Irish actor-producer Cian Ó Murchu and Australian actor-director Steven Aldridge devised one of the most enterprising sales pitches at Cannes this year. Their company, Legend United, is developing an ambitious feature film, Finn MacCool, on the celebrated third century Irish warrior. Ó Murchu, who is from Kilbride, Co Meath, explains that this title is easier for international audiences to read than when the hero's name is given correctly as Fionn Mac Cumhaill.

"It's Finn the man, the conflicted fellow and the friends he had around him," he says. "It's an entirely serious project."

On a budget of just over €1,000 they assembled an elaborate, skilfully edited four-minute concept trailer featuring a range of scenes from the film, which has yet to be shot. The response in Cannes was "spectacular", Ó Murchu says, with one company offering to fund 25 per cent of the production costs. He will play the title role in the film, with Aldridge as Finn's best friend, Caílte Mac Ronan.

The trailer features veteran actor Brian Jackson - who played the Man from Del Monte in TV commercials - as King Cormac Mac Airt.