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Over the years, the United Kingdom has produced some of the best, most iconic, and most memorable sci-fi TV shows ever made. The country shows no signs of letting up on its creative output in this regard, either, with Netflix's superhero show Supacell proving to be very popular. There's a specific charm associated with British-made sci-fi shows; they are invariably camp, quirky, and funny, while often challenging viewers to ponder some of life's bigger questions.

Another great aspect of these properties is frequently pushing the boundaries of previously accepted notions of the genre. Whether they're larger-scale productions, or lower-budget series, they all have one thing in common: leaving a lasting mark on audiences around the world. There's a distinct difference in budget between American-made productions and some of the best sci-fi shows from the UK. The X-Files, for example, has a more polished production design than some British series,...

Exclusive: Element and Koch Media have boarded rights to Irish production also starring Indian Summers’ Nikesh Patel.

Element Pictures has acquired Irish and UK rights to Halal Daddy, a culture-clash comedy which commenced principal photography in the west of Ireland this week.

Colm Meaney (Con Air) has joined the cast on the Irish-German co-production, which will shoot in and around Sligo for the next five weeks.

Rights to the project have also been acquired in Germany by Koch Media (theatrical) and Telepool (TV) amid strong international interest.

Produced by Hermann Florin for Florin Films and its Irish outlet Benrae Florin Films alongside Ailish McElmeel for Ireland’s Deadpan Pictures, the production is supported by the Irish Film Board and Eurimages with Global Screen handling world sales. Peter Rommel of German outfit Rommel Films is co-producer.

The film is directed by Conor McDermottroe (Swansong: Story of Occi Byrne) who co-wrote the script with Mark O’Halloran (Adam & Paul...

Haifaa Al-Mansour’s A Storm In The Stars and comedy Halal Daddy among those supported in latest funding round.

A culture-clash comedy set in Ireland’s first Halal meat factory is among the productions backed by the Irish Film Board (Ifb) in its latest round of funding decisions, which totals more than €3m.

Halal Daddy - the story of a young Muslim’s struggle to manage a rundown abattoir in the West of Ireland - has received a production funding commitment of €500,000.

It is one of a number of comedies backed by the Ifb as it faces the challenge of building on what has been a buoyant period for the Irish film industry, with a number of projects performing strongly throughout awards season. Comedy traditionally performs well with domestic audiences.

Halal Daddy will begin shooting in Sligo in early summer and was written by Conor McDermottroe (Swansong: Story Of Occi Byrne) and Mark O’Halloran (Adam & Paul...

Rank the week of November 1st’s Blu-ray and DVD new releases against the best films of all-time: New Releases Cars 2

(Blu-ray & DVD | G | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #2213

Win Percentage: 48%

Times Ranked: 3502

Top-20 Rankings: 35

Directed By: John Lasseter

Starring: Larry the Cable Guy • Owen Wilson • Michael Caine • Emily Mortimer • Eddie Izzard

Genres: Action Comedy • Adventure • Adventure Comedy • Animation • Comedy • Family • Family-Oriented Adventure • Family-Oriented Comedy

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Water For Elephants

(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #3022

Win Percentage: 51%

Times Ranked: 2226

Top-20 Rankings: 17

Directed By: Francis Lawrence

Starring: Reese Witherspoon • Robert Pattinson • Christoph Waltz • Paul Schneider • Hal Holbrook

Genres: Animal Picture • Drama • Romance • Romantic Drama

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Crazy Stupid Love

(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #816

Win Percentage: 57%

Times Ranked: 3830

Top-20 Rankings: 19

Directed By: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

Starring: Steve Carell • Ryan Gosling • Julianne Moore • Emma Stone • Marisa Tomei

Genres: Comedy Drama • Comedy of Manners • Drama • Romance • Romantic Comedy

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Snow Flower And The Secret Fan...

Winners in Bold Film As If I Am Not There - James Flynn & Nathalie Lichtenthaeler (Octagon Films) Perrier's Bounty - Alan Moloney (Parallel Films) Sensation - Katie Holly & Kieron J Walsh (Blinder Films) Swansong - Story of Occi Byrne - Edwina Forkin & Herman Florin (Zanzibar Films / Florin Films) The Runway - Macdara Kelleher & Ian Power (Fastnet Films) Director Film Juanita Wilson - As If I Am Not There (Octagon Films) Pj Dillon - Rewind (Carbon Films) Tom Hall - Sensation (Blinder Films) Ian Power - The Runway (Fastnet Films) Script Film Juanita Wilson - As If I Am Not There (Octagon Films) Will Collins - My Brothers (Rubicon Films) Conor McDermottroe – Swansong - Story of Occi Byrne (Zanzibar Films / Florin Films) Mark O'Rowe - Perrier's Bounty (Parallel Films) Actor in a Lead Role - Film Martin...

Bosnian war drama As If I Am Not There received three Ifta awards for Best Film, Director and Script for the film's Irish writer/director Juanita Wilson at tonight's Ifta awards, celebrating the Irish film and television industry.

Martin MCCann was named Best Actor for 'Swansong - Story of Occi Byrn', while Amy Huberman was got Best Actress for 'Rewind.'

Pierce Brosnan and Saorise Ronan took home the supporting honours at the awards with Brosnan winning Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'The Ghost', while Ronan's part in The Way Back earned her the supporting actress honour.

In the international categories, 'The Social Network' won the best international film, with its star Jesse Eisenberg winning Best Actor. Annette Bening took Best Actress for 'The Kids Are All Right'.

Winners Of The 8th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards:

Outstanding Contribution to Industry...

Irish writer / director Conor McDermottroe (A Woman's Hair, Squaddie) will introduce his feature film debut to audiences on Friday, September 10th when 'Swansong: Story of Occi Byrne' receives a limited theatrical release across the country. The film portrays the life of Austin 'Occi' Byrne who is brought up in Sligo by his alcoholic mother and who suffers traumatic bullying at the hands of a local gang because he has no father. Iftn spoke with Martin McCann, the Belfast actor who takes on the central role. Occi grows up plagued by anger, confusion and pain. In the hopes of unlocking his own identity and overcoming the past that haunts him, he sets out to find his father and discover the secret of his birth. The emotional film stars Martin McCann (The Sound of People, Killing Bono) in the title role alongside Jodie Whittaker (Perrier's Bounty), Marcella Plunkett (Once), Gerard Mc Sorley...