(L-R): Guy Daleiden, Film Fund Luxembourg; Mary McGuckian, director/producer; James Hickey; Jim Sheridan, director/producer; PM Bettel; Kate O'Toole, actress;
Credit: Film Fund Luxembourg
During his trip to Dublin on Tuesday 13 June 2023, Luxembourg's Prime Minister and Minister of State, Xavier Bettel, had the opportunity, during a reception to celebrate Luxembourg's National Day, held at the Royal Hibernian Academy, to talk with professionals of the Irish audiovisual / film production sector.
The discussions focussed primarily on two co-productions between Ireland and Luxembourg that are currently in progress:
- a TV series "#Ibelieveher" directed by Mary McGuckian and co-produced by Iris Productions (Luxembourg): a series based on a true event that traces the 2018 Belfast Rugby Raph trial.
- a docu-drama TV series "In Absentia" directed by Jim Sheridan and co-produced by Joli Rideau Media (Luxembourg): a series on the controversial case of the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in 1996 in Co Cork, Ireland. This follows his tv mini series "Murder at the Cottage: The Search for Justice for Sophie" of 2021
The Prime Minister also spoke with actress Kate O'Toole (daughter of Peter O'Toole), president of the Galway Festival and who was president of the jury of the Luxembourg City Film Festival in 2015.
