Music-themed comedy shot in Bundoran wins Best Irish Feature Film award

Music-themed comedy ‘The Spin’ - partially shot in Bundoran - has won the Best Irish Feature Film award at the Dublin International Comedy Film Festival.

The film, which premiered at the Belfast Film Festival in October, stars Tara Lynne O'Neill (Derry Girls), Owen Colgan (Hardy Bucks), Brenock O'Connor (Game of Thrones), Leah O'Rourke (Derry Girls), Amy McElhatton (Kathleen is Here) and Joe Savino (Bally Kiss Angel), the film also stars Kimberly Wyatt from the Grammy-nominated girl group The Pussycat Dolls and features the acting debut of TV presenter, model and social media star Maura Higgins, who shot to fame on the hit TV show Love Island UK (ITV), and has since gone on to work on the hosting team on the US version of the show (NBCu/Peacock).

The Spin is Directed by award-winning director and screenwriter Michael Head (Bermondsey Tales: Fall of the Roman Empire, The Last Heist) and is produced (post-production) by Jake Jacovides with Producer Ismail Ismail. The film was shot by award-winning Director of Photography, Sebastian Cort, (Blur: To The End) and the Editor is Aideen Johnston (nominee for the Chris Crookall Award for Breakthrough Editor at the BFE Cut Above Awards, 2023).

Ismail Ismail, Producer, said: “We were delighted to present The Spin at such a brilliant festival, celebrating the best in comedy film. Winning Best Irish Feature Film is fantastic recognition for the entire team that worked on this project. We are grateful and thrilled to receive this award.”

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Mo O’Connell, Festival Director of the Dublin International Comedy Film Festival, said: "The Spin is a funny and heartwarming story about friendship, set against the beautiful backdrop of Northern and Western Ireland. The film features fantastic performances from the incredibly charismatic Owen Colgan, Brennock O'Connor, and Tara Lynne O'Neill. The producers have done an inspiring job creating this gorgeous film, and making it a joy to behold. The Dublin International Comedy Film Festival is pleased to award The Spin the title of Best Irish Feature Film. We wish them all the best for the future."

The film is based on a semi-autobiographical original story by Omagh songwriter and musician Mark McCausland (The Lost Brothers, McKowski), who has also composed the original score.

The Spin was filmed on location in Omagh, Gortin, Greencastle, and Pigeon Top in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland and Bundoran. The main cast is supported by Irish actors and local Omagh-based extras. Foxsake Films is currently seeking theatrical distribution for The Spin.