The new feature project which earned Colm Meaney the honour of Best Lead Actor in Film from the Irish Academy at the recent Film & Drama Awards is releasing to Irish and UK cinemas this Friday May 5th.
It will enjoy its premiere on Thursday, May 4th as part of The Belfast Film Festival in partnership with Movie House Cinemas and Into Film.
Hamm directs a script from Irish writer Colin Batemann in this dramatized account of the real-life friendship between political opposites Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness. ‘The Journey’ is set amidst the beginnings of The Good Friday Agreement; one of the most significant junctures in the history of NI politics.
The writer/director team will attend the screening with Meaney (Martin McGuinness) and co-star Timothy Spall (Ian Paisley).
Nick Hamm, Director:
“I knew that in those early days of St. Andrews, McGuinness and Paisley had shared a private jet and I thought this story simply had to be told. I asked Colin to fictionalise the event and his witty and dark sense of humour has really brought this very surreal story to life.
“The unexpected friendship that developed between these two political titans is a wonderful story and testament to how far we have come in Northern Ireland. Once bitter foes, the relationship slowly evolved into something that brought us continued peace and stability.
“It is a great honour to open the film to UK and Irish audiences, right here in Belfast.”
Michele Devlin, Director, Belfast Film Festival:
“We all think we know the story of how two such bitter political rivals ended up leading the country, earning each other’s respect and the nickname ‘the Chuckle Brothers’. But The Journey sheds new light on the early days of this once fractious relationship that, slowly and stumbling at first, evolved into a model of statesmanship that defied the odds.
“With the current instability in our political institutions, ‘The Journey’ is a timely reminder of the courage and compromises required to move this country forward.”
Michael McAdam, Movie House Cinemas:
“We are really pleased to be able to sponsor the UK/Ireland premiere of this topical new movie, which really showcases Northern Ireland’s growing role in film and television production on a global stage."
