SAMSON FILMS
IRELAND
Company Profile
Samson Films is one of Ireland’s leading independent film companies. In addition to developing its own material, Samson also acts as a co-producer and executive producer on a wide range of Irish, European and international feature film projects. The company has been awarded slate funding by Screen Ireland and the EU MEDIA programme amongst others.
Managing Director and Producer David Collins is on the executive board of Screen Producers Ireland and is a member of the European Film Academy. Samson also has a sister company, ACCOMPLICE TELEVISION, which specialises in original drama for television.
In 2020, Samson has three feature films that have just been completed; ROSE PLAYS JULIE, written and directed by Joe and Christine Lawlor; THE CASTLE , written and directed by Lina Luzyte; END OF SENTENCE, directed by Elfar Adalsteins. We also have a feature film WILDFIRE, written and directed b Cathy Brady, which is in the final stage of post production.
Notable recent credits include «FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY» (2018), CELLAR DOOR (2018) and THE WITNESS (2018). Past achievments include the the Oscar award-winning musical ONCE (2006), EDEN (2007) which won Eileen Walsh the best actress award at the Tribeca Film Festival, GRABBERS (2012) which screened during the Midnight Section at the Sundance Film Festival and was part of the official selection at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, TIGER RAID (2016) which was part of the official selection at the Tribeca Film Festival and the Edinburgh International Film Festival and A DARK SONG (2017) which won the Sitges New Vision Award for Best Motion Picture.
Through his television company Accomplice TV, David has produced the multiple award, winning television drama series BACHELORS WALK and PURE MULE both for RTE Television and more recently co-produced JACK TAYLOR SHOT DOWN for ZDF and TV3. He was also the Irish Co-Producer on the $15 million dollar ITV Studios television series TITANIC, written by Julian Fellowes.
Company Highlights
END OF SENTENCE 2020
Co-Production with Berserk Films (Iceland)
Genre: Drama
Director: Elfar Adelsteins
Screenplay: Michael Armbruster
Cast: John Hawkes, Logan Lerman, Sarah Bolger
After being widowed, Frank Fogle reluctantly embarks on a journey to honor his wife’s last wish of spreading her ashes in a remote lake in her native Ireland and a promise of taking his estranged son, Sean, along for the trip. As Sean steps out of prison the last thing on his mind is a foreign road trip with his alienated father. What he needs is a fresh start in California. But when his travel plans collapse he reluctantly accepts his father’s proposal in return for a ticket to the West Coast and a promise that they never have to see each other again. Between a disconcerting Irish wake, the surfacing of an old flame, the pick up of a pretty hitchhiker and plenty of unresolved issues, the journey becomes a little more than father and son had bargained for.
ROSE PLAYS JULIE 2020
Co-Production with Desperate Optimists (UK)
Genre: Drama
Director: Christine Molloy, Joe Lawlor
Screenplay: Christine Molloy, Joe Lawlor
Cast: Ann Skelly, Orla Brady, Aidan Gillen
Only child Rose has enjoyed a loving relatonship with her adoptive parents. However, for as long as Rose can remember she has wanted to know who her biological parents are.. After years spent trying to trace them down, Rose gets hold of a name and number for her birth mother. It soon becomes clear, however, that her mother has no wish to have any contact and, feeling shattered and rejected, Rose travels from Dublin to London to confront her birth mother. Set against a backdrop of misogyny, Rose’s journey leads her to revelations that are both devastating and dangerous.
Selected at the London Film Festival (October 2019)
Selected at the Dublin International Film Festival (February 2
THE CASTLE 2020
Co-Production with UAB Artbox (Lithuania)
Genre: Drama
Director: Lina Luzyte
Screenplay: Lina Luzyte
Cast: Barbara Bareikyte, Gabija Jaraminaité, Jurate Onaityte
Recent Lithuanian migrant Monika, 13, dreams of becoming a famous musician in Ireland and the concert at ‘The Castle’ seems a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But when Monika’s mother tries to stop her from going, she resorts to desperate means to make her dream come through.
Selected at the Galway Film Fleadh Festival
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