Irish GAA film ‘Lakelands’ set for TV premiere on Saturday
Lakelands, the award-winning debut feature from Longford-based filmmakers Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney, will have its TV premiere on RTÉ this Saturday, October 25, at 9.40pm. Set in the world of smalltown GAA, the film doesn’t pull any punches.
After an attack on a night out, a young Gaelic footballer, Cian, struggles to come to terms with a career-ending injury. Meanwhile, Grace arrives home to care for her ailing father. Lakelands follows them as they undertake a search for identity in a small town in the midlands.
The film stars IFTA winner Éanna Hardwicke (who will play Roy Keane in the upcoming film ‘Saipan’) and IFTA nominee Danielle Galligan (House of Guinness and ‘The Walsh Sisters’). The film has won awards including Best Irish Film at Galway Film Fleadh, Dublin Film Critics Circle and Kerry Film Festival. It was nominated for four IFTAs including Best Film. It went on to play festivals such as Glasgow Film Festival and Santa Barbara Film Festival as well as other film festivals across Europe, Asia and Australia.
Lakelands was filmed on location in Granard and surrounding areas such as Gowna.
Others cast members include Lorcan Cranitch (Bloodlands, The Dig), Dafhyd Flynn (Michael Inside), Dara Devaney (Arracht), and Gary Lydon (The Banshees of Inisherin).
Wildcard Distribution released the film in 2023 and it was one of the highest grossing Irish films of that year.
Writer/director Robert Higgins said: “Lakelands is a deeply personal film for both of us and bringing it to life with such a talented cast and crew was dream. We made the film with Irish audiences in mind so we’re excited for it to having its TV premiere on RTÉ.’
Writer/director Patrick McGivney added: “This film has been a real passion project for us from the beginning and the whole community of Granard rowed in behind us to help make it a reality. It’s been a real grassroots approach to film making and it’s brilliant it’s having its TV premiere.”
Lakelands is produced by Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney for Harp Media. Their most recent short film ‘Drifting’ starring Bafta winner Paul Mescal (Normal People) and Dafhyd Flynn (Michael Inside), premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh in 2020 and was acquired for worldwide distribution by Network Ireland Television. It has played a number of Academy Award and BAFTA qualifying festivals across the world since then. They have a number of projects in development with Screen Ireland.
Chris Higgins and Andrei Bogdan are co-producing, with Patrick O’Neill from Wildcard as executive producer and Niamh Fagan as executive producer for Screen Ireland.
The film is made with funding from Screen Ireland, Creative Ireland, Longford Arts Office and Backstage Theatre.
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