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Action-packed Paddy's Day crime drama Between the Canals, to open exclusively at the IFI in March

Irish Singer-songwriter Damien Dempsey features in his debut role

BETWEEN THE CANALS is a pulsing, fast-paced look at Dublin's criminal underworld. The first feature film from director Mark O'Connor features a cast that includes up-and-coming actors Peter Coonan and Stephen Jones alongside a fantastic group of supporting actors from the Northside. The film also features the debut acting role from popular singer-songwriter Damien Dempsey who also features on the soundtrack.

The film follows three small time criminals, trying to get on in a society that is fast leaving them behind. Liam (Hyland) is a small time dealer who wants to quit his life of crime to become an electrician and provide for his girlfriend and son. Dots (Coonan), is a crazy, irresponsible thug with ambitions to become a big time dealer. Scratchcard (Jones) is a drug user with no ambitions but to stay on social welfare and watch the world go by. Liam is torn between life in the flats and his responsibility to be a good father to his son. He has to just get through this one day and maybe things will look brighter on the other side. But it's Saint Patrick's Day and, in Dublin city, this means trouble everywhere.

Director Mark O'Connor said 'I've been working on this film for a long time, spending a lot of time working with the community in the North Inner City with a view to them participating as actors. Film making for me is about the telling of dramatic stories represented through realism. By realism I mean portraying characters on screen that are believable to the audience. It's about finding a truthful performance in a scene. We got funding from the Irish Film Board, getting a brilliant cast of professionals and non-professionals in place, getting Damien Dempsey to take part gave the project a huge momentum. We got a great reception at the JDIFF last year, being the first film to sell out, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what Dubliners think when it goes on release in March.'

Talking about the experience of working on his first role, Damien Dempsey said, 'A change is as good as a rest and I thought I could play a tough guy as I've encountered so many of them. So I played Paul Chambers, he ran a gang out of Sheriff Street. He's a killer with a heart. I was chuffed that they were using people from Sheriff Street. That's part of the reason why I took the part. Even though they had never been in front of a camera before they were brilliant. I hate to see actors miscast. All the locals played their parts like experts and were great craic to work with once you didn't take yourself too seriously and could take a slagging.  The director, Mark, had me in mind for the part from the beginning so I didn't do an audition. If there had of been I don't think I would have made it, I was fierce nervous. I really enjoyed the days filming. When you get a scene that is dramatic and you can really get your teeth into it it's great. You do be buzzing after it. I'd defo do it again, if I ever get asked that is!'

Mark O'Connor and Peter Coonan will join Tony Tracy (NUIG) at the IFI on March 19th at 12 noon to discuss the trials of shooting a micro-budget feature with a largely non-acting cast in just 12 days.

BETWEEN THE CANALS is released on March 18th exclusively at the IFI. Tickets will be available from the end of February at the IFI Box Office, by calling 01 679 3477 or www.ifi.ie.

The production and release of BETWEEN THE CANALS have been supported by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board.

The IFI acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council.