West Cork movie takes strips off the rest

A MOVIE filmed largely in West Cork has been named the best performing film of 2016 in Cork Omniplex Mahon Point, beating blockbusters such as Finding Dory, Bridget Jones’s Baby, Star Wars Rogue One, Captain America: Civil War and Batman V Superman.

Box office hit The Young Offenders grossed over €250k in the Mahon Point cinema alone, and despite being released in cinemas across Ireland in mid-September, the film is still selling out screenings in the cinema.

Speaking on the phenomenal success of the film in Cork, Omniplex director Mark Anderson said: ‘I saw a rough cut of The Young Offenders in July and recognised it straight away as an Irish classic. The economic potential was there too and this small Irish film delivered spectacularly by becoming the highest grossing film in 2016 at our busiest cinema, Cork Omniplex. 

‘Everyone associated with the film should feel incredibly proud of this achievement and we were honoured to support it. We look forward to continuing our support for Irish film.’

In a year that was praised for quality Irish film, The Young Offenders not only achieved the highest opening for an Irish film at the Irish Box Office in 2016, but it also became the fastest Irish film to break the €1m mark. 

It had tough competition from the likes of Sing Street - another great Irish comic movie that pulled in the crowds last year,

Inspired by Ireland’s biggest cocaine seizure of €440m off the West Cork coast in 2007, The Young Offenders follows two Cork inner-city teenagers, Conor and Jock, as they embark on a 160km road trip on stolen bikes in the hopes of finding an unrecovered bale of cocaine.  

It’s the debut feature from Peter Foott and introduces new acting talent Chris Walley and Alex Murphy in the lead roles, with comedians Hilary Rose and PJ Gallagher also starring.

Chris Walley was no doubt very familiar with West Cork and the local landscape, given that his father is a Skibbereen native, from North Street in the town. His father attended St Fachtna’s De La Salle school.

Since its premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh last summer – where it was awarded Best Irish Feature – the hilarious film has gone on to charm Irish and international audiences alike.  

It picked up an Honourable Mention for Best Comedy at the Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, picked up three awards at the LA Comedy Festival, (the largest comedy festival in the US) and was well received at the BFI London International Film Festival in late 2016.  

The film is set to be seen by audiences across the globe with numerous international distribution deals now completed.