The Sparrow will be released in Irish cinemas on July 5th. The film, starring Ollie West and Éanna Hardwicke, first premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh in 2022.
Lead actor Ollie West made his screen debut with The Sparrow, earning him an IFTA nomination for Best Actor in 2023. He will next be seen opposite Rebecca Hall (Vicky Christina Barcelona) in The Listeners, produced by Element Pictures (Normal People) and directed by Janicza Bravo (Zola) for BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The Sparrow follows a teenage boy in West Cork who lies about the truth behind a tragedy, and struggles to face the consequences that unfold until his domineering father offers the possibility of forgiveness.
West is joined by a cast that includes Éanna Hardwicke (The Sixth Commandment), David O’Hara (Braveheart), Aisling O’Sullivan (Michael Collins), Isabelle Connolly (The Other Lamb), Dara Devaney (Dominion Creek) and Mark O’Halloran (Adam & Paul). The feature debut of writer-director Michael Kinirons, The Sparrow won Best First Feature at Galway Film Fleadh 2022.
IFTN spoke with West and sound designer Aza Hand about their experiences working on the film. Hand received the IFTA award for Best Sound for The Sparrow in 2023.
The film is a Tiger Darling production, produced by Alicia Ní Ghráinne (Five and a Half Love Stories in an Apartment in Vilnius, Lithuania).
The Sparrow releases in Irish cinemas on July 5th, 2024.