso, and Future Film Group. Sales are being handled by Media Luna.

The Halo Effect is a comedy set in a late night Dublin cafe, written and directed by Lance Daly whose earlier, lower budget Last Days In Dublin had a recent small theatrical release in its home town. The Halo Effect is produced by Macdara Kelleher and Hughie Kelly of Fatface Films with associate producer Les Kelly and line producer Noreen Donohoe. John Kelleher of Fastnet Films is exec producing.

The Halo Effect is being filmed on 35mm and has a budget of just over Euros 1m. It is being set up as an Ireland-UK co-production with Ipso Facto, intending to avail of the UK's sale and leaseback scheme. Backers include the Irish Film Board, TV3, Xtravision, Fastnet Films, UK sale and leaseback, and cast and crew deferrals.

Irish Low Budget Features 2002

Goldfish Memory (Goldfish Films)
Dead Bodies (Distinguished Features)
The Honeymooners (Samson Films)
Ulysses (Odyssey Pictures)
The Real Thing (Wide Eye Films)
Headrush (Zanzibar Productions)
The Halo Effect (Fatface Films/Fastnet Films)

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