Mell Wade Films Ltd

WHAT MEANS MOTLEY? SEES WORLD PREMIERE AT DUBLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND
OPENS CHICAGO IRISH FILM FESTIVAL

True story based on one of Ireland’s most daring immigration scams continues to garner substantial interest

15th February 2006 – Since What Means Motley? (previous working title Sliding Dice) finished production, the film has generated substantial interest in the international press. The producers are now thrilled to announce that the film will premiere during the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival on 24th February and has been selected to open the Chicago Irish Film Festival on 3rd March.

With the immigration issue a very hot topic at the moment, this offbeat comedy caper movie has broad audience appeal, and is based on a true story. It looks at how in 1999, forty-one desperate Romanian’s tricked the country’s Irish consul into believing they were a talented gypsy folk group and obtained tourist visas to perform at a little known Music Festival in Southern Ireland, but upon arrival at Dublin airport they all vanished, and consequently made headline news.

This was one of Ireland’s biggest diplomatic blunders, but far from resigning, the consul (Barry Mulligan) is now starring in the film, playing a con man on the run from a psychopathic gangster. Arriving in Romania and renewing an old friendship with an ex-illegal immigrant who had been kicked out of Ireland a year earlier, he devises a ‘master plan’ to help individuals wanting to escape the country. However in order to pull it off, he has to outwit a crazy Frenchman (who monopolizes the existing and more sinister immigration operation), a corrupt policeman, murderous gypsy gangster, ply the Irish consul with booze, and put together the most untalented, odd-looking bunch of characters as a convincing group of professional folk performers.

WHAT MEANS MOTLEY? WILL SCREEN AT THE IFI 1 ON
FRIDAY 24TH FEBRUARY AT 18.20HRS
AND
WILL OPEN THE CHICAGO IRISH FILM FESTIVAL A WEEK LATER ON FRIDAY 3RD MARCH, BEVERLEY ARTS CENTRE, 20.30HRS

A Mell Wade Films production shot on location in Ireland and Romania, What Means Motley is executive produced by Rod Weinberg and Andrew Stear. The film is produced by John Ketchum, John Riley, (who also direct), Barry Mulligan and Dave Duce.

With offices in London and Bucharest, Weinberg and Stear also co-own Swipe Film Productions in Bucharest, offering a full range of film and TV production facilities in Romania.

The 4th Jameson Dublin International Film Festival is once again penned to be a star-studded affair, attracting the likes of Brenda Gleeson, Patrick Bergen, John Hurt, Julie Walters and many more. The festival is grant aided by The Irish Times, FM104, Carlton Screen Advertising and Entertainment. As well as these, Chartbusters will support a season of World Cinema. The Festival is also supported by CineWorld Cinemas, Brook’s Hotel, Dublin City Council, Failte Ireland, The Goethe Institut and the French Embassy.

Founded in 2000 the Chicago Irish Film Festival has consistently brought a truly representative selection of Irish films that embrace everything from classics to the contemporary. Each year since its inception the festival has screened features, documentaries, shorts and animation many of which have won awards and have had selected screenings at some of the largest festivals in the world including Cannes, Sundance, and Toronto. The festival has also been delighted to welcome as its guest the actors, directors, and producers that are the heart of today's Irish cinema. The CIFF is pleased to be a showcase for Irish film production that embraces innovation, independence, and creativity that is rooted in Ireland's rich cultural heritage.

For further information please contact:

Rod Weinberg, Executive Producer
unclerod@aol.com

Tel:
Office: +44 207 729 7384 (London)
Mobile: +44 780 360 30 28 (UK)

Office: +40 21 202 3024 (Bucharest)
Mobile: +40 745 4043 30 (Romania)