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Today marks another first for the team at Dublin based Element Pictures as three of its films are invited to official selection at Cannes Film Festival. Cannes Film Festival, which will be held this year from May 14th to 25th, is the most prestigious film festival in the world with a highly competitive selection process. For any production company to have three films in official selection is extremely rare if not unprecedented.

The Element Pictures productions selected are: 

• KINDS OF KINDNESS is Element Picture’s latest collaboration with Yorgos Lanthimos, director of the multi-Oscar winning POOR THINGS. The film has been selected to premiere in the high-profile Main Competition at Cannes. Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe return to work together with Lanthimos, along with Jesse Plemons and Margaret Qualley in this anthology film written with his long-term writing partner, Efthmis Fillipou. The film is financed by Film4 and Searchlight. It is one of 20 films in the main Competition competing for the Palm D’Or.
• SEPTEMBER SAYS is French actress Ariane Labed’s debut film and will premiere in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section. Produced by Element Pictures, it was filmed in Ireland with backing from Screen Ireland, BBC Film and Mubi among other financiers.
• ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL is the second feature film from Zambian/British director Rungano Nyoni. It will also premiere in the Un Certain Regard section. The film, produced by Element Pictures, was filmed in Zambia and post-produced in Ireland with backing from BBC Film, A24 and Fremantle.

Previous films from Element Pictures that have won prizes at Cannes include Yorgos Lanthimos’ films THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER, which won Best Screenplay in 2016, and THE LOBSTER, which won the Jury Prize in 2015. THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY, which Element Pictures co-produced, won the Palme D’Or in 2006.

Other firsts for Element Pictures this year include, winning four Academy Awards© for the Element Pictures produced POOR THINGS, the most wins for an Irish produced film ever. This brings the total number of Academy Awards© won by Element Pictures to six – a level of critical success unique in Ireland and rare across Europe. POOR THINGS also won five BAFTAS, two Golden Globes and a host of other awards including a Critics Choice Movie Award and the Golden Lion at Venice International Film Festival.

Commenting on the recognition achieved by these three films Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe, Co-CEOs of Element Pictures said: “We’re absolutely thrilled and honoured that an unprecedented three films from Element Pictures are included in the Official Selection at the Cannes Film Festival.  This is a significant achievement for the Element team and for the exceptionally talented directors, writers, actors and crews that we work with. These films are all incredibly special and we can’t wait for the world to see them. We are as ever very grateful to the Element team who have worked tirelessly on all three films to ensure they were finished in time for the festival.”

POOR THINGS, produced and developed by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe and the team at Dublin based Element Pictures won four awards at the Academy Awards© in LA including Best Actress for Emma Stone, Best Production Design, Best Makeup & Hairstyling, Best Costume Design. This is the most wins for an Irish produced film ever.

This brings the total number of Academy Awards© won by Element Pictures to six, which is more than any other Irish production company has won in the history of the awards. 

POOR THINGS has already won five BAFTAS, two Golden Globes and a host of other awards including a Critics Choice Movie Award and the Golden Lion at Venice International Film Festival.

It received 11 Academy Award© nominations, which makes it the second most nominated film at this year’s Academy Awards©, and the most nominated Irish produced film at the Academy Awards© in the history of the awards. Element Pictures was established by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe in 2001 and has grown to become one of the most successful production companies in Europe. Element Pictures productions have received a total of 26 Academy Award© nominations, as well as 6 Academy Awards© – a level of critical success unique in Ireland and rare across Europe.

In response to the Academy Awards© news today, Co CEOs and founders of Element Pictures, producers Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe, said.

It is an absolute honour to have won four awards at this year’s Academy Awards© and we would like to say a massive thank you to the Academy. We were delighted to have been nominated for these awards and to get that recognition from the Academy for our immensely talented cast and creative team on Poor Things was amazing but to win four awards is truly a dream come true. This was an incredible project to work on with our brilliant director Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, our phenomenal lead actress and producing partner and we are so delighted she won Best Actress. It’s particularly gratifying that the Academy has recognised the incredibly imaginative, ambitious, and iconic work of our talented team– all working together in creative harmony in service of a unique directorial vision. We are also very grateful to our financiers, Film4 who helped us develop the film, Searchlight Pictures who have put it out into the world so brilliantly and to the team at Element who have contributed so much at every step of the way.

POOR THINGS builds on the successful working relationship that Element Pictures has developed with Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos which dates back more than ten years. They have produced all of his English language films, including THE LOBSTER, KILLING OF A SACRED DEER, and THE FAVOURITE – and another film is currently in production, KINDS OF KINDNESS.

POOR THINGS is now showing in Irish cinemas and around the world.

First-look pictures have been revealed for brand new drama THE LISTENERS. The series is based on the novel by Jordan Tannahill, who has also written the adaptation, and is coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year.

Produced by Element Pictures (Normal People, The Favourite, Poor Things), a Fremantle company, and directed by Janicza Bravo (Zola, Poker Face, Mrs America) for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, the series centres around Claire (Rebecca Hall), a popular English teacher, who begins to hear a low humming sound that no one else around her can hear.

This seemingly innocuous noise gradually upsets the balance of her life, increasing tension between herself and her husband, Paul, and daughter, Ashley. But despite multiple doctors, no obvious source or medical cause can be found. When she discovers that a student of hers, Kyle (Ollie West – Hamnet), can also hear the sound, the two strike up an unlikely and intimate friendship. Finding themselves increasingly isolated from their families, friends and colleagues, they fall in with a disparate group of neighbours, led by a charismatic couple, Jo and Omar, who also claim they can hear The Hum – and who believe it could be a gift, heard only by a “chosen few.”

Enigmatic, provocative, and haunting, THE LISTENERS explores the seduction of the wild and unknowable, the human search for the transcendent, the rise of conspiracy culture in the West, and the desire for community and connection in our increasingly polarised times.

THE LISTENERS is an Element Pictures (a Fremantle company) production for the BBC. The series is written by Jordan Tannahill and directed by Janicza Bravo. Both also serve as executive producers, alongside Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Chelsea Morgan Hoffmann and Rachel Dargavel for Element Pictures, Rebecca Ferguson for the BBC, and Alice Birch. The series is produced by BAFTA-nominated Ed King (His House, Suspect, Howl). Global sales will be handled by Fremantle.

STORYHOUSE, a new, ground-breaking annual festival which champions, cultivates and celebrates the art of storytelling for the screen will be held in Dublin’s Light House Cinema on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 March 2024.

Speakers announced today for the inaugural STORYHOUSE include Academy Award© nominee Tony McNamara (Poor Things, The Favourite, The Great), Academy Award© nominee and recent BAFTA winning screenwriter Arthur Harari (Anatomy of a Fall), two of Britain’s most exciting new voices, Molly Manning Walker (How to Have Sex) and Charlotte Regan (Scrapper), as well as novelist and screenwriter David Nicholls (One Day, Patrick Melrose) and writer-director Ali Abbasi (Holy Spider, Border).STORYHOUSE will announce more speakers along with a full programme in the coming weeks.

STORYHOUSE is a not-for-profit initiative of Element Pictures (producers of Poor Things, The Favourite, Normal People and Room) and is spearheaded by co-CEO Ed Guiney. It is a unique opportunity for new and established diverse writers and industry professionals to benefit from in-depth interviews, panels and case studies from some of the very best international creators of stories for the screen. STORYHOUSE is supported by Screen Ireland, Fremantle and Element Pictures and is produced in association with the Light House Cinema. This inaugural event will be produced by Lara Hickey and Charlene Lydon.

In parallel with the main event STORYHOUSE is also issuing a call out to new and developing screenwriters, inviting them to apply to take part in STORYHOUSE LAB, the first iteration of a unique interactive programme. The LAB will provide a small cohort of emerging writers with complimentary access to all STORYHOUSE events as well as additional focussed sessions with our guests under the mentorship of BAFTA and IFTA winning TV and film screenwriter Malcolm Campbell (What Richard Did, Bad Sisters). The participants in this group will be carefully selected to promote new, diverse, inclusive and gender balanced voices.

STORYHOUSE founder and Element co-CEO, Ed Guiney commented: “I have long nurtured the idea of establishing an annual festival of screenwriting in Dublin – bringing the best writers and screen storytellers in the world to our city. I’m delighted with our initial line-up of amazing talent and I hope that the participants at STORYHOUSE will be inspired and emboldened by first-hand accounts of the joys and challenges of writing and making brilliant scripts. I also believe there is an incredible opportunity for Ireland – given its rich literary heritage – to become a world centre of excellence for screenwriting and I hope the festival will help inspire, empower and catalyse a new and diverse generation of Irish based writers to create, develop and produce their stories for a global audience.”

Speaking about the launch, Screen Ireland’s Head of Skills and Professional Development, Colman Farrell commented: “We are delighted to support the inaugural edition of the STORYHOUSE festival and Lab through our Screen Stakeholders fund. Screen Ireland is committed to nurturing the talent and skills that are central to our ambition of sustained creative excellence in Irish storytelling on screen. This event will provide a unique opportunity for Irish creatives to gain insight into the working processes, experience and expertise of some of the industry’s most exciting award-winning screenwriters. The focus on emerging talent will help foster new connections and empower aspiring screenwriters to develop their storytelling craft. We look forward to seeing their progress and wish them every success.”

Speaking about the launch, Fremantle’s Christian Vesper commented: “We are extremely proud to support Element’s exciting STORYHOUSE festival. The importance of championing and nurturing screenwriters cannot be overstated, and this annual event will support established and next-generation writers alike. Ed and his team have assembled a stellar line-up of writers providing a snapshot of the incredible breadth of contemporary screenwriting.”

Tickets will go on sale on Monday 26th February at 9am through Eventbrite and details can be found on the STORYHOUSE website. Full price tickets for public access are €50 for the two-day festival. Tickets will also be made available at discounted prices for industry delegates, students and STORYHOUSE LAB participants.

STORYHOUSE LAB is an open call which will open on Friday 23rd February and close on Friday 1st March. Successful applicants will be notified by Friday March 8th. The Lab will be free of charge for all participants. Details will be available on the STORYHOUSE website and Screen Ireland website from tomorrow.

For more information visit www.storyhouseireland.com

The BBC has commissioned THE LISTENERS, starring Rebecca Hall (Christine, The Town, Vicky Christina Barcelona) and based on the novel by Jordan Tannahill, who has also written the adaptation.

Produced by Element Pictures (Normal People, The Favourite, Poor Things), a Fremantle company, and directed by Janicza Bravo (Zola, Poker Face, Mrs America) for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, the series centres around Claire (Rebecca Hall), a popular English teacher, who begins to hear a low humming sound that no one else around her can hear.

This seemingly innocuous noise gradually upsets the balance of her life, increasing tension between herself and her husband, Paul, and daughter, Ashley. But despite multiple doctors, no obvious source or medical cause can be found. But when she discovers that a student of hers, Kyle (Ollie West – Hamnet), can also hear the sound, the two strike up an unlikely and intimate friendship. Finding themselves increasingly isolated from their families, friends and colleagues, they fall in with a disparate group of neighbours, led by a charismatic couple, Jo and Omar, who also claim they can hear The Hum – and who believe it could be a gift, heard only by a “chosen few.”

Enigmatic, provocative, and haunting, THE LISTENERS explores the seduction of the wild and unknowable, the human search for the transcendent, the rise of conspiracy culture in the West, and the desire for community and connection in our increasingly polarised times.

Also starring in the series, which was filmed in Greater Manchester, are Prasanna Puwanarajah (The Crown, Ten Percent, Patrick Melrose), Amr Waked (Ramy), Gayle Rankin (Men, Perry Mason, The Greatest Showman), Mia Tharia (Phoenix Rise), Franc Ashman (The Bastard Son and the Devil Himself, Inside Man), Samuel Edward Cook (Peaky Blinders, The Gallows Pole), Karen Henthorn (Coronation Street, The Rising), Lucy Sheen (Ping Pong) and Ian Mercer (Doctors, All Creatures Great And Small).

Ed Guiney, Executive Producer, Element Pictures says: “When we first read Jordan’s book we were immediately captured by his extraordinary prose and ability to weave the complexities of themes of community, conspiracy, and faith through such beautifully rendered, achingly real characters. We are thrilled to have the brilliant Janicza Bravo directing, and to be working with the BBC again along with our partners at Fremantle on this truly special series.”

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, says: “THE LISTENERS is a captivating story that has been brought to life in this gripping adaptation which interweaves a feeling of the unknown with the need for human connectivity. I’m thrilled to be working with Jordan, Janicza and Element Pictures and can’t wait for viewers to see this remarkable drama.”

THE LISTENERS is an Element Pictures (a Fremantle company) production for the BBC. The series is written by Jordan Tannahill and directed by Janicza Bravo. Both also serve as executive producers, alongside Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Chelsea Morgan Hoffmann and Rachel Dargavel for Element Pictures, Rebecca Ferguson for the BBC and Alice Birch. The series is produced by BAFTA-nominated Ed King (His House, Suspect, Howl). Global sales will be handled by Fremantle.

POOR THINGS, produced and developed by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe and the team at Dublin based Element Pictures won 5 awards at the BAFTAs tonight including Best Lead Actress (Emma Stone), Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Make Up & Hair & Special Visual Effects.

POOR THINGS has already won 2 Golden Globes and a host of other awards including a Critics Choice Award for Best Actress and the Golden Lion at Venice International Film Festival.

POOR THINGS has also received 11 Academy Award© nominations, which makes it the second most nominated film at this year’s Academy Awards©, and the most nominated Irish produced film at the Academy Awards© in the history of the awards.

In response to the BAFTA news tonight, Co CEOs and founders of Element Pictures, producers Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe, said.

“We are absolutely delighted to have won 5 awards and we want to extend our sincere thanks to the BAFTA members for voting for POOR THINGS. It is truly an honour to be awarded by our industry peers and to see the continued success of POOR THINGS. Yorgos, Emma and the incredible cast and crew of the film, including of course Irish cinematographer Robbie Ryan, gave so much to this project.  It is wonderful to see them get the recognition they deserve.  Thank you also to Film 4 and to our brilliant distributors Searchlight and especially our wonderful colleagues at Element who have worked so hard on the film over the last ten years.”

POOR THINGS scored 11 nominations at the BAFTAS including Best Picture, Emma Stone for Lead Actress, Adapted Screenplay for Tony McNamara and Irish DOP Robbie Ryan for Best Cinematography. An Element Pictures short was also nominated for Best British Short Film, SUCH A LOVELY DAY, was produced by Emma Norton.

POOR THINGS is now showing in Irish cinemas and around the world.

POOR THINGS, produced by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe of Dublin based Element Pictures, along with Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, scored 11 Academy Award© nominations including Best Picture, Best Actress for Emma Stone, Adapted Screenplay for Tony McNamara and Best Cinematography for Irish DOP Robbie Ryan.

Producers Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe said: We are delighted with this recognition from the Academy for our amazing cast and creative team on Poor Things based on Alasdair Gray’s iconic novel and adapted by the wonderful Tony McNamara. It’s an amazing testament to the collaboration between our brilliant director Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone our phenomenal lead actress and producing partner. It’s particularly gratifying that the Academy have recognised the incredibly imaginative, ambitious and iconic work of our many talented heads of department across cinematography, costume design, makeup and hair, original score, production design and editing – all working together in creative harmony in service of a unique directorial vision. And of course, the incomparable Mark Ruffalo in an outstanding performance.

We are also very grateful to our financiers, Film4 who helped us develop the film, Searchlight Pictures who have put it out into the world so brilliantly and to the team at Element who have contributed so much at every step of the way.

The Academy Awards© will take place on March 10th. POOR THINGS is in cinemas now.

Golden Globe winner, POOR THINGS, produced by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe of Dublin based Element Pictures, along with Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, scored 11 nominations at the BAFTAS including Best Picture, Best Actress for Emma Stone, Adapted Screenplay for Tony McNamara and Best Cinematography for Irish DOP Robbie Ryan.

Producers Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe said: ‘We are delighted with these nominations from BAFTA which build on the recent success of the film at the Golden Globes and recognise the amazing work of our incredible cast, led By Emma Stone, our brilliant screenwriter Tony McNamara and the artistry and talent of our amazing heads of department.  We are also so grateful to Film4 and Searchlight who have backed us all the way as well as our brilliant Element Pictures colleagues in Dublin and London who have been integral to the development and production of the film.’

The Bafta nominations come on the heels of success at the 81^st Golden Globes, where POOR THINGS had 7 nominations and went on to win the Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) and Best Actress (Musical or Comedy) for Emma Stone.

The Element Pictures short SUCH A LOVELY DAY was also nominated for Best British Short Film. SUCH A LOVELY DAY, was produced by Emma Norton.

POOR THINGS, from celebrated director Yorgos Lanthimos, made the longlist for 14 BAFTA categories, including Best Film, Best Director, Leading Actress for Emma Stone and Supporting Actor for Mark Ruffalo. While the Element Pictures production SUCH A LOVELY DAY was longlisted for British Short Film.

POOR THINGS is in US cinemas now and opens in Irish & UK cinemas January 12th. The BAFTA’s take place on Sunday February 18th 2024.

POOR THINGS won the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture (Musical/Comedy) whilst Emma Stone won the award for Best Female Actor (Musical/Comedy). From celebrated filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and producer Emma Stone POOR THINGS tells the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Dafoe). Under Baxter’s protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.

POOR THINGS, based on the novel by Alasdair Gray, is in US cinemas now and opens in Irish and UK cinemas January 12th.

POOR THINGS has been nominated for seven Golden Globe Awards. The new film from celebrated director Yorgos Lanthimos received nominations for Best Picture (Musical/Comedy) and Best Director. Emma Stone received a nomination for Best Female Actor (Musical/Comedy) while both Willem Dafoe and Mark Ruffalo received nominations for Best Supporting Male Actor. Further nominations included Best Screenplay (Tony McNamara) and Best Score (Jerskin Fendrix).

Speaking on the nominations, Element Pictures’ Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe said ‘We are really delighted with these nominations for POOR THINGS, especially coming after such a strong opening weekend at the US box office. These nominations are a testament to Yorgos and Emma and our supremely talented cast and crew.’

POOR THINGS is in US cinemas now and opens in Irish and UK cinemas Jan 12th.

Yorgos Lanthimos’ POOR THINGS took home the coveted Golden Lion at the 80^th Venice Film Festival. The film was met with rave reviews from The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline along with a slew of 5-star ratings from the likes of The Guardian, Total Film and The Telegraph. POOR THINGS than went on to screen at Telluride Film Festival, where it continued to receive critical acclaim from Indiewire and Variety, among others.

Speaking on the win, Element Pictures’ Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe said “We are so proud of POOR THINGS and so grateful to our amazing cast and crew, the wonderful team at Element and our partners Film4 and Searchlight. Above all we are in awe of the incredible, masterful Yorgos Lanthimos and of our utterly brilliant star and producing partner, Emma Stone. POOR THINGS is our third award winner at Venice, after THE MAGDALENE SISTERS which won the Golden Lion 21 years ago and THE FAVOURITE which won for Yorgos (Grand Jury Prize) and Olivia Colman (Best Actress) 5 years ago. This win is the best yet!“

POOR THINGS opens in US cinemas Dec 8th and Irish and UK cinemas Jan 12th.

Following a hotly contested auction, Element Pictures (a Fremantle company) has acquired the film and television rights to Nicola Dinan’s debut novel BELLIES ahead of its publication in the US and UK next summer. The NORMAL PEOPLE producers are working with the author on the adaptation of the novel as an 8 x 30 minute series.

BELLIES is a tender, funny and exhilarating coming-of-age novel about two queer students, Tom and Ming, who fall in love at university and find their relationship dramatically upended when Ming comes out as trans and decides to transition.

Element Pictures’ Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe and Chelsea Morgan Hoffmann, who will executive produce alongside Dinan, said: “We were immediately absorbed and transported by the love story between Tom and Ming – and by Nicola’s writing, which is in equal parts hilarious and heart-breaking. We think the world is hungry for a love story like theirs – that authentically allows for the space and complexity of their changing dynamic, both as Ming transitions but also as the two of them grow into adulthood – while still honouring the excitement and intensity of first love. We are delighted to bring their story to the screen and couldn’t be happier that Nicola is adapting herself.”

Nicola Dinan added: “People have told me that BELLIES has given them a new perspective. I think that’s really special and reminds me that fiction can enlighten in ways that hard facts often can’t. At its heart, BELLIES isn’t about identity. Rather, it’s about two young people struggling to find their place in world, all while learning how to care for each other and those around them. I’m so happy to be working with Element, and to have the opportunity to continue to explore these characters and share them with the world onscreen.”

Dinan grew up in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, and now lives in London. BELLIES will be published by Doubleday in the UK in July 2023 and Hanover Square Press in the US in August 2023. Dinan writes full-time and is working on her second novel.

Element’s television credits include the hit adaptations of Sally Rooney’s novels NORMAL PEOPLE and CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS and Nancy Harris’ THE DRY. Film includes the Academy Award© and BAFTA nominated films THE FAVOURITE, ROOM and THE LOBSTER as well as recently released THE WONDER starring Florence Pugh and directed by Sebastian Lelio and THE ETERNAL DAUGHTER by Joanna Hogg, starring Tilda Swinton.

Element recently sold a majority stake in the company to Fremantle, who will handle global sales of BELLIES alongside De Maio Entertainment.

The film and television rights deal was brokered by Lesley Thorne of Aitken Alexander Associates Ltd on behalf of Dinan and her literary agent Monica MacSwan, and Mark Byrne for Element Pictures.