Neil Jordan’s Greta Scores International Deal at Toronto Film Festival

Neil Jordan’s star studded new feature Greta is one of the early successes at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. The psychological thriller, which features Stephen Rea, Isabelle Huppert and Chloë Grace Moretz has scored a major sales deal, with Focus Features picking up a number of international territories after its world premiere at TIFF on the opening night of the festival.

Meanwhile, other Irish titles at the festival have picked up strong, early reviews after their World Premiere screenings. These include John Butler's Papi Chulo, Paddy Breathnach’s Rosie and Carmel Winter's Float like a Butterfly.

Variety has described Papi Chulo as an “engaging dramedy... which sneaks up on you and seals the deal”; Screen International highlights the "impressive performances” of Moe Dunford and Sarah Green in Paddy Breathnach’s Rosie; and reviewers have called Carmel Winters’ Float Like a Butterfly a “satisfying, feel-good and entertaining drama” and “a well-made female version of the underdog making good.”

“I'm delighted to see such a positive reaction to the slate of Screen Ireland titles at TIFF this year,” Screen Ireland Chief Executive James Hickey said. "Congratulations to all of the creative teams behind each film. It's great to see such a wide variety of Irish stories being told at the festival and we hope these stories will be picked up and seen by audiences all over the world. This is a major international deal for Neil Jordan's Greta, which we hope is the first of many sales deals over the coming days."

Commenting on the success of Greta at TIFF Neil Jordan said “I am thrilled that Focus Features have embraced our Greta and will let her loose on a wide audience. Making a film is always a shot in the dark, so thanks to SKE, James Flynn, Lawrence Bender, Karen Richards, Screen Ireland and everyone else who supported it.”

Greta is produced by James Flynn (Calvary) for Metropolitan Films alongside Lawrence Bender, Sidney Kimmel and John Penotti with CAA Media Finance and Endeavor Content handling the sale.

The Irish film industry also made a big impression at the Venice Film Festival this week with Irish production company Element Pictures' feature film The Favourite, directed by Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, picking up the prestigious Grand Jury prize and the Volpi Cup for best actress for Olivia Colman.

Up and coming Irish actress Aisling Franciosi also made her mark at the festival receiving rave reviews for her performance in the Australian film The Nightingale, another acclaimed Venice title. Indiewire called her "a true breakout" and Hollywood Reporter highlighted her performance as "a compelling lead with real fire in her belly."

What these hot new Irish movies are about...

GRETA
Directed by Academy Award®-winning Irish director Neil Jordan (The Crying Game) and starring an impressive Irish and international cast including Stephen Rea (The Crying Game), Isabelle Huppert (Elle) and Chloë Grace Moretz (Carrie), Greta is a contemporary psychological thriller. After discovering a handbag on a New York subway train, Frances McCullen (Moretz), a young woman bereaved by her mother’s death, sets about returning it to its rightful owner. Frances subsequently strikes up an unusual friendship with enigmatic widow Greta Hideg; however Greta’s motives may be more sinister than they initially seem. Stephen Rea, a frequent collaborator of Jordan’s features as a private detective in the film, which sees the streets of Dublin playing New York. Greta is produced by James Flynn (Calvary) for Metropolitan Films alongside Lawrence Bender, Sidney Kimmel and John Penotti, with Academy Award®-nominated Seamus McGarvey (Nocturnal Animals) serving as DOP, forming part of an Irish-led team which includes multiple Emmy Award-winning costume designer Joan Bergin, production designer Anna Rackard and editor Nick Emerson.

FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY
Filmed on location in West Cork, Float Like a Butterfly is described as "a powerful and timely story of a girl’s fight for freedom and belonging". In a gender-reversal of classic film Billy Elliot, 15-year-old Frances (played by up-and-coming Irish actress Hazel Doupe) has to fight for the right to fight back. Raised in roadside camps in rural Ireland, Frances wants to champion her people inside the boxing ring and out, like her idol Muhammad Ali – but society is determined to break her spirit and destroy her way of life. Float Like a Butterfly is produced by Martina Niland (Sing Street) and David Collins (A Dark Song) for Samson Films.

ROSIE
Paddy Breathnach’s Rosie tells the story of a mother trying to protect her family after their landlord sells their rented home and they become homeless. Over 36 hours, Rosie and her partner John Paul strive to find somewhere to stay while shielding their young family from the reality of the situation around them. Rosie examines how even in times of crises, the love and strength of a family can endure. Written by internationally acclaimed Irish author Roddy Doyle, Rosie stars Irish actors Sarah Greene and Moe Dunford in the lead roles. The title is produced by Emma Norton, Rory Gilmartin and Juliette Bonass for Element Pictures with Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe serving as executive producers.

PAPI CHULO
John Butler's Papi Chulo tells the story of Sean — a lonely TV weatherman — who, we are told, "drives past a middle-aged Latino migrant worker standing outside Home Depot looking for work." He decides to hire this kind-looking man — to be his friend. Sean is young, gay and white; Ernesto, portly, straight and married. Despite having nothing in common, they build sort of a friendship based on sign language, until Sean becomes consumed by a deep and obsessional attraction. Papi Chulo is produced by Rebecca O’Flanagan and Robert Walpole of Treasure Entertainment, and stars Matt Bomer and Alejandro Patino. The title is supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland.