The Galway Film Fleadh, which takes place from Tuesday, July 8 until Sunday, July 13, has announced that it will open with musical romantic-comedy, ‘Begin Again’, directed by John Carney (Once, Zonad). The festival will close with the highly anticipated contemporary thriller, ‘An Bronntanas’, directed by Tom Collins (Kings).
Carney’s ‘Begin Again’ (formerly Can A Song Save Your Life?), the musical-driven independent film, follows the story of Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her long-time boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine), college sweethearts and songwriting partners who come to New York when he lands a deal with a major label. The film also features Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfeld, James Corden, Yasiin Bey, Cee Lo Green, Catherine Keener and music by Glen Hansard. Chinese theatrical and platform rights to the film were recently acquired by Beijing Galloping Horse Film Co., Ivanhoe Pictures and Exclusive Media. Carney had previous success in China with his 2006 film ‘Once’, which he wrote and directed. ‘Begin Again’ is due for release by The Weinstein Company this summer.
The festival’s closing film ‘An Bronntanas’ (The Gift) features talent from a cast including John Finn (Cold Case, Catch Me If You Can), Owen McDonnell, Michelle Beamish, Charlotte Bradley and Darragh Devaney. The contemporary thriller, which is set against the background of a local independent lifeboat crew working off the coast of Connemara, is directed by Tom Collins (Kings) with Ciaran O’Cofaigh co-producing. The storyline sees the rescue team struck with a moral dilemma when they receive a distress call one stormy night. They discover a dead woman on board a fishing boat which is carrying millions worth of drugs. The team must decide whether to bring the woman on shore and hand the drugs to the authorities, or leave the passenger and sell the drugs to save their struggling village. The original Irish language show was developed by Galway-based production company ROSG and Northern Ireland-based DeFacto Films. Funded by TG4, the BAI, the IFB, Northern Ireland Screen/Irish Language Broadcast Fund, ‘An Bronntanas’ is the first ‘Celtic Noir’ thriller of its kind as Gaeilge.
‘Begin Again’ will take place on Tuesday, June 8 at 7:30 pm at the Town Hall Theatre, while ‘An Bronntanas’ will screen on Sunday, June 13 at 8pm. Further details about the upcoming event are set to be released in the coming weeks. Entries for the Feature Films and Short Films category are now closed but the Pitching Competition deadline has been extended until this Friday, June 13. The aim of the Pitching Competition is to encourage budding writers with ideas (at any stage of development) to get their vision out there and to develop the crucial craft of ‘the pitch’. A number of finalists will be selected to pitch their idea as an ‘Elevator Pitch’ of 90 seconds in front of an audience and a panel of industry experts on Sunday July 13. Any genre of feature drama, documentary or animation will be considered and the winner will be announced at an Awards Ceremony and will receive a cash prize of €3000. Applications are also currently being accepted for this year’s Marketplace.
For tickets and more information on the 26th Galway Film Fleadh, click here
