02 nov 2022 MK2 FILMS BOARDS IRISH COMEDY ‘FOUR MOTHERS’

Paris-based mk2 films will be launching sales on Four Mothers at this year’s American Film Market.

Directed by Darren Thornton (A Date for Mad Mary), Four Mothers is an Irish twist on the acclaimed Italian hit Mid-August Lunch. It stars James McArdle (Andor, Mare of Easttown, Mary Queen of Scots) as Edward, a novelist who cares for his elderly mother Alma (Fionnula Flanagan – The Guard, The Others, Lost)). Finally on the brink of literary success and busy with the demands of his upcoming book tour, the last thing Edward needs is his friends leaving their mothers on his doorstep! Over a chaotic weekend, he has to juggle his burgeoning career with the care of four eccentric, combative, and wildly different ladies.

The cast also includes, Paddy Glynn (Cinderella), Dearbhla Molloy (Wild Mountain Thyme) and Stella McCusker (Game of Thrones).

“Darren and Colin Thornton have crafted a script that builds on the charm and warmth of Mid-August Lunch, expertly transposing the story to Ireland. It is a tender comedy that will resonate with audiences, and we can’t wait to introduce Four Mothers to buyers at AFM.” Fionnuala Jamison, mk2 films’ Managing Director.

“Myself and my brother Colin are huge fans of Gianni di Gregorio’s beautiful film Mid-August Lunch and were thrilled to have the opportunity to adapt it. We put a lot of ourselves into this story, having cared for our own mother. Conscious of all the heart-break and humour that come from those responsibilities.” says director Darren Thornton

Four Mothers is produced by Eric Abraham and Jack Sidey for Portobello Films and Television and Martina Niland for Port Pictures. The film is funded by Screen Ireland, The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, RTÉ, The Irish Tax Credit and the UK’s Portobello Films and Television and The Common Humanity Arts Trust.

Four Mothers was shot in Ireland,  is in post-production with delivery scheduled for for S1 2023. mk2 films will be sharing the script and first images at AFM.

Also new for AFM, mk2 films will be unveiling a promoreel for Sophie Barthes’ much-anticipated THE POD GENERATION starring Emmy and SAG Nominee Emilia Clarke and Academy Award & Golden Globe Nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor. In a not-so-distant future, Rachel and Alvy are ready to start a family, and a visit to a high-tech womb center opens up the possibility of taking an alternate route for their pregnancy – an artificial womb, or pod.

Other AFM highlights include new footage for mk2 films’ two animated films which will be ready in 2023. Firstly, from Jim Capobianco, the Academy Award nominated writer of Pixar’s Ratatouille, is The Inventor about perhaps the greatest genius of all time, Leonardo da Vinci. With an all-star voice cast including Stephen Fry, Daisy Ridley, and Marion Cotillard.

Secondly, there is Mars Express, a super-stylish and futuristic film noir, combining 2D and 3D animation, and packed with humor and exhilarating action sequences. It follows private detective Aline Ruby and her android partner as they track down a notorious hacker and uncover a plot that threatens to change the face of the universe.

2023 is gearing up to be another busy year for mk2 films, with recently announced titles Molly Manning Walker’s How To Have Sex and Dominique Abel and Fiona Gordon’s The Falling Star also due to be ready. Other titles nearing completion are A Winter’s Journey, an adaptation of Franz Schubert’s timeless masterpiece “Winterreise” painted by the animation artists behind Loving Vincent, Olivier Babinet’s 1990s-set, moving father-and-daughter tale, Normal, and Justine Triet’s Hitchcockian thriller Anatomy of a Fall starring Sandra Hüller.

mk2 films’ also boast a number of titles gaining awards momentum with Marie Kreuzer’s Corsage, following on from its best actress prize for Vicky Krieps in Cannes, with the Best Film award at BFI London Film Festival, and a nomination for Best International Feature at the Gothams. It is also Austria’s Oscar entry. Other mk2 titles vying to make the Academy Award Best International Feature nominations are Carla Simón’s Golden Bear winner Alcarràs for Spain and Davy Chou’s Return to Seoul for Cambodia

Read more in Screendaily here.