05/03/2011

New Dutch-Irish feature film MILO to start shooting

After the successful brothers Coen, Farrelly, Wachowski and Dardenne, The Netherlands have there own directing brothers.

At May 6th the new Dutch-Irish coming of age film MILO starts shooting in Ireland. MILO is directed by the brothers Berend and Roel Boorsma, who have also written the scenario together with Heather Imani. The Dutch San Fu Maltha of Fu Works (WINTER IN WARTIME; BLACKBOOK) and the Irish David Collins and Martina Niland of Samson Films (ONCE; SNAP; EDEN) are responsible for the production. The international cast includes the 12-year-old Lorcan Bonner, Graham Stewart (HUNGER), Jer O'Leary (MY LEFT FOOT; THE FIELD; IN AMERICA), Laura Vasiliu (4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS; IL RESTO DELLA NOTTE) Charlotte Bradley (ABOUT ADAM) and the Dolf de Vries (BLACK BOOK; SOLDIER OF ORANGE).

MILO is the moving story about a ten year old boy who grows up in social isolation, because of his ‘sensitive skin’. To escape from his rigidly controlled world, he runs away from home to attend the school camping trip - but never arrives. Instead, he falls into the hands of an ageing criminal couple. Together with them, Milo finds out the shocking secret that his parents desperately tried to hide for him.

MILO is the first feature film of Berend and Roel Boorsma. In the past they have directed the short film BRAT have worked on several commercials such as for Heineken, Cola Cola and MTV. At The Netherlands Film Festival 2007, MILO won the Kodak NPP Development Award and there was a lot of interest of international parties at the film festivals in Utrecht and Rotterdam. Based on the character of the film, we have chosen for a co production with the Irish Samson Films. Dutch-Irish co productions have already proven to be successful: NOTHING PERSONAL was in 2009 selected by dozens of international festivals, it was sold to 16 countries and won many awards.

The 12-year-old Irish Lorcan Bonner will make his feature film debut as main character Milo. Laura Vasiliu (2007 Cannes winner 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS; IL RESTO DELLA NOTTE) will play Milo’s mother Nadia and Graham Stewart (HUNGER) plays father Brand. The Dutch Dolf de Vries, who has played in all Dutch films of Paul Verhoeven (BLACK BOOK; SOLDIER OF ORANGE), has the role of grandfather Lucas. The ageing criminal couple is played by Jer O’Leary and Charlotte Bradley. O’Leary was previously seen in MY LEFT FOOT; THE FIELD; IN AMERICA and MICHEAL COLLINS, which were nominated for several Academy Awards. Bradly appeared in ABOUT ADAM.

MILO is produced by San Fu Maltha (Fu Works), David Collins and Martina Niland (Samson Films) in co-production with Belgian producer A Private View. Fu Works’ awarded films BLACK BOOK and WINTER IN WARTIME reached the Short List for the Academy Awards and TIRZA was the Dutch entry in 2011. Samson Films’ film ONCE (2007) has won awards at the Sundance Festival and at the Academy Awards. This year the production SNAP won the award for Best Film and Best Director at the Critics Circle Awards, during the Dublin Film Festival. Milo is supported by The Netherlands Film Fund, the Matching Fund, the Irish Film Board, the Irish Tax incentive and the Belgian Tax Shelter.

Benelux Film Distributors will release the film in Dutch cinema’s in Februari 2012.