‘W.C.’ UK Premiere at Portobello Film Festival | The Irish Film & Television Network

‘W.C.’ is a quirky drama set in and around the toilets of a Dublin Jazz bar. It follows a day in the life of two toilet attendants, Jack (Liam O Mochain), an Irish man who has recently been released from prison and Katya (Julia Wakeham - ‘The Tudors), a Russian girl who has come to Ireland to find a better life. As Jack and Katya deal with argumentative customers, an interfering bar manager and an inept thief, they form an unlikely friendship with one another in the last place one would expect – the toilets.

Described by the O Mochain as a “social drama”, the film examines topical issues like racism, social integration, trafficking and low paid workers in an everyday setting. The rest of the cast include Adam Goodwin (My Boy Jack, The Tudors), Karl Shiels (Eden, Intermission), Mary Murray (The Magdalene Sisters, Adam and Paul), Eamonn Hunt (Lassie), Tim Ruddy (BallyKissAngel, Gods and Generals), Julie Hale (Ash Wednesday, My Left Foot), Sean McDonagh (Kisses), Donal Gray (Omagh), and Rory Mullen (Hunger).

On hearing the about the film’s UK premiere O Mochain commented “We are very proud to have our UK premiere at the Portobello Film Festival, the festival has since its inception been a major supporter of independent films showing early works of directors such as Shane Meadows, Guy Richie, Nicolas Roeg, Lars Von Trier and John Malkovich.”

The film, shot by Mark Wladron (Once) and edited by Stephen Doran (A Song for Emily) was a recent recipient of the ‘Best Foreign Film’ accolade at the Las Vegas International Film Festival in April 09. The film also won the ‘Best Feature Film’ award at the Waterford Film Festival and the ‘Silver Palm’ for best film at the Mexico International Film festival.

‘W.C.’ had its world premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival, it has also screened at the Montreal World Film Festival, Galway Film Fleadh, Cannes Film Festival, Cairo International Film Festival and it was chosen as the closing film at Arizona International Film Festival last April. The filmmakers have also signed a deal with Cinetic Media of New York to bring ‘W.C.’ onto digital platforms worldwide.

Sound Designer for ‘W.C.’ was Cathal O Mealoid (Paveen Lacken), costumes were designed by Allison Byrne (The Daisy Chain, Song For A Raggy Boy), the film’s stunt co-ordinator was Alan Walsh (Tudors, Braveheart) and the film’s soundtrack was composed Richie Buckley (Goldfish Memory,The General).

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