The 68th Cannes Film Festival is over and out. What can only be described as an international film success for the nation, Irish production played a huge part in the proceedings of the festival, held in the Cote d’Azur. Film stars of the Emerald Isle were out in full force, collecting many awards and supporting Irish film. Mingling with ease amongst Hollywood’s brightest, the world took note of our own shining examples of Irish talent.
Celebrations are still underway for the Irish film; ‘The Lobster’, starring Colin Farrell along with Rachel Weisz and Jessica Barden. The film was awarded the Jury Prize after immediate acclaim with its debut at the festival. Set in Kerry, it is a story of personal isolation into the wilderness following a failed attempt to find a mate.
Not since the success of ‘The Wind that Shakes the Barley’, winning the Palme d’Or in 2006, has Irish film held such honour overseas, and the Minister for Arts, Heather Humphreys, was exuberant in congratulating its success, claiming the hit will be a “boost for the Irish Film Industry.”
Meanwhile, Limerick model and fiance of the up-and-coming Jack Reynor,Madeline Mulqueen was in attendence at the festival, rubbing shoulders and exhibiting a grand display of affection with French actress Marion Cotillard.
The stunning brunette proudly supported her other half, who was in town to promote his Irish movie Glassland, during the star-studded premiere for Macbeth, which sees Michael Fassbender in the titular role and Marion as his Lady Macbeth.
As for Michael, the Kerry actor received some stick for skipping the Irish Film and TV Awards two nights ago in favour of remaining in Monaco with his girlfriend.
Spending a day in the sun, the Frank star took in the sights of the Grand Prix only hours before the event in Dublin’s Mansion House, a huge night for Irish film.
Probably still reeling from the commendation of his latest role in Macbeth, the star’s fears of the role went unjustified. According to the Herald, he was “daunted…we were all afraid” of the iconic cultural prominence of the film.
Gabriel Byrne also made a brief appearance at the film festival to promote ‘Louder than Bombs’, Joachim Trier’s suspected box-office hit, the first of the director’s English-speaking films which was filmed in its entirety in New York City.