A psychological thriller set on the road, which brings three disparate and desperate characters together in Mohamed's battered car. The Straits is a story, which combines a strong contemporary edge with plenty of life, humour and humanity.

Synopsis: 'The Straits' is a thriller-on-the-road set against the backdrop of tragedy and intrigue around African immigration into Spain. The story is told with life humour and a well-pitched political sub-plot.

While the story commences in Morocco it is set mainly in Andalusia and Almeria. It concerns the journey of three disparate characters: Mohamed, a Moroccan guest worker and ex-Spanish Legionnaire who is motivated by events in his past, initially unclear, to smuggle a Sierra Leonean clandestine (Daniel) into Spain. Daniel has come to Spain to find his sister but has fallen foul of traffickers who want to kill him, not least because he knows that they are responsible for drownings on the Estrecha. His safe passage into Spain with his illicit human cargo is aided by a young Spanish woman, Pilar, who has been robbed in Tangiers. When Mohamed attempts to dump Daniel the young man is not so keen to get out of the car and employs some hidden powers of persuasion to force Mohamed and Pilar to aid him in his quest to find his sister. Together, these three set off across Andalusia looking for Daniel's sister. As well as traffickers, they are being pursued by policewoman Miriam Gomez who is investigating the ongoing deaths of clandestines being washed up on her shores

• Format: Super 16mm
• Budget: €2.5 million
• Genre: Psychological Thriller (Original)
• Developed by: Development money from The Irish Film Board & Media Plus;
• Partners in Place: Development money from The Irish Film Board & Media Plus; Co -Production partners - Fausto Producciones (Spain), Sunday Films (France)
• Partners sought: Sales Agent
• Producers: Edwina Forkin (Zanzibar Films, Ireland), Tim Palmer (Ignition Films, Ireland) Arantxa Zunzunequi (Fausto Producciones), Raymond Pazier (Sunday Films)
• Writers: Johnny Gogan, Joe O'Byrne
• Director: Johnny Gogan ('The Last Bus Home', 'Mapmaker')
• Cast: Letter of Intent - Omar Sharif, Charles Muene
• Language of production: 70% English; 30% Spanish