In February 2000 producers Michael Garland and Paul Donovan formed GRAND PICTURES. Between them Paul and Michael have produced eight internationally distributed feature films, five hit television series and a raft of award-winning short films. The company is in production on two feature films, THE RACE an Irish German co-production and WIDE OPEN SPACES written by Arthur Mathews.

Grand Pictures recently completed SCHOOL RUN a single comedy drama for TV3. In 2006 Grand produced PUFFBALL directed by Nicolas Roeg starring Miranda Richardson, Kelly Reilly and Donald Sutherland. In 2005 Grand Pictures produced DEAD LONG ENOUGH and STEW, the second series of the sketch show which won Best Entertainment Series at the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTA) and the Celtic Film and Television Festival.

SPIN THE BOTTLE was a box office hit on it’s release in Ireland in November 2003. This was the debut feature film from the creative team behind the two hit comedy tv series FERGUS’ WEDDING and PATHS TO FREEDOM (Best Drama Series IFTA 2003). Grand Pictures previously produced MAPMAKER, starring Brian F. O’Byrne and Susan Lynch which was successfully released in Ireland by Eclipse Pictures in June 2002. Portman Films are handling world sales. The film won the Special Jury Prize at Amiens International Film Festival 2002.

Grand Pictures are recipients of MULTIPLE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT funding from the Irish Film Board. They are also a recipient of MEDIA SLATE FUNDING and are developing a mixture of projects with emerging and experienced talent including; THE DEAD SPIT OF KELLY based on a Flann O’Brien story; THE KING OF THE PIPERS by Jean Pasley and WINTERWOOD, based on the novel by Pat McCabe, author of The Butcher Boy.

Grand Picture also has a strong track record of comedy and drama for Irish television and our TV slate includes VAL FALVEY TD a comedy written by Arthur Mathews (Fr. Ted) and Paul Woodfull due into production in ’09 for RTE.

Prior to Grand Pictures, Michael Garland produced the feature films ACCELERATOR (1999) and THIS IS THE SEA (1996) starring Richard Harris and Gabriel Byrne. ACCELERATOR made number 3 at the domestic box office on its’ release in 2001 and went on to win Best Film at Cherbourg. Paul Donovan produced THE LAST BUS HOME, also a winner at Cherbourg in 1997 and a number of award winning short films.