Learning to Breathe Underwater to receive World Premiere at 60th Karlovy Vary Film Festival
Posted: 2nd June 2026
Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland is delighted to congratulate Rebekah Fortune, Richard Brabin, Wildcard, Éiru Films, and the entire creative team behind Learning to Breathe Underwater, which has been selected to make its World Premiere at the 60th Karlovy Vary Film Festival.
Starring Rory Kinnear, Maria Bakalova and Ezra Carlisle, Learning to Breathe Underwater follows eight-year-old Leo, who lives with his dad and a giant shark, which crashed through the roof of their home. Yes, you read that correctly. The shark is Leo’s best friend, to whom he can confide all his secrets. He can’t really talk to his dad; he must be missing mum, who’s been gone five years now. Then Anya the au pair bursts into their lives, and their world suddenly changes. It’s more cheerful and Leo discovers that the metal shark doesn’t have to be his only friend.
The film is directed by Rebekah Fortune from a script by Richard Barbin. The project is produced by Jack Tarling of the UK’s Shudder Films and Patrick O’Neill of Ireland’s Wildcard, co-produced by KeyFilm in the Netherlands, One Wave Films in Wales and made in association with Eiru Films in the west of Ireland.
Learning to Breathe Under Water was filmed in Galway last year and is proudly supported by Screen Ireland, BFI Global Screen Fund, Ffilm Cymru, WRAP Fund, Netherlands Film Fund, Finite Films, Bankside Films and Three Point Capital. Bankside Films handle international sales.
The 60th Karlovy Vary Film Festival takes place from 3 to 11 July 2026.