Shot on location in Leitrim and Sligo, ‘Jimmy’s Hall’ tells the story of Jimmy Gralton, who set up a dance hall on a rural crossroads in an Ireland on the brink of civil war.
Ken Loach’s previous film ‘The Wind That Shakes the Barley’, which was shot in Cork and starred Cillian Murphy, won the Palme d’Or at the 2006 Festival de Cannes.
The UK/Irish/French co-production shot for seven weeks in Leitrim and Sligo last summer and stars Barry Ward, Simone Kirby and Andrew Scott, with a strong supporting cast of Irish talent.
Ken Loach has been a firm favourite at the Cannes Film Festival since his first feature, Kes, screened there in 1970. Since then, he has had a further sixteen films screen in and out of competition, for which he won the Palme d’Or (‘The Wind That Shakes the Barley’), three Jury Prizes (‘The Angels’ Share’, ‘Raining Stones’, ‘Hidden Agenda’) and a Young Cinema Award (‘Looks and Smiles’).
James Hickey of the Irish Film Board, commented: “We had the privilege of supporting ‘The Wind That Shakes the Barley’, directed by Ken Loach and co-produced by Element Pictures, almost ten years ago. We were delighted that Ken chose to return to Ireland to tell another important Irish story. Jimmy’s Hall features a wonderful lineup of Irish acting and creative talent, and it showcases the beauty of the Irish northwest. Having its premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, where Ken Loach has had so many years of deserved success, means that the eyes of the film world will once again be on Ireland, the setting for this fascinating tale of courage and freedom.”
‘Jimmy’s Hall’s producer, Rebecca O’Brien, and writer, Paul Laverty, are long-time collaborators of Ken Loach’s, having worked on ‘My Name is Joe’, ‘Sweet Sixteen’ and ‘The Wind That Shakes the Barley’. The film’s ensemble cast also includes Jim Norton, Brían F. O'Byrne, Francis Magee, Sorcha Fox, Aisling Franciosi, Karl Geary, Denise Gough, Aileen Henry, Seamus Hughes, Martin Lucey, Conor McDermottroe, Mikel Murfi and Shane O'Brien.
‘Jimmy’s Hall’ is a Sixteen Films, Element Pictures, Why Not Productions and Wild Bunch production made with support from the BFI, Film4 and Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board. The film will be released on May 30th by Entertainment One.
The trailer is available to view here