Irish-language famine thriller Arracht scoops top prizes in Dublin and Glasgow this weekend
Posted: 9th March 2020
Screen Ireland/Fís Éireann is delighted to congratulate Tom Sullivan and the creative team behind Arracht, the Irish-language famine thriller supported by Screen Ireland, which scooped the top prize for Best Irish Film at the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival and the Audience Award at the 2020 Glasgow Film Festival this weekend.
Written and directed by Tom Sullivan, Arracht marks the second Irish-language feature to premiere internationally as part of the Cine4 funding scheme, which is in partnership with TG4. It received its World Premiere in Tallinn last November as part of the Black Nights International Film Festival, with critics calling the film “bracingly authentic” and “a striking feature debut”. Its Irish Premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival was met with praise from Irish critics and audiences, with the Irish Times calling it “unmissable and a beautifully crafted murder ballad”.
Arracht tells the story of Coleman Sharkey, accused of a crime he didn’t commit and who must abandon his family and flee to a remote island. When the famine engulfs his community and takes his wife and child, he is left with nothing but a solitary life. Coleman evades the law and fights starvation until he meets a girl named Kitty who helps him find a reason to live.
The lead performance from actor Dónall Ó Héalaí was also celebrated, with the actor receiving the Aer Lingus Discovery Award as part of the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival.
Arracht was produced by Cúán Mac Conghail for Macalla Teoranta, with funding from Screen Ireland, TG4 and the BAI, with a wealth of Irish talent and crew behind the scenes, including award-winning cinematographer Kate McCullough.
Arracht is coming to Irish cinemas on 3rd April, released by Break Out Pictures.