Newgrange Pictures acquires leading independent production company Comet Films Press Release
Newgrange Pictures are delighted to announce the appointment of producer Lesley McKimm to the company and the take over of Comet Films.
Newgrange Pictures, established in March 2005, has quickly emerged as one of Ireland's most promising independent production companies. During the short time since its inception, the company has formed firm links with the major film funding agencies both in Ireland and the UK, which has allowed the company to develop an interesting and dynamic slate of projects.
Newgrange Pictures is currently in pre-production on Ireland's first bi-lingual feature film, Kings, based on Jimmy Murphy's play The Kings of Kilburn High Road'. The screenplay was written by Tommy Collins, who is also to direct, and stars Colm Meaney. It has been funded by BCI, TG4, NIFTC and the Irish Film Board.
Comet Films was set up 8 years ago by Lesley McKimm, to produce a mix of TV drama, documentary and feature film. Comet credits include the popular TV drama series Any Time Now for BBC 1, RTE 1 and the Irish Film board which sold successfully worldwide and won IFTA's for Susan Lynch, Ruth McCabe and Angeline Ball, and No Tears the 4 part drama series (with Little Bird) about the Hepatitis C scandal that rocked Ireland in the mid 90's. Starring Brenda Fricker and Maria Doyle-Kennedy, it was one of the most watched dramas of recent years on RTE and went on to win the prestigious best drama award at the Monte Carlo Film & TV Festival. Most recently Comet produced the RTE 1, Irish Film Board & Arts Council documentary One Hundred to One about Pan Pan Theatre's experimental stage show.
As an independent producer, Lesley's credit's include the drama series Relative Strangers (for Little Bird, WDR & RTE), the documentary series In Search of Ancient Ireland (for Little Bird, PBS, WNET and RTE) and Stephen Burke's multi-award winning short film 81 about the hunger strikes in Northern Ireland.
Newgrange is delighted to be working with Lesley as producer and acquiring Comet's slate of projects. "It will establish a robust platform for growth for the company, which will help fulfil our aim of producing distinctive and innovative films, tv dramas and documentaries with new and established talent"
For further information contact:
Aislinn Ni Chuinneagain,
Email: info@newgrangepictures.com
Newgrange Pictures
49-50 Berystede
Leeson Park
Dublin 6
Phone: (01) 4988028
Fax: (01) 4966128
