27/02/2009

Scotland’s Sigma Films, Denmark’s Zentropa and Ireland’s Subotica Entertainment have formed an alliance under the banner Advance Party II (APII) in order to develop eight new films from emerging UK and Ireland talent.

The chosen writer/directors are Paul Wright, Enda Hughes (Northern Ireland), Rory Bresnihan, Ciaran Foy (Ireland) Steph Green (Ireland/USA) Adrian McDowall (Scotland), Esther May Campbell and Daniel Mulloy (England).The scheme is backed by Scottish Screen, the Irish Film Board, Zentropa and the UK Film Council’s Development Fund.

APII looks to build on the success of Advance Party I (API), which was inspired by the Dogma movement and ruled that a pool of pre-determined characters had to be played by the same actors in all the films. This spawned acclaimed films such as Andrea Arnold’s Red Road [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Morag McKinnon’s forthcoming Donkeys. APII will have new rules that will incorporate not only API and Dogma, but the filmmakers’ tastes and wishes as well.

Tristan Orpen Lynch, producer, Subotica Entertanment, said, “There is a highly creative, dynamic and diverse mix of talent on board this ground breaking project and it is the only first time director scheme of its kind in the world.”

Gillian Berrie of Sigma Films said, “The combination of these talented filmmakers and the intriguing and challenging constraints of the Advance Party project is creating an environment for eight memorable and ground-breaking debut features.”

Zentropa’s Peter Aalbaek said, “We are very interested in the establishing collaboration between Ireland, Scotland and Scandinavia because we feel there is a mental solidarity between these countries. Advance Party is a great step in that direction.”