James Flynn (c. 1965 – 11 February 2023) was an Irish film and television producer. Flynn is best known for the various television and films he produced (including Vikings, The Last Duel, and The Banshees of Inisherin) and his nomination for Best Live Action Short Film at the 82nd Academy Awards for The Door. At that same Oscar ceremony, Cartoon Saloon's The Secret of Kells on which Flynn served as executive producer, was nominated for Best Animated Feature.

Early life

Flynn was born in Kilmacud in County Dublin and was educated at C.B.C. Monkstown. Following school, he attended University College Dublin where he received a Bachelor of Commerce.^[1][2]

Career

Flynn began his career at John Boorman's Merlin Films before future Irish President Michael D. Higgins (then Minister for Arts) reestablished the Irish Film Board where he became a senior executive.

In 1997, he and the filmmaker Juanita Wilson, whom he married a year later, set up Metropolitan Film Productions with a mind to developing Irish films for the international market.

During his career, Flynn served as producer on The Tudors, Vikings, As If I Am Not There, Tomato Red, The Count of Monte Cristo, Disenchanted, The Last Duel and The Banshees of Inisherin.

Illness and death

Flynn died on 11 February 2023, at the age of 57 following a short illness.^[3][4][5]

In a statement, Irish president Michael D. Higgins said "over the course of his career, James Flynn made a remarkable contribution to the Irish film industry, both in terms of fostering the development of films by the Irish film community itself, and in bringing so many international projects to this island".

Neil Jordan, who worked with him on films such as Ondine and Greta, praised his honesty. "Very few producers have that quality to that extent," he said. "He was absolutely honourable in all his dealings, and if he gave his word that was it."