Dublin —Sep 21, 2007
Newgrange Pictures Ltd and Digital Cinema Ltd Release Kings Digitally in Ireland
Newgrange Pictures Ltd and Digital Cinema Limited (DCL) are delighted to announce the digital release of the Irish language film KINGS in Ireland.
KINGS follows the story of a group of six young men who leave their homes in the West of Ireland in the mid 1970's to go to England in the hope of making their fortunes and returning home. Thirty years later only one of them makes it home - but does so in a coffin. The five remaining friends reunite at his wake and face up to the reality of their alienation as long term emigrants who no longer have any real place to call home.
KINGS, directed by Tom Collins and starring Colm Meaney, has been selected as Ireland's entry for best foreign-language film at next year's Academy Awards®. This is the first time an Irish-language movie has been entered in the Oscar® race. KINGS is adapted from Jimmy Murphy's play "Kings of the Kilburn High Road," which tells the story of Gaelic-speaking Irish labourers searching for an identity in London.
KINGS was produced by Newgrange Pictures Ltd with finance from Bord Scannan na hEireann/the Irish Film Board, Northern Ireland Screen, Broadcast Commission of Ireland, the Irish Language Broadcast Fund and TG4. High Point are handling international sales. Jackie Larkin, CEO for Newgrange Pictures, said, “It’s been a pleasure working with all the team at DCL and DTS on the digital release of KINGS across Ireland. Their technology and experience, coupled with their commitment and understanding of our needs made DTS Digital Cinema an obvious choice for the creation of the digital cinema package (DCP) and security keys for digital distribution of KINGS, which releases digitally in five cinemas on 21 September.“.
“We are delighted, to be able to work with Newgrange Pictures, to release the Irish movie KINGS digitally,” said Ian Kirby, General Manager at DCL. We were happy to be able to facilitate the first Irish Language digital screening in Ireland with Newgrange Pictures and we wish them Le Gach Bea-ghuí (every good wish) with their nomination as Ireland's entry for best foreign-language film at next year's Academy Awards®.”
Tony Nowak, Managing Director of DTS Digital Cinema Europe Ltd, who coordinated the generation of the Digital Cinema Package (DCP) through their UK and USA offices, said “DTS Digital Cinema were delighted to provide the digital encoding, encryption and key management services for DCL and Newgrange Pictures. It was a good opportunity for DTS-DC to demonstrate their digital content service capability at Twyford, UK and Burbank, USA. I think it also illustrates that D-Cinema is a realistic vehicle for independent productions as well as the larger studio producers.”
The digital release of KINGS further demonstrates the continued commitment of DCL and DTS-DC to their general management agreement announced earlier this year, in which both companies agreed to work together to manage expansion and operation of a nationwide digital cinema network in Ireland. In addition, DTS-DC provides services to DCL and local film distributors, such as Newgrange Pictures Ltd, who wish to acquire, prepare and deliver content to digital screens throughout Ireland.
