15/11/2012 - Irish comedy will shoot for four weeks at Dublin locations

Novelist and short filmmaker John Butler has commenced a four-week shoot at Dublin locations for his debut feature The Stag. Butler co-wrote with Peter McDonald who scored an Oscar nomination in the Best Short Film, Live Action category for Pentecost. The Stag follows a group of friends on a stag party and the hilarious complications that ensue.

The Irish cast includes Andrew Scott (The Scapegoat), Amy Huberman (Stella Days), Hugh O’Conor (Killing Bono), Andrew Bennett (Silence), Michael Legge (Tower Block), Brian Gleeson (Snow White And The Huntsman) and Peter McDonald (Wreckers).

Treasure Entertainment’s Robert Walpole (My Brothers) and Rebecca O’Flanagan (The Eclipse) are producing. The film is being made with the support of the Irish Film Board.

Meanwhile, Guiding Lights, the British film industry’s flagship mentoring scheme, is extending beyond the UK for the second time as its international partners, the Irish Film Board and FÁS Screen Training Ireland, have signed up to take part for a second year.

Irish Film Board Chief Executive James Hickey said, "Guiding Lights is a wonderful opportunity for Irish writers and directors to develop their career and add to their skill set and a unique chance to receive mentoring from some of the film industry's top talent. It is a fantastic experience for anybody taking part and one that will stand to them during the rest of their career."

Two Irish candidates will join ten British film talents to be mentored over nine months by industry heavy hitters. Previous mentors have included Sam Mendes, Danny Boyle, Kenneth Branagh, Paul Greengrass, Julian Fellowes and Tim Bevan.