Irish Film News: Frank to screen at SXSW

Following on from its world premiere, US Distribution deal and huge critical acclaim last month at the Sundance Film Festival, Frank is now Austin bound to play at the visionary SXSW festival in March.

Frank will screen as part of the Festival Favorites strand, which showcases acclaimed standouts and previous premieres. The South by SouthWest Festival (SXSW) presents the best in new independent music and film every year in Austin, Texas. It is now considered the destination for the game-changing buzz every filmmaker dreams of.

Frank is a comedy about a young wannabe musician, Jon (Domhnall Gleeson), who discovers he’s bitten off more than he can chew when he joins a band of eccentric pop musicians led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank (Michael Fassbender) and his terrifying sidekick Clara (Maggie Gyllenhaal).

The film is directed by Ireland’s critically acclaimed Lenny Abrahamson (Adam & Paul, Garage, What Richard Did). Frank is written by Jon Ronson (The Men Who Stare At Goats) and Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Men Who Stare At Goats). Frank is based on the memoir by Jon Ronson and is a fictional story loosely inspired by Frank Sidebottom, the persona of cult musician and comedy legend Chris Sievey, as well as outsider musicians like Daniel Johnston and Captain Beefheart. The director of photography is James Mather (Adam & Paul), production designer Richard Bullock (StreetDance 3D, Spike Island). Music is by regular Abrahamson collaborator, Stephen Rennicks.

Frank will be released in Ireland in May.