IRISH FILM THE Young Offenders has grossed over €1 million at the Irish box office – and now it’s going to be seen across the world.
Vertigo Releasing has acquired rights on the comedy, meaning it will be distributed across the US and Canada, UK and Australia/New Zealand.
The film is based around Ireland’s biggest cocaine seizure, which occurred when a boat got in trouble in west Cork. It follows as two hapless young teens decide to go on a trip to find one of the bales of cocaine.
Its opening weekend, where it grossed €202k, was the biggest for an Irish film this year.
The Young Offenders is a first-time feature for director Peter Foott (who was behind the infamous Horse Outside video from the Rubberbandits), and stars young Cork actors, Alex Murphy and Chris Walley.
Peter Foott said of the distribution deal:
The cast, crew and myself are delighted! Having our film reach such a huge audience is incredible and we are so happy it’s Vertigo who are taking us on this journey.
In an interview with TheJournal.ie in September, Foott said the story was based on an experience of his as a teenager – though without the cocaine element.
“I’d been on a bike trip when I was 15, with a friend of mine and we weren’t very smart at the time so we loaded our bikes up with tents and bags and beers and ghetto blasters and everything,” he said. “And we went on this crazy journey to west Cork where lots of silly things happened, and lots of the silly things that happened we put into the movie.”
I wanted to give them a real interesting goal, so that’s when the drugs haul element came into it.
The film also stars Hilary Rose (of The Republic Of Telly) and stand-up comedian PJ Gallagher (Naked Camera).
It has grossed over €1m for Wildcard Distribution in Ireland, and is still playing in Irish cinemas.
Rupert Preston and Ed Caffrey of Vertigo Releasing described The Young Offenders as “one of the funniest and freshest films we’ve seen in years”, saying they are “thrilled to be working with Peter to bring the film to a UK and international audience”.
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