14/04/2006

Oscar-winning producer John McDonnell from Fantastic Films has been selected by the Irish Film Board as his country’s representative for the 7th Producers On The Move initiative organised by the EU’s European Film Promotion during the Cannes Film Festival (May 17-28).

McDonnell started out in the film industry as a location manager, working on films such as Mike Newell’s Into the West, Jim Sheridan’s In the Name of the Father and Braveheart by Mel Gibson.

His production credits include Aisling Walsh’s acclaimed Song For a Raggy Boy (2002) and Marion Comer’s second feature film 48 Angels, currently in post-production, and he co-produced Martin McDonagh’s 2006 Oscar-winning short, Six Shooter. McDonnell is currently working on John Boorman’s A Tiger’s Tale, starring Brendan Gleeson, Kim Cattrall and Ciaran Hinds, which is shooting in Dublin.

McDonnell is developing a slate for his own Fantastic Films, founded up in 2000, including Paddy Ford’s Friends by writer/director PJ Dillion; Outcast, written by Colm and Tom McCarthy, to be directed by Colm McCarthy; and Carrying David, written by Aisling Walsh and Glenn McCrory and to be directed by Walsh in 2007. Commenting on the choice of McDonnell, Simon Perry said: "John’s credits speak for themselves. He is a resourceful producer with a range of interesting projects currently in development, all looking for international finance. The Producer on the Move scheme has proven to be highly effective and provides a unique opportunity for John to make contact with prospective business partners at a high level in the international film industry."

Last year’s Irish Producer On The Move was Nathalie Lichtenthaeler, producer of Cowboys & Angels and The Front Line [+see also:
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