12/02/2013 - New distributor to release Life’s A Breeze, The Swell Season and Cyclone

Wildcard Distribution, a new Irish outfit backed by Irish production company Fastnet Films, has been launched at the European Film Market in Berlin. Wildcard will release Irish and international titles theatrically and on home video across Ireland and the UK.  Irish Film Board (IFB) executive Patrick O’Neill will head up the new company once he finishes his stint at the funding agency at the end of this month.

Wildcard will work with UK distributors to release both Irish and international projects in the Irish market as a sub-distributor, and are partnering with Metrodome in the UK to distribute Mark O’Connor’s King Of The Travellers (photo) theatrically in Ireland.  Also in the pipeline for 2013 are Lance Daly’s Life’s A Breeze, Andrew Gallimore’s Cyclone and The Swell Season, co-directed by Nick August-Perna, Chris Dapkins and Carlo Mirabella-Davis.

O’Neill said, “It’s a fantastic slate of films and I'm sure audiences will love them as much as I do.  It's been a great seven years at the IFB, and the staff and Board have provided me with wonderful opportunities, my heartfelt thanks to everyone who works there.”

Fastnet Films said in a statement, “We are excited to be embarking on this new venture and look forward to Wildcard Distribution working alongside leading Irish and international directors and producers in releasing their films to Irish audiences. The board is delighted that someone of Patrick's dynamic character and passion, with his wealth of experience and knowledge of the ever evolving distribution landscape, will serve as CEO.”