Irish language movie shot in Rathmullan to screen at Californian film festival

Irish language film Fidil Ghorm - The Blue Fiddle-  which was shot in Rathmullan last October will have its International Premiere at the acclaimed Newport Beach Film Festival in California this month.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Newport Beach Film Festival is one of the largest luxury lifestyle film festivals in the United States. The event brings an internationally curated collection of films and vibrant cultural gatherings to the beautiful Southern California coast. 

Committed to championing the work of original storytellers from around the globe, the Festival celebrates contemporary screen culture and cinematic excellence, engaging the community in compelling conversations with filmmakers and artists. 

Eidth Lawlor as Molly

Cindy Cisneros from Newport Beach commented on the film and why they chose it for this festival: "This well-crafted and heartwarming film is sure to be a favourite with our audience. Its ability to connect on multiple levels transcends language and makes for a thoroughly enjoyable cinematic experience. We are truly proud to have it as our Irish language spotlight." 

Fidil Ghorm had its national Premiere at the recent Galway Film Fleadh where it won Best First Feature. There were plenty of well-known Rathmullan faces in the audience that night and the film got a 10-minute standing ovation at the end. You can watch the trailer for the film here.

Pierce Boyce, the Producer of the film said: “The Galway screening was amazing. To see our friends from Rathmullan come down and get a chance to view it on the big screen was incredible. The audience reaction was amazing and to win a prize for it just capped a great week for us all. When the organisers of Newport Beach approached us after the Galway screening to invite us out we were like “Is this for real?” They absolutely loved it and offered us a hugely prestigious slot in the Festival and making it one of their main screenings”

READ NEXT: Big birthday bash in Donegal Town this weekend for main 550th celebrations

Former Rathmullan native Pierce Boyce had the idea to shoot the movie in Rathmullan. “I don’t usually have a lot of great ideas but shooting back in Rathmullan is up there with the best of them. The people were just brilliant, every single person in the town helped out in some way and I can’t wait to bring it up to the town for a special screening early in 2025. We are already making tentative plans but can’t reveal anything yet.” 

Pierce Boyce, Deirbhile Ní Churraighín and Bríd Seoighe

“The immediate plan is to bring it to Los Angeles and Newport Beach which is a huge festival. We screen at 615pm on Sunday, October 20, but will be out for a week looking to sell it to USA and international buyers. Then we will come back and concentrate on a nationwide Irish release in Cinemas nationwide in 2025.”

International film magazine Screen Daily said of it,  “Fidil Ghorm, a wholesome, Irish-language heartwarmer that seems tailor-made for rainy afternoon family matinees.”

The Irish Times: “Fidil Ghorm made attractive use of the home landscapes in a sentimental piece about a young fiddle player processing stress after her father’s car crash”

CineEuropa: “Blue Fiddle is a beautiful story of innocence, music and family.”

Galway Daily: “Fidil Ghorm with a beautiful film score marries with the stunning landscape of Rathmullan and Lough Swilly, a score that is an odyssey in that it is a musical  representation of an epic emotional journey.”

Connacht Tribune: “A lovely, feel-good, contemporary family movie.”

Galway Advertiser: “Fidil Ghorm is a new Irish language film that will transport audiences to a world of music, magic, and the resilience of the human spirit.”