2023 Galway Film Fleadh to open with Screen Ireland supported The Miracle Club
Posted: 15th June 2023
The Galway Film Fleadh continues announcements of films from the 2023 programme, revealing today the Opening and Closing films of the festival. The 35th edition of the Festival will open with the Screen Ireland supported The Miracle Club, fresh from its Tribeca World Premiere, and will close with the Cindy Lauper documentary Let the Canary Sing with the star in attendance.
The 35th Fleadh will open with the much-anticipated Irish premiere of The Miracle Club from award-winning director Thaddeus O’Sullivan. The film follows a female friendship across generations in a community in the late 1960’s in working class Dublin when the Catholic Church reigned supreme. A bus trip to Lourdes becomes more than a pilgrimage as each of the women look for answers to very different questions. Having never even left Dublin – let alone Ireland – the journey provides our heroines the chance to let their hair down, celebrate life and delight in some sweet independence. The cast includes Dame Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates, Laura Linney, Agnes O’Casey, Stephen Rea and Mark O’Halloran. The Miracle Club will premiere on the 11th July at 7pm at the Town Hall Theatre.
The closing film of the Fleadh brings a very special experience with the pop icon Cyndi Lauper in attendance, presenting the documentary, Let The Canary Sing which chronicles the artist' meteoric ascent to stardom and her profound impact that extends across her music, ever-evolving punk style, outspoken activism, and tireless advocacy. From Emmy Award-nominated documentarian Alison Ellwood, this music documentary follows Lauper through exclusive never-before-seen footage, candid interviews, and untold stories, as she fearlessly blazes her own trail. Featuring interviews with some of Lauper’s closest friends and family members, including Boy George, Billy Porter, and Patti LaBelle, Let the Canary Sing is a celebration of one of music’s most ground-breaking artists. Let the Canary Sing will close the Fleadh on the 16th July at 7.30pm at the Town Hall Theatre.
Director of Programming at the Galway Film Fleadh, Maeve McGrath, said:
To bring films of this calibre to the Galway Film Fleadh is very exciting. Both films have recently had their World Premieres at Tribeca Film Festival and bringing them to Galway to screen as we open and close the 35th edition of the festival is a testament to the hard work of the festival team.”
Full programme details will be announced on Tuesday June 27th with hundreds of events including screenings, Q+A’s and filmmaker interviews, panel discussions, and more. Tickets for films that have been announced so far are available on the Galway Film Fleadh's website or by contacting the Town Hall Theatre box office on 091 569777.
The Galway Film Fleadh is proudly supported by the Arts Council, Failte Ireland, Fís Eireann/Screen Ireland and Galway City Council.