Samson Films

Address: The Barracks, 76 Irishtown Road, Dublin 4
Telephone: +353-1-667 0533
Fax: +353-1-667 0537
Website: http:// www.samsonfilms.com
Email: info@samsonfilms.com

Personnel:
David Collins - Managing Director/Producer
Hilary Kehoe - Development Executive
Lorianne Hall - Head of Development
Creona O'Connor - Production Assistant
Martina Niland - Producer
Lisa Byrne - Production Assistant

Company Description:

Samson Films is one of Ireland's leading independent film and television production companies. Over the last five years it has produced and co-produced film and television projects with cumulative budgets of nearly 100 million dollars.

Samson's objectives are focussed on commercially attractive feature films with the best of Irish and International talent attached. In addition, Samson is developing a slate of low budget projects featuring breaking talent in Ireland and Europe.

David Collins - Managing Director
David Collins co-founded Strongbow Film & Television Productions with John Kelleher in 1985 - productions include "Eat the Peach", the Channel 4 television series "When Reason Sleeps" and the Revcom/ABC production "Act of Betrayal". He also co-founded Radius Television, one of Ireland's largest independent TV companies producing over 60 hours a year of new programming for Irish and overseas broadcasters. He is Chairman of Film Makers Ireland, the representative association for Irish producers and directors, and he is a board member of Ireland's EU MEDIA Desk. He is also a member of the European Film Academy.

Lorianne Hall - Head of Development
Lorianne Hall has joined Samson after working for the last 8 years in the Hollywood entertainment community. A literary agent and manager for 5 years, and a development executive for three years, she has worked for such companies as Beacon Pictures ("Spy Game", "End of Days", "Family Man", "The Commitments") and El Norte Productions - New Line Cinema ("Selena", "My Family", "El Norte"). She has extensive knowledge of the development process, American film business, and global film markets.

Martina Niland - Producer
Martina Niland produces all the company's short films and looks after the digital slate. Previous productions include: "Short" (1999) - written and directed by Imogen Murphy, sold to Atom Films; RTE/IFB Short Cuts productions include "Dogsbody" (2000) written and directed by Karl Golden and "All God's Children" (2002) written and directed by Tom Cosgrove; "Beached" (2001) - the only Irish short to be selected for Slamdance - and "Honeymooners" (2002) both written and directed by Karl Golden. She is currently developing a slate of low budget digital features for Samson.

Samson has recently been awarded Slate Funding by Media Plus and has a wide range of feature film projects in active development. Recently he has established a joint venture television drama company, Accomplice Television. with Ed Guiney of Element Films to specialise in long running television drama series for the international market. This company has been provided Company Development Funding by the Media II Programme.

Samson has developed strong links with many of the major film and television funding agencies in Ireland, the UK and Europe. In the last five years, Samson has produced and co-produced film and television projects with funding from, among others, Granada Television, Universal Pictures, British Sky Broadcasting, Pathé Pictures, Channel Four, the Irish Film Board, the Northern Irish Film Commission, BBC Television, BBC Worldwide, British Screen, Eurimages, RTE, and has accessed significant funding from private Irish investors under the provisions of the Section 481 tax investment scheme (formerly Section 35).

In addition to its own production portfolio Samson has worked in production partnership with a wide variety of independents through Europe, including Road Movies (Germany), Parallax (UK), Zephyr Films (UK), Victoria Film (Scandinavia), Fandango (Italy), Forensic Films (New York) Gruber Films (UK) and Phantavision (Holland).

Samson also provides budgeting, location and logistical support on a regular basis to incoming feature films and television series, and can access funding where appropriate from the Irish Film Board, the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission, Scottish Screen, RTE and TV3 as well as from Section 481 incentive pools.

Genre:
Feature Film and TV Drama. Also developing television series and comedy/light entertainment.

Languages:
English

In Development:

In Development - Features:
"Bram Stoker"
Psychological drama based on the biography of the author of Dracula.

"Mir Friends"
High concept comedy based on a true story. A Donegal radio ham makes contact with the sole astronaut aboard the Mir Space Station, who has been abandoned by the Communist regime as the iron curtain is about to come down. These two men must come together, although they are a million miles apart to change the minds and hearts of their own people and "villages".

"Havoc"
A 'Western' set during the Irish Famine. Written by Nye Heron (Borstal Boy, Sax and Violins, The Boxer by Jim Sheridan - Associate Producer). Co-produced with Hilary Heath (UK).

"Iced Lemonade for Hong Li"
An intriguing love story of past and present secrets and lost loves. Based on the documentary by Arek Gielnik and Dietmar Ratsch. Set in Hanoi 2002, at first glance it seems nothing is left to remind one of the horrors of the Vietnam War. Thomas, a 60-year-old photographer originally from East Berlin has returned to Vietnam for the first time in 30 years. Through an exhibition of his old photographs in Hanoi, he begins a journey into his own past and, in doing so, finds once more his greatest love, Hong Li.

"Murder in the Marais, Murder in the Sentier, Murder in Belleville"
Television/Film franchise series revolving around murder mysteries that each take place in a different arrondissement around Paris. Based on the award winning novels by Cara Black.

"Madame"
Taken from the outstanding novel of the same name by Antoni Libera, it tells the story about a charmingly absorbed Polish teenager pursuing intellectual maturity - and the older woman of his dreams, his French teacher Madame - in Communist-dominated Warsaw of the late '60's.

In Development - Digital:
"Rien a Faire"
We are currently working with Glasgow Director Aileen Ritchie on the English language remake rights to "Rien a Faire", a very successful French film by writer/director Marion Vernoux (LOVE etc). Developed with the assistance of Scottish Screen.

"Home"
A wicked and delicious morality tale for the new Ireland, "Home" is a black comedy charting the extremes to which people will go to own their own home during Celtic Tiger chaos. Set in Dublin, "Home" is to be written by Carmel Callan and directed by Martin Duffy.

"Baby Baby"
Is the story of three Belfast girls trying to cope with the realities of inner city existence. Tired of playing the same old clubs with The Shangrinettes, the girls are increasingly frustrated and financially desperate. Then they meet Bobby K. who offers the girls a 'one-off' job which may well be the answer to their prayers. Co-developed with Colin McKeon (Fillum Ltd) and supported by the Northern Ireland Film & Television Commission.

Previous Production:

Feature Films - 1996/Present:

"Asylum" (2003), (currently in post production) based on the novel by Patrick McGrath, directed by David Mackenzie (Young Adam) starring Ian McKellan, Natasha Richardson, Hugh Bonnaville, and Mortan Czokas.

"Blind Flight" (2003), Drama. The remarkable account of Brian Keenan and John McCarthy s 4 and a half year captivity in the Lebanon. Shooting Belfast, Glasgow and Tunisia January 2003. Produced with Sally Hibbin of Parallax Pictures and Eddie Dick of Makar Productions. Premiered London Film Festival 2003.

"Watermelon" (2003), Adapted from Marian Keyes' novel by Colin Bateman, directed by Kieron Walsh and starring Anna Friel. A co-production with Granada Television November 2002. TX ITV & tv3 April 2003.

"Honeymooners" (2003)
He had no wife and no wedding, but one hell of a honeymoon. When he is left at the altar, David is more determined than ever to have the honeymoon of his life. Thus, he and a complete stranger, Claire, begin a hilarious and chaotic adventure that will change their lives forever. Written and directed by Karl Golden. Goes on general release Spring 2004, distributor Verve Pictures.

"Watermelon" (in pre-production)
Adapted from Marian Keyes' novel by Colin Bateman, to be directed by Kieron Walsh and starring Anna Friel. A co-production with Granada Television, shooting November 2002.

"All God's Children"
The year is 1857, a bleak landscape in a barren time. Six men gather with a convict on the moors. Under threat of execution, he is forced to search for his final victim. None realise the horror that awaits them... Written and directed by Tom Cosgrove for RTE/IFB Short Cuts 2002. Premier Cork November 2002.

"The Abduction Club"
A period action drama set in Ireland in the 18th Century. Written by Bill Britten and directed by Stephan Schwartz. Produced by Gruber Films (UK) and Samson Films for Pathé Pictures. Shot Autumn 2000 in Dublin and Wicklow for nine weeks. UK release Spring 2002.

"The Most Fertile Man in Ireland"
Written by Jim Keeble and directed by Dudi Appleton. A satirical comedy set in Northern Ireland. Financed by Sky Pictures, the Irish Film Board and the NIFC. Shot Autumn 1999. Theatrical release Ireland, New Zealand, Israel and US (Spring 2001).

"Rat"
Written by Wesley Burrowes. Directed by Steve Barron and produced by Alison Owen and Jim Henson Productions. Samson is the Irish co-producer. Financed by Universal Pictures. Shot Autumn 1999. Completed May 2000. Released theatrically in Ireland and the USA

"Morlang"
A thriller developed and produced by Phantavision, Holland. Written and directed by Tjebbo Penning. Completed shooting in Holland and Ireland in Autumn 2000. Co-produced by Samson Films. Sales - Trust Films. Theatrical release Holland, Autumn 2001.

"Country"
David Collins is Executive producer of this film, written and directed by Kevin Liddy and produced by Jack Armstrong of Indi Films. (Feature film). Shot Summer 1999. Completed March 2000. Sales - Pandora International.

"I Went Down" (Treasure Films)
Original screenplay by Conor McPherson. Directed by Paddy Breathnach. Produced by Robert Walpole. David Collins is Executive Producer of this Treasure Films/BBC Production.

"A Further Gesture" (Zephyr Films)
Original screenplay by Ronan Bennett. Directed by Robert Dornhelm. Principal photography in Dublin and New York. Theatrically released in Ireland/UK, Spain to date. International Sales - Film Four.

"The Disappearance Of Finbar"
A co-production for Film Four International and Pandora with First City Features (UK) and Victoria Films (Sweden). Galway, London and San Sebastian film festivals. Released theatrically in Ireland, UK and Sweden.

"Guiltrip"
David Collins is Executive Producer of this Temple Films production, written and directed by Gerard Stembridge and produced by Ed Guiney.

TV Projects Completed - 1996/Present:
"Bachelors Walk Series II" 2002
6 parter for RTE and the IFB. Written and directed by John Carney, Kieran Carney and Tom Hall. Produced by Accomplice Television.

"Bachelors Walk Series 1" 2001
8 part character driven drama for RTE and BBC. Written and directed by John Carney, Kieran Carney and Tom Hall. Produced by Accomplice Television.

"The Ambassador Series I" 1997 and II 1998
Co-producer with Ecosse Films (London) and Irish Screen for BBC Network. Twelve one hour episodes starring Pauline Collins.

"Just In Time" 1998
A one hour television drama, written by John Carney. Directed by John Carney and Tom Hall. Financed by the Irish Film Board and RTE (Reel Time strand).

"The Governor"
Aco-production with La Plante Productions (UK). Two six hour prime time series for the ITV network, written by Lynda La Plante, and produced by Steve Lanning.

"Loving"
Aco-production with the BBC, based on Henry Green's novel, adapted by Maggie Wadey. Transmitted on BBC Screen One in October 1996.