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Michael Collins director Neil Jordan has claimed that ex-Irish leader Garret FitzGerald expected payment from Warner Bros. for penning an op-ed at the time that pushed back against the wave of criticism the political biopic faced.

In a story published Friday, the Guardian reported that Jordan made the extraordinary claim in his new memoir, Amnesiac: A Memoir by Neil Jordan, that is released June 20. Michael Collins, a biopic starring Liam Neeson as the early 20th century Irish revolutionary leader, was released in 1996. Before and after the film’s release, Jordan was widely criticized in his native Ireland by historians and politicians for his liberal approach to the historical record, particularly the deaths of Harry Boland and Ned Broy, and the depiction of Collins.

FitzGerald, who twice served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 1981 to 1982 and 1982 to 1987, penned an op-ed in the Irish Times in September 1996 defending Michael Collins. The Guardian reports that FitzGerald’s op-ed said,...

Irish director says Garret FitzGerald said he was expecting payment from Warner Bros for endorsing Michael Collins biopic – which son refutes

When the Irish film director and screenwriter Neil Jordan’s biopic of Michael Collins was released in 1996, it unleashed criticism from historians and politicians who contested its depiction of the rebel leader and Ireland’s war of independence.

Some disputed Liam Neeson’s portrayal of the doomed, charismatic guerrilla chief and his romance with a character played by Julia Roberts. Others cited inaccuracies in the film’s depiction of the 1919-21 conflict with Britain and ensuing Irish civil war.

Australia’s Young Lions will go home with just one award from Cannes, after missing out in the film category.

Ddb Melbourne’s Daniel Grech and Jordy Molloy could not repeat the win of Audi marketer Helen Luoung and the Nsw Government’s Sirisha Pulapaka, who claimed silver in the marketing category yesterday.

The winners went to Italy, Poland and Chile.

Australia’s other Young Lions in Cannes:

Media

David Gray . Universal McCann Lina Nguyen . Mindshare

Print

Peter Renigeris, M&C Saatchi Mietta McFarlane, Oglivy Sydney

Cyber

Garret Fitzgerald, Freelance Sam Dickson, Tequila...

Australia’s Young Lions missed out again on glory in Cannes, falling short in cyber.

Freelancer Garret Fitzgerald and Tequila’s Sam Dickson were the unlucky ones in the digital category.

The news comes after Australia failed to make the grade in the Cyber Lions this week.

Poland, Finland and Italy were named the best young practitioners in new media.

The finalists vying to represent Australia in the Young Lions competition at Cannes next month have been revealed.

Australia will be represented in the categories of film, marketer, media, print and digital.

The next stage in the competition will see the shortlisted finalists in marketing, media, print and digital compete in a 24-hour brief, with finalists from the film category completing a 48-hour brief, all following the Cannes competition format.

News Limited is Cannes’ local representative. Director of sales Tony Kendall said: “Every entrant is a credit to the agencies they work for.”

Judge Mat Baxter, CEO of Um, said: ”Anyone watching the finalists’ presentations would be enormously confident that the future of our industry is in great hands.”

The winners will be announced on May 17.

Finalists:

Print

Brett Colliver and Paul Theobald, Clemenger Bbdo Melbourne Serge Bodulovic, Bondi Advertising and Simon Gibson, Clemenger Bbdo Sydney Jack Nunn and Will Brown,...