Moe Dunford, star of Wildcard Distribution’s upcoming release PATRICK’S DAY, and Maisie Williams, star of GOLD which was released in Irish cinemas by Wildcard Distribution in October, have been selected for the European Film Promotion’s (EFP) Shooting Stars showcase at the Berlin International Film Festival 2015 in February.
The young actors will join seven more up and coming talents at the 65th Berlinale for a weekend of media interviews, industry events, and meetings with filmmakers. The three days will culminate with the ten winners being presented with their awards during a red carpet ceremony at the Berlinale Palast. Past winners of the award include Carey Mulligan, Rachel Weisz, Kelly Macdonald, Daniel Craig, Matthias Schoenaerts, Daniel Brühl, Andrew Scott, Ruth Negga, Domhnall Gleeson and Antonia Campbell-Hughes.
Moe Dunford has a background in television, with appearances on The Tudors, Raw, An Crisis, and a and a major recurring role on the History Channel’s Vikings to his name. PATRICK’S DAY, the story of a mentally ill young man who falls in love with a suicidal air hostess, is his first starring role. The film, from writer-director Terry McMahon, has played to rapturous notices on the festival circuit, picking up awards at the Woodstock Film Festival, the Cork Film Festival, and the Galway Film Fleadh, among others.
The Shooting Stars jury praised Dunford’s “physicality and sly charm” saying of his work in PATRICK’S DAY, “he shows compassion and subtlety always putting the character first, never letting Patrick’s issues overwhelm the performance.”
Speaking about the award, Moe Dunford said, “I’m hugely honoured and proud to be chosen to represent Ireland as a Shooting Star in the forthcoming Berlinale in 2015. I would like to specially thank Terry McMahon the writer and director of Patricks Day. I am ferociously proud both on a personal and professional level of Patrick’s Day which has played no small part in winning me this honour. Terry was prepared to take a chance on me as a young actor in the leading role of his inspiring film and I hope he feels that the gamble has paid off for him as well as it has for me”.
Maisie Williams is well known to audiences for her fan-favourite role as Arya in HBO’s Game of Thrones, but this year made the leap to the big screen with her acclaimed performance in Niall Heery’s comedy-drama Gold. She will next appear alongside Maxine Peake (Run and Jump) in Carol Morley’s 1950’s-set The Falling.
The remaining actors selected for the 2015 Shooting Stars programme are Jannis Niewöhner, Hera Hilmer, Aistė Diržiūtė, Natalia de Molina, Sven Schelker, Emmi Parviainen Abbey Hoes, and Joachim Fjelstrup. The 2015 Festival will take place from the 5th to the 15th of February.
PATRICK’S DAY will be released by Wildcard Distribution in early 2015.
