Director/cinematographer Vic Sarin (Partition) has taken his latest feature A Shine of Rainbows to Ireland, and last week started work on the $6-million family flick at Malin Head, on the northern tip of Ireland.

The 1984 novel by Lillian Beckwith is set in Scotland, but Sarin, who also worked on the screenplay, relocated the story to Ireland. ‘We had a lot of interest and support from the Irish Film Commission almost immediately,’ says Sepia Films producer Tina Pehme (Partition) over the phone from the set.

‘We looked at the Hebrides [in Scotland] originally, but as a shooting location [Malin Head] is logistically much better. It has very easy access,’ she adds. ‘We’re using different locations around the peninsula. Everything’s within a 10-kilometer radius — the farm, beaches and towns.’

Drawn to Beckwith’s story about human connections, Sarin, with Dennis Foon (Little Criminals) and Catherine Spear, adapted the coming-of-age tale about Mairi (Connie Nielsen), an extraordinary woman who brings magic into the lonely life of an orphan (Scottish newcomer John Bell) when he goes to live with her husband Alex (Aidan Quinn) on a remote island.

Visual effects by Sepia’s Dermot Shane include rainbows and three animatronic seals — one hand-held for close-ups, two radio-operated.

The Canadian/Irish copro is produced by Sepia’s Pehme and Kim Roberts (It’s All Gone Pete Tong), with James Flynn of Octagon Films in Ireland. Executive producers are Morgan O’Sullivan (Braveheart) and Seville Pictures co-presidents David Reckziegel (Shake Hands with the Devil) and John Hamilton.

Post-production is set for Deluxe Studios in Toronto. Seville will distribute in Canada, while Seville International has worldwide rights. It is projected for release in spring 2009.