Success for Lie of the Land at 2023 Galway Film Fleadh
Date Posted: July 17, 2023
Northern Ireland Screen’s latest New Talent Focus film, Lie of the Land won Best Irish First Feature at the 2023 Galway Film Fleadh.
The tense drama was created through Northern Ireland Screen’s New Talent Focus scheme that aims to deliver one debut feature by a Northern Ireland resident creative team (writer, director and producer) each year. Lie of the Land is directed by John Carlin, written by Tara Hegerty and is produced by Chris Patterson and Margaret McGoldrick.
The cast includes Nigel O’Neill, Ali White, Barry John Kinsella, Abe Smyth and Paddy Jenkins starring in a tense drama where the Wards prepare to abandon their lives, escaping a dire financial situation, a last-minute change of heart leaves them fighting for survival. After her mother’s death, ageing farming couple Kath and Matthew decide to run from the crippling debt that is anchored around their smallholding, to find a new life in the sun. Their ticket to paradise comes via Shepherd, a mysterious stranger who promises safe passage away from all their problems for a fee. On the departure day, the couple change their minds. An angered Shepherd turns violent, and a deadly game of cat and mouse plays out around the farmhouse and its outbuildings.
Lie of the Land had its world premiere at the 2023 Galway Film Fleadh on Saturday 15th July and was followed by a post-show discussion.
Successful applicants to the Northern Ireland Screen New Writer Focus 2023-2024 scheme will be notified by end of August 2023.
