Shooting has wrapped on Jack Reynor’s directorial debut ‘Bainne‘, which marks the Irish actors first short film as a writer and director.
Reynor is most well-known for his appearances in films such as ‘What Richard Did’, ‘Sing Street’, ‘Macbeth’ and the forthcoming ‘Midsommar’ by ‘Hereditary’ director Ari Aster.
Starring Will Poulter (‘The Little Stranger’, ‘Detroit’, ‘Glassland’, ‘The Revenant’), Kelly Thornton(‘Sing Street’, ‘Life’s A Breeze’), Toni O’Rourke (‘Cardboard Gangsters’) and Steve Wall (‘An Klondike’, ‘Vikings’), ‘Bainne’ is set during the last year of The Great Famine in Ireland, telling the story of a farm hand who’s humanity is challenged by a ghostly female figure.
Co-funded by Sky Arts and Screen Ireland, the film was shot entirely on location in Reynor’s native Blessington, Co. Wicklow.
Speaking about the film, director Jack Reynor said:
“It has been an amazing pleasure to have my first experience behind the camera with such a brilliant team, and with the support of Screen Ireland and Sky Arts. I’m hugely grateful to everyone who’s been involved in helping to bring Bainne to life.”
Phil Edgar Jones, Director of Sky Arts, said:
"We are delighted to be involved in Bainne, immediately attracted by the strength of the script and evocative vision for the film from Jack Reynor. It is exciting to be supporting this film in conjunction with Screen Ireland."
JD Buckley, Managing Director Sky Ireland, added:
“We are thrilled to be supporting such an exciting project with the extremely talented Jack Reynor and a host of wonderful Irish actors. Sky is passionate about supporting Irish home-grown production and we’re delighted to be co-funding Bainne alongside Screen Ireland.”
Emma Scott, Production and Distribution Manager, Screen Ireland said:
“We are very happy to be working with Sky Arts Ireland on this project, supporting Jack Reynor as he makes his directorial debut. Tapping into the Sky Arts audiences will certainly help the project when it goes on its international film festival run. We are also delighted to be supporting two up-and-coming Irish female producers with an opportunity to work with experienced and award-winning talent on this project.”
The film is co-funded by Sky Arts and Screen Ireland and will air on Sky Arts in 2020. Emer O’Shea and Lara Hickey are producing for Reynor’s Irish-based company Anabasis Films. The film has a strong Irish creative team including DOP Dave Grennan (‘Maze’, ‘What Richard Did’), Editor Nathan Nugent (‘The Little Stranger’, ‘Room’) and Production Designer Padraig O’Neill (‘Song of Granite’, ‘An Klondike’).