Derry creative duo secure historic opening slot at Galway Film Fleadh

New filmmaking talent will take centre stage at this year’s Galway Film Fleadh, with 'Our House', produced by Derry man Callum Harrison and starring Derry actor, Andy Doherty, opening the festival on Tuesday, July 7.

The Galway Film Fleadh is widely regarded as one of Ireland’s most important film festivals, providing a vital platform for new and emerging voices in Irish and international cinema.

Northern Ireland Screen is delighted that the Fleadh will open with 'Our House', placing a Northern Ireland project at the heart of one of the festival’s most high-profile moments. The milestone is all the more significant because the film is the latest project to come through the New Talent Focus scheme, an initiative that aims to deliver one debut feature each year from a Northern Ireland resident creative team comprising a writer, director and producer.

While many previous New Talent Focus films have premiered at Galway, 'Our House' is the first to open the Fleadh.

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'Our House' stars Michael Shea (Blue Lights), Hannah McClean (Blue Lights) and Andy Doherty (A Bump Along the Way) as three estranged siblings who reunite at the family home for their late mother’s wake, prompting an inheritance battle that turns deadly.

The film is written and directed by Peter Young, who has already made a number of short films; the latest of which, 'Pub House', played at BFI’s London Film Festival. Through Northern Ireland Screen’s Director Shadowing scheme, he had the opportunity to shadow director Chris Baugh on Channel 4 thriller series 'In Flight' and Brad Anderson on dystopian sci-fi feature, 'Worldbreaker', before embarking on his feature debut.

Peter Young, Writer and Director, said: “Callum and I began developing 'Our House' three years ago and we’re so proud of what it’s become. We were blessed to have a cast and crew comprised of the best emerging talent the North has to offer. Thank you to the Fleadh for this prestigious screening, and to Village Films and Northern Ireland Screen for all their support.”

Peter is also nominated for the Bingham Ray New Talent Award at the Fleadh.

The film is produced by Callum Harrison, who also has a number of short films under his belt. Callum is returning to the Fleadh after his short 'Homebird' won Best Debut Short Fiction at the festival in 2022.

He furthered his experience through Northern Ireland Screen’s Producer Shadowing scheme, shadowing Brendan Muillin on 'In Flight' and Olly Butler and Trevor Birney on 'Saipan'.

Callum Harrison, Producer, said: “We’re incredibly honoured to be opening this year’s Galway Film Fleadh. The programme puts us in fantastic company with the films screening this year and will prove the perfect launching pad for 'Our House'.”

Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said: “We are delighted to see 'Our House' selected to open this year’s Galway Film Fleadh. This is a significant moment for Peter, Callum and the wider creative team, and a strong endorsement of the calibre of new filmmaking talent emerging from Northern Ireland.

“The New Talent Focus scheme was designed to give resident writers, directors and producers the opportunity to make that crucial first feature, and Our House is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when emerging talent is supported to take that next step.”

Written by Peter Young, 'Our House' is produced by Callum Harrison with Paul Kennedy (Village Films), Ursula Devine (Northern Ireland Screen), Greg Darby (Yellowmoon) and Mark Huffam (Lime Tree Films) serving as Executive Producers.

'Our House' will open the 2026 Galway Film Fleadh on Tuesday, July 7. The film is supported by Northern Ireland Screen and Yellowmoon through the New Talent Focus scheme, which continues to develop and champion emerging Northern Ireland filmmaking talent, helping resident creative teams move from short-form work into feature filmmaking.