Galway Film Fleadh has revealed two World Premieres from its 34th edition, taking place this July 5th – 10th. The festival returns for a live, in-person, and in-cinema edition, in the Town Hall Theatre and Pálás cinema after online & outdoor events during the past two years. We’ve got a record number of new Irish Film Premieres in store, as well as a stellar line-up of European Cinema, nail-biting Documentaries, and short films, starting with the announcement of two World Premieres from our Irish line-up: 

The Fleadh will open with the World Premiere of JOYRIDE. Directed by Emer Reynolds, JOYRIDE tells the story of Joy (Olivia Colman), a complicated woman struggling with motherhood, who finds herself on the run with Mully (Charlie Reid), an adolescent with a mum-shaped void in his life. As they tear up the road on their riotous wild journey across Ireland, we follow these roguish ‘outlaws’ in search of their dreams, in this feel-good, foul-mouthed fairy-tale. JOYRIDE will open this year’s Fleadh on the 5th of July at 7pm in the Town Hall Theatre. 

 Also announced is the midlands-set football drama, LAKELANDS. The film follows Cian, a young Gaelic footballer who struggles to comes to terms with a career-ending injury after an attack on a night out. LAKELANDS follows Cian as he undertakes a search for his own identity in a small town where Gaelic football is a religion, and identity is defined by what you can do on the pitch. Featuring the directorial debuts of Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney, and a cast of emerging Irish stars including Éanna Hardwicke (Vivarium, Normal People) and Danielle Galligan (Netflix’s Shadow and Bone). LAKELANDS will premiere on July 9th at 9pm at the Town Hall Theatre. 

LAKELANDS previously won an award for the Best Marketplace Project pitched at the Film Fleadh’s film & television marketplace, a one-of-a kind Irish event where filmmakers with projects in development can meet with Film Financiers, Distributors, Sales Agents, Broadcasters and Major Producers. LAKELANDS returns to the Fleadh a year later for its World Premiere. 

Film Fleadh Director of Programming William Fitzgerald teased a bumper edition, “It’s exciting, the whole industry is looking forward to return to the first ‘proper Fleadh’ in three years, and we’re not going to disappoint with a record number of New Irish Film premieres in this year’s programme. Stay tuned for more to come.” 

Full programme details will be announced in two weeks’ time, with hundreds of events including screenings, Q+A’s and filmmaker interviews, panel discussions, and more. 

Click below to book tickets for Joyride and Lakelands or contact Town Hall Theatre box office on 091 569777. 

The Galway Film Fleadh is supported by the Arts Council, Failte Ireland, Screen Ireland and Galway City Council.

Buy Tickets Now