THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER’S YORGOS LANTHIMOS AND EFTHYMIS FILIPPOU WIN BEST SCREENPLAY AT THE 70TH CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

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Element Pictures is delighted to announce that Yorgos Lanthimos and  Efthymis Filippou have picked up the award for Best Screenplay at the closing ceremony of the 70th Cannes Film Festival for THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER. The award was shared with Lynne Ramsay’s YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE.

 

THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER marks Element Pictures seventh production or co-production in official selection at Cannes in recent years and its fourth win with Lanthimos’ THE LOBSTER winning The Jury Prize in 2015, Ken Loach’s THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY taking home the Palme d’Or in 2006 and Lenny Abrahamson’s  GARAGE winning the CICAE Prize at Directors’ Fortnight in 2007.

 

Speaking from Cannes, Element Pictures Producer Ed Guiney commented that “All of us at Element are absolutely delighted with the script prize for Efthymis and Yorgos. Yorgos has made a masterful signature film which will enthrall audiences around the world. We are very grateful to all of our financiers including Film4, New Sparta, Hanway and the Irish Film Board”

 

THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER was produced by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe’s Element Pictures (THE LOBSTER, ROOM, A DATE FOR MAD MARY). Lanthimos and his regular collaborator, Efthymis Filippou, co-wrote the project, which was shot last Autumn in Cincinnati, Ohio.

 

THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER sees Colin Farrell reunite with Lanthimos. Farrell stars as Steven, a charismatic surgeon forced to make an unthinkable sacrifice after his life starts to fall apart when the behaviour of a teenage boy he has taken under his wing takes a sinister turn. Nicole Kidman also stars as the wife of Farrell’s character, along with young, Irish actor Barry Keoghan (’71 and DUNKIRK), Raffey Cassidy (TOMORROWLAND), Sunny Suljic (THE UNSPOKEN), Bill Camp (12 YEARS A SLAVE) and Alicia Silverstone (CLUELESS).

 

The film is financed by Film4 and New Sparta Films along with the Irish Film Board. The project was developed by Element Pictures with support from Film4. HanWay Films is worldwide sales agent with A24 on board as US distributor following its successful release of THE LOBSTER last year.

 

THE LOBSTER won the Jury Prize in Cannes in 2015 and was recently nominated for an Academy Award ® for Best Original Screenplay. DOGTOOTH, another of Lanthimos’ projects, won Cannes’ Prix Un Certain Regard in 2009, later receiving an Academy Award ® nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.

TERRIFIC REACTION TO ‘THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER’ FOLLOWING ITS WORLD PREMIERE AT THE 70TH CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

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Element Pictures is delighted to announce that Yorgos Lanthimos’ THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER premiered to rave reviews following its world premiere in competition in Cannes last night, where it received a ten minute standing ovation.

Industry bible, The Hollywood Reporter commented “the impressive rigor of its craft, the skillfully subdued intensity of the acting, and the startling originality of the story will make it unmissable for anyone who cares about bold filmmaking” concluding that “the Greek director here further cements his position among the world’s most interesting contemporary filmmakers, stoking anticipation for his next English-language feature, THE FAVOURITE”

Variety noted that “as allegories of extreme discomfort go, this one is masterfully orchestrated” and praised Farrell and Kidman as being “astonishingly gifted at playing the subtext of every scene”

The film received 4 stars from The Guardian who noted that “Lanthimos is brilliant at summoning up a whole created world and immersing us in it” Screen Daily went on to call THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER “a powerful and unsettling film that significantly broadens the repertoire of one of Europe’s most singular and wayward auteurs” While The Telegraph described the film as “a wildly uncomfortable, venomously funny Greek tragedy”

Both The Evening Standard and The Irish Times awarded THE KILLING OF A SCARED DEER 5 stars with The Irish Times describing Colin Farrell and Barry Keoghan’s performance as “exceptional” and the film as “unmissable”

THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER was produced by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe’s Element Pictures (THE LOBSTER, ROOM, A DATE FOR MAD MARY). Lanthimos and his regular collaborator, Efthymis Filippou, co-wrote the project, which was shot last Autumn in Cincinnati, Ohio.

THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER sees Colin Farrell reunite with Lanthimos. Farrell stars as Steven, a charismatic surgeon forced to make an unthinkable sacrifice after his life starts to fall apart when the behaviour of a teenage boy he has taken under his wing takes a sinister turn. Nicole Kidman also stars as the wife of Farrell’s character, along with young, Irish actor Barry Keoghan (’71 and DUNKIRK), Raffey Cassidy (TOMORROWLAND), Sunny Suljic (THE UNSPOKEN), Bill Camp (12 YEARS A SLAVE) and Alicia Silverstone (CLUELESS).

Producer Ed Guiney said “We are bowled over by the reaction in Cannes. Yorgos has made a masterful, challenging and unforgettable piece of cinema which we hope will go on to enthrall audiences around the world following its premiere here in Cannes.”

The film is financed by Film4 and New Sparta Films along with the Irish Film Board. The project was developed by Element Pictures with support from Film4. HanWay Films is worldwide sales agent with A24 on board as US distributor following its successful release of THE LOBSTER last year.

THE LOBSTER won the Jury Prize in Cannes in 2015 and was recently nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay. DOGTOOTH, another of Lanthimos’ projects, won Cannes’ Prix Un Certain Regard in 2009, later receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.

This is Element’s seventh production or co-production in Official Selection at Cannes in recent years. Lanthimos’ THE LOBSTER took home the Cannes Jury Prize in 2015, Ken Loach’s JIMMY’S HALL screened in competition in 2014 as did Paolo Sorrentino’s THIS MUST BE THE PLACE in 2011. Alicia Duffy’s ALL GOOD CHILDREN was selected for the Director’s Fortnight section of the festival in 2010 and in 2007 Lenny Abrahamson’s GARAGE won the CICAE Prize. In 2006 Ken Loach’s THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY won the Palme d’Or.

CONOR MCDERMOTTROE’S HALAL DADDY TO BE RELEASED IN IRISH CINEMAS JUNE 30TH BY ELEMENT PICTURES DISTRIBUTION

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Element Pictures Distribution is delighted to announce, that Conor McDermottroe’s HALAL DADDY will hit Irish cinemas on June 30th.  Co-written by Sligo native McDermottroe and Viva screenwriter Mark O’Halloran, Halal Daddy boasts a superb cast, including Nikesh Patel (Indian Summers, London Has Fallen) who stars as lead Raghdan, Colm Meaney (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Hell On Wheels), Art Malik (True Lies, Sex and The City 2), Sarah Bolger (In America, The Spiderwick Chronicles), Deirdre O Kane (Noble, Intermission), Paul Tylak (The Secret of Kells, Father Ted) and David Kross (The Reader, War Horse).

McDermottroe was also surrounded by a stellar production crew whilst filming HALAL DADDY, including Director of Photography Mel Griffith (Ricky: Three’s A Crowd), Production Designer Conor Dennison (A Dark Song) and Costume Designer Kerry Gooding (Game of Thrones).

Raghdan Aziz, a young man of British-Indian Muslim heritage, is happy in his new home on the west coast of Ireland. This beach-fronted retreat is the perfect getaway from his controlling father. He has escaped the burden of his legacy and discovered a new sense of community. Living with his adoring aunt and uncle, Raghdan hangs out with his surf buddies Derek and Neville and has mapped out a future with girlfriend, Maeve Logan.

On Raghdan’s 21st birthday, his father Amir arrives from England with the gift of a run-down meat factory. How will Raghdan cope with this poisoned chalice of a present – a career opportunity that he never wanted?

HALAL DADDY is a fish out of water story about a loveable outsider, who must decide to embrace or defy his culture in the name of fitting in.

HALAL DADDY is produced by Ailish McElmeel for Deadpan Pictures (Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope, Burning Wishes, Wide Open Spaces) in Ireland and Hermann Florin for Florin Film (Hanni & Nanni, I’m off Then, Swansong: The Story of Occi Byrne, Outriders) in Germany. The film is co-financed by Eurimages and Koch Media with support from the Irish Film Board/Bord Scannán na hÉireann. Element Pictures Distribution has Irish and UK rights. German theatrical rights are handled by Koch Media, while Telepool has television rights in Germany. Global Screen are handling world sales.

HALAL DADDY will be in cinemas nationwide June 30th.

To download trailer please find links below:

Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1JVxu5n5V0

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/217159913

TOMATO RED ON DVD & ON DEMAND APRIL 28th

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From Oscar® nominated director Juanita Wilson and based on the acclaimed novel by Daniel Woodrell (Winter’s Bone), Element Pictures Distribution is delighted to announce the Irish DVD and ON DEMAND release for TOMATO RED on April 28th.

When small town drifter Sammy drives into town in search of his next cold beer and the bunch that’ll have him, he gets a lot more than he bargained for.  Food and lodging and the possibility of a better future thanks to redheaded Jamalee and her brother Jason who dream of hitting the big time.   But breaks aren’t easy to come by if you live in Venus Holler. Finding themselves powerless against the forces of corruption and prejudice, the hardest thing Sammy has to fight are the demons inside his own head.

Love, rage, redemption and revenge – TOMATO RED is an original and moving film about the struggle to get a break and our deep seated need to belong.

Stars Julia Garner, Jake Weary, Nick Roux & Anna Friel

TOMATO RED is available to own on DVD & ON DEMAND from April 28th.

 DVD stockists include:  Amazon.co.uk, Golden Discs, Tower Records, IFI & Light House Cinema

On Demand from:  iTunes, Volta, Virgin Media, Eir, BT, Sky Store, Microsoft, Sony, TalkTalk, Google Play, Wuaki TV

IRISH PRODUCTION ‘THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER’ TO SCREEN IN COMPETITION AT CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

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Element Pictures is delighted to announce that Yorgos Lanthimos’ THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER, will screen in competition as part of the Official Selection at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER was produced by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe’s Element Pictures (THE LOBSTER, ROOM, A DATE FOR MAD MARY). Lanthimos and his regular collaborator, Efthymis Filippou, co-wrote the project, which was shot last Autumn in Cincinnati, Ohio.

THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER sees Colin Farrell reunite with Lanthimos. Farrell stars as Steven, a charismatic surgeon forced to make an unthinkable sacrifice after his life starts to fall apart when the behaviour of a teenage boy he has taken under his wing takes a sinister turn. Nicole Kidman also stars as the wife of Farrell’s character, along with young, Irish actor Barry Keoghan (’71 and DUNKIRK), Raffey Cassidy (TOMORROWLAND), Sunny Suljic (THE UNSPOKEN), Bill Camp (12 YEARS A SLAVE) and Alicia Silverstone (CLUELESS).

Producer Ed Guiney said ‘We are thrilled to be back in Cannes with Yorgos and Colin following the success of THE LOBSTER two years ago. Yorgos is truly one of the most talented and visionary film makers working anywhere at the moment and Cannes is the perfect place to launch his new film to the world.’

The film is financed by Film4 and New Sparta Films along with the Irish Film Board. The project was developed by Element Pictures with support from Film4. HanWay Films is worldwide sales agent with A24 on board as US distributor following its successful release of THE LOBSTER last year.

THE LOBSTER won the Jury Prize in Cannes in 2015 and was recently nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay. DOGTOOTH, another of Lanthimos’ projects, won Cannes’ Prix Un Certain Regard in 2009, later receiving an Academy Award® nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.

This is Element’s seventh production or co-production in Official Selection at Cannes in recent years. Lanthimos’ THE LOBSTER took home the Cannes Jury Prize in 2015, Ken Loach’s JIMMY’S HALL screened in competition in 2014 as did Paolo Sorrentino’s THIS MUST BE THE PLACE in 2011. Alicia Duffy’s ALL GOOD CHILDREN was selected for the Director’s Fortnight section of the festival in 2010 and in 2007 Lenny Abrahamson’s GARAGE won the CICAE Prize. In 2006 Ken Loach’s THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY won the Palme d’Or.

The 70th annual Cannes Film Festival takes place from 17th to 28th May 2017.

ELEMENT PICTURES DISTRIBUTION CELEBRATES MULTIPLE WINS FROM THE 2017 IFTAS

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ELEMENT PICTURES DISTRIBUTION CELEBRATES MULTIPLE WINS FROM THE 2017 IFTAS

Saturday April 08 2017
Element Pictures Distribution were delighted that three of its titles won at Saturday night’s IFTAS. A DATE FOR MAD MARY picked up two awards for Best Film & Best Supporting Actress (Charleigh Bailey).

Director Darren Thornton commented:
“Making ‘Mad Mary’ was a fantastic experience from start to finish. I was blessed to be working with an incredible cast and crew and with element pictures, the finest production company in the country. I’m hugely indebted to our producers Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Juliette Bonass and Emma Norton for their wisdom and support all the way through making the film. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved and I’m excited to see how the journey continues as the film starts to open in other territories around the world.”

A DATE FOR MAD MARY tells the story of ‘Mad’ Mary McArdle, who returns to Drogheda after a short spell in prison – for something she’d rather forget. Back home, everything and everyone has changed. Her best friend, Charlene, is about to get married and Mary is maid of honour. When Charlene refuses Mary a ‘plus one’ on the grounds that she probably couldn’t find a date, Mary becomes determined to prove her wrong. But her attempts at dating are a disaster and she winds up feeling more alone… until she meets Jess and everything changes. ‘A Date for Mad Mary’ is a tough and tender story about friendship, first love, and letting go of the glory days.
A DATE FOR MAD MARY is directed by Darren Thornton, written by Darren and Colin Thornton and produced by Ed Guiney (The Guard, The Lobster, Room) and Juliette Bonass (Get Up & Go, Glassland). The film is financed by the Irish Film Board, BAI and TV3.

In a joint statement, Element Pictures Producers Ed Guiney & Andrew Lowe commented that “All of us at Element Pictures are so proud and delighted that A DATE FOR MAD MARY has been honoured with the wins for Best Film and Best Supporting Actress. It has been amazing collaborating with Darren, Colin and Juliette and the brilliant cast and crew. And it’s a wonderful testament to their talent and artistry.”

Other Element Pictures Distribution titles that picked up IFTAs were TOMATO RED, which won for Best Sound and MATTRESS MEN won the George Morrison Feature Documentary award.

The 2017 IFTA awards took place tonight in The Mansion House in Dublin and were hosted by Deirdre O’Kane.

Element Pictures Distribution
Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe run Ireland’s leading independent film distribution company Element Pictures Distribution, handling StudioCanal’s slate in Ireland as well as direct acquisitions. Notable releases include Lenny Abrahamson’s Golden Globe and Oscar winning Room and Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster which passed the £1m barrier at the UK and Irish box office. In 2011, EPD released The Guard (John Michael McDonagh), which became one of the highest grossing independent Irish films of all time, with a cumulative box office of €4m+. Recent releases include Paddy Breathnach’s acclaimed VIVA, Siege of Jadotville starring Jamie Dornan and box-office hit A Date for Mad Mary. Additionally, Element Pictures operates an online video on demand platform, Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe run Ireland’s leading independent film distribution company Element Pictures Distribution, handling StudioCanal’s slate in Ireland as well as direct acquisitions. Notable releases include Lenny Abrahamson’s Golden Globe and Oscar winning Room and Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster which passed the £1m barrier at the UK and Irish box office. In 2011, EPD released The Guard (John Michael McDonagh), which became one of the highest grossing independent Irish films of all time, with a cumulative box office of €4m+. Recent releases include Paddy Breathnach’s acclaimed VIVA, Siege of Jadotville starring Jamie Dornan and box-office hit A Date for Mad Mary. Additionally, Element Pictures operates an online video on demand platform, Volta.ie and also runs and operates the Light House Cinema, one of Dublin’s premiere art house cinemas.

ELEVEN IFTA NOMINATIONS FOR ELEMENT PICTURES DISTRIBUTION

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Element Pictures Distribution films have been nominated for an incredible 11 awards at the 2017 IFTA’s.

Element Pictures’ production A DATE FOR MAD MARY has been nominated for five awards, including Feature Film, Director, Scriptwriter, Actress in a Leading Role and Actress in a Supporting Role.

Element Pictures’ Company Director Andrew Lowe commented “We are delighted at the news of the 5 nominations for A DATE FOR MAD MARY. Following the terrific performance of the film at the Irish Box Office, we are so pleased for Darren and Colin Thornton that their work has been deservedly recognised by their peers. We are also very proud of all the other nominees on Tomato Red, Mattress Men and Without Name and wish everyone the best of luck for the night of the 8th of April.”

Other IFTA nominations for Element Pictures Distribution include TOMATO RED, which was nominated for 4 awards- Feature Film, Scriptwriter, Cinematography and Sound. MATTRESS MEN and WITHOUT NAME were also among the Element Pictures Distribution nominees.

The 2017 IFTA awards will take place on April 8th in The Mansion House in Dublin.

Element Pictures Distribution acquires festival hit WITHOUT NAME

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Element Pictures Distribution today announced that they have acquired UK and Ireland distribution rights to Lorcan Finnegan’s festival hit WITHOUT NAME, which had its Irish premiere on February 18th, at the Audi Dublin International Film Festival.

The eco-horror had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and followed with sold out screenings at the BFI London Film Festival, SITGES International Fantastic Film Festival, and the inaugural Brooklyn Horror Film Festival where it scooped awards for Best Director, Best Editor, Best Cinematography and Best Feature. The Guardian have described WITHOUT NAME as being “so trippy it makes Ben Wheatley’s A Field in England look like an afternoon at the tax office.”

Finnegan’s debut feature centres around land surveyor Eric (Alan McKenna) who travels to a remote and unnamed Irish woodland, to assess its suitability for a new development project. Here, he sets up temporary residence, in an old unused house, right in the midst of the forest. Eric learns about the man who once occupied the house and begins to discover that all is not what it would appear to be in the woods. The idyllic backdrop almost seems to speak back to him and an ominous lingering presence fills him with a sense of dread. Alone and alienated from urban existence, he becomes increasingly fascinated yet disturbed by his surroundings. Are there really external and sinister elements at play here or is Eric becoming a prisoner of his own thoughts, in this place Without Name?

Director Lorcan Finnegan, Producer Brunella Cocchiglia and Lead Actor Niamh Algar have all been nominated for ADIFF’s Discovery Award which will be announced at the end of the festival. Previous winners of this award include Ken Wardrop, Barry Keoghan and Aidan Gillen.

Finnegan, writer Garret Shanley and producer Brunella Cocchiglia developed WITHOUT NAME with funding from the 2014 Irish Film Board ‘Catalyst Project’ scheme. The film stars Alan Mc Kenna and Niamh Algar.

Finnegan is currently collaborating with Shanley (FOXES/WITHOUT NAME) on the sci-fi nightmare ‘VIVARIUM’, dystopian tragedy ‘GOLIATH’, and supernatural thriller ‘NOCEBO’.

WITHOUT NAME will be released in Ireland on May 5th.

To download and view trailer please find links below:

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/204871013

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FipBYdS5kEA

#WithoutName

THE LOBSTER RECEIVES ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINATION FOR BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

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Element Pictures’ production THE LOBSTER receives an Academy Award® nomination for Best Original Screenplay. This Academy Award® nomination follows from last month’s Golden Globe® nomination for THE LOBSTER’S lead actor Colin Farrell.

Speaking on the nomination, Element Pictures’ producer Ed Guiney commented: “We are so pleased that Yorgos and Efthimis’ amazing and hugely original script has been recognised by the academy. It’s an incredible achievement and we congratulate them and all of The Lobster team.”

This is the second year in a row for Element Pictures to be included in the Oscars, following the huge success story of ROOM last year. ROOM was nominated for four Academy Awards®, with Brie Larson taking home the award for Best Actress for her starring role in the film.

THE LOBSTER has been a huge hit since it won the Jury Prize in Cannes and went on to wow audiences across the world, grossing over €2 million in the UK/Irish box-office and taking almost $10 million in the US, an incredible feat for an independent film. The LOBSTER features a stellar ensemble cast – headed by Colin Farrell and featuring Rachel Weisz, Lea Seydoux, John C Reilly, Ben Whishaw, Olivia Colman and Michael Smiley. THE LOBSTER is directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and written by Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippo, produced by Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday, Ceci Dempsey and Yorgos Lanthimos. Executive Producers are Andrew Lowe, Tessa Ross and Sam Lavender.

Colin Farrell, Yorgos Lanthimos and Element Pictures re-united last summer for THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER, which was shot in Cincinnati.  Nicole Kidman also stars as the wife of Farrell’s character. And the team (along with Scarlet Films) re-unite again this spring for THE FAVOURITE starring Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz and Olivia Colman. Element Pictures are also currently in production with Sebastián Lelio’s DISOBEDIENCE, which is currently shooting in London and stars Rachel McAdams, Rachel Weisz and Alessandro Nivola.

THE LOBSTER is an Element Pictures, Scarlet Films, Faliro House, Haut et Court, Lemming Film co-production in association with Limp and with Irish finance for the film from the Irish Film Board.

The 89th Academy Awards® ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), will honour the best films of 2016 and will take place on February 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

TOMATO RED RELEASED IN CINEMAS MARCH 3rd

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Juanita Wilson’s TOMATO RED to be released in Irish cinemas March 3rd  by Element Pictures Distribution.

Based on the acclaimed novel by Daniel Woodrell (Winter’s Bone), TOMATO RED tells the story of small town drifter and street philosopher Sammy Barlach (Jake Weary) on the search for his next cold beer and the bunch that’ll have him.

But trouble is always on his menu, and this time it comes in the form of red-headed Jamalee (Julia Garner) and her dreams of hitting the big time through her brother’s movie star good looks.

Happy to have a home at last, Sammy finds his life opening up in ways he could never have imagined.  But this new life is torn apart by a sudden violent incident, leaving them crying out for justice and revenge.  But what if your cries fall on deaf ears?  How do you make yourself heard if you don’t have a voice?  Finding themselves powerless against the forces of corruption and prejudice, the only thing Sammy has left to fight is the demons inside his own head.

Love, rage, redemption and revenge – TOMATO RED is an original and moving film about the struggle to get a break and our deep-seated need to belong. TOMATO RED also stars Anna Friel and Nick Roux.

To download and view trailer please find links below:

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/199636802

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=bO0p8Cym4VU