NORTHERN IRELAND PROJECTS AND TALENT SELECTED FOR THE 2024 GALWAY FILM FLEADH
Date Posted: July 9, 2024
With new Irish cinema, award-winning world cinema, short films, panels, discussions, and masterclasses, the 36th edition of the Galway Film Fleadh will bring powerful, moving, funny, and provocative storytelling from both emerging and renowned filmmakers to Galway from 9 to 14 July. Northern Ireland is well represented at the 36th Galway Film Fleadh across features, shorts and documentary.
Feature Films
Kneecap
The Galway Film Fleadh announced the Irish Premiere of Kneecap as the Opening Night feature film for the 36th edition of the film festival, taking place from 9-14 July in the Town Hall Theatre and Pálás Cinema. Based on the origin story of the riotous and ground-breaking Irish-language rap trio Kneecap, the film stars the band’s Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí in their acting debuts alongside Academy Award® nominated Michael Fassbender. Kneecap was produced by Trevor Birney and Jack Tarling for Fine Point Films and Mother Tongues Films, with Patrick O’Neill at Wildcard acting as Co-Producer. Funding for the film was provided by Northern Ireland Screen, the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, Screen Ireland, the BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), Coimisiún na Meán, and TG4, with backing from Great Point Media.
Find out more here.
The Wise Guy
The coming-of-age comedy-drama The Wise Guy from Out of Orbit stars Darrell D’Silva (Wrath of Man). The film was developed through Northern Ireland Screen’s New Writer Focus scheme, with production funding from Northern Ireland Screen’s New Talent Focus Fund, supported by Invest NI and Yellow Moon. The Wise Guy is the debut feature from writer-director Sam O’Mahony, who has also been nominated for the Bingham Ray New Talent Award at Galway. The film tells the story of Francis Burns, a lonely boy and devout atheist, who, desperate for guidance and protection, finds an unconventional mentor hiding in the nearby woods: an American gangster. Leon Coole is the producer, and the executive producers are Jon Beer, Brian J. Falconer, and Ursula Devine.
Find out more here.
Dead Man’s Money
The feature film Dead Man’s Money follows young Henry, whose wealthy uncle starts courting “the Widow” Maureen Tweed, leading Henry to fear that he’ll be written out of Old Henry’s will. Conspiring with his wife, Pauline, and a chauffeur with a chequered past known as Gerry the Wheels, Young Henry puts a plan in motion to ensure that the Widow Tweed never sees a penny of the inheritance he believes is rightfully his. With production funding from Northern Ireland Screen, the film is directed and written by Paul Kennedy and produced by Aideen Hand.
Find out more here.
Shorts
Milo’s Meltdown
Funded through the Northern Ireland Screen Creative Animation scheme, Milo’s Meltdown is a powerful story about a young penguin struggling to cope with his outward and colourful emotions in an icy, black-and-white landscape. This animated short is directed by Jamie Mills and produced and written by lead animator Johnny Schumann, from the multi-award-winning studio Flickerpix based in Northern Ireland.
Find out more here.
To Break A Circle
To Break A Circle is a hand-drawn short film and the directorial debut of Kalia Firester, produced by the Northern Irish animation studio ALT Animation. The film tells the poignant story of the destruction of an ancient stone circle in an isolated Irish town, addressing themes of environmental conservation and youthful isolation. This timely film demonstrates the power of stories in shaping the relationships communities have with their environment. Produced as part of Northern Ireland Screen’s Creative Animation Scheme.
Find out more here.
Fadó, Fadó
Fadó, Fadó, funded by Northern Ireland Screen and produced by Fine Point Films, is a short film directed by Dallan Shovlin. It follows a brother and sister who come across the dead body of the legendary Irish warrior hero Cú Chulainn. They devise a plan to help save Ulster from Queen Méabh. The film is produced by Patrick O’Neill and Trevor Birney.
Find out more here.
Wind and the Shadow
Funded by the BFI Animation Fund, Wind and the Shadow is a co-production between Northern Ireland-based production company Out of Orbit and Enter Yes.
Written and directed by Northern Ireland local Kris Kelly, and local producers Vicki Rock and Brian J. Falconer.
Find out more here.
Documentary
Burkitt
Funded by the Northern Ireland Screen and the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, Burkitt is a feature documentary by Little Ease Films. This creative documentary explores the life of Irish surgeon Denis Burkitt, who discovered Burkitt’s lymphoma. Told by first-time filmmaker and cancer survivor Éanna Mac Cana, the film weaves together patterns and parallels between Mac Cana’s life and Burkitt’s work. Utilising his own recordings as an inpatient and Burkitt’s extensive archive of photographs and films, Mac Cana creates a unique narrative that examines the non-linear impact of trauma, colonialism, and the ethics of medical work. The documentary is directed and written by Éanna Mac Cana and produced by Chris Kelly.
Find out more here.
THE FLATS
Alessandra Celesia’s film THE FLATS follows four people from the New Lodge flats, a working-class, Catholic community in Belfast, as they revisit the collective memories that shaped their lives and the district they live in. Emotionally tense, haunting in its authenticity, and bursting with characteristically dark Belfast humour, “THE FLATS” invites the audience into both the past and the present of the tumultuous world of the New Lodge flats. THE FLATS was developed with the assistance of Northern Ireland Screen.
Find out more here.
The Galway Film Fleadh is supported by the Arts Council, Fáilte Ireland, Screen Ireland, and Galway City Council. Find out more about the 2024 programme and get your tickets today.
