Opening Night Film
We are delighted to announce our
Opening Night Movie:
That They May Face the Rising Sun
Starring Anna Bederke & Barry Ward (Sunlight)
BEST FILM
Irish Film and Television Awards
Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE SCREENING!
Based on the internationally acclaimed, award-winning novel by Irish author John McGahern, That They May Face the Rising Sun vividly captures the essence of nature, humanity, and the rhythms of life in a rural Irish community in the 1980s.
The film centres around Joe and Kate Ruttledge who leave London to settle in a small lakeside community in Ireland, close to Joe’s childhood home. The film beautifully portrays the loneliness and isolation of country life, while also capturing the subtle joys found in the monotony of daily routines.
There are fabulous performances by Barry Ward and Anna Bederke but also some appearances from legends of Irish screen such as Lalor Roddy, Sean McGinley and Brendan Conroy.
Director Tom Collins, who made a documentary about John McGahern in 2005—just a year before the writer’s death—was a fitting choice to bring McGahern’s novel to life on screen.
WATCH THE TRAILER
“That They May Face the Rising Sun is a true gem of a film. On the one hand is the breathtaking scenery and captivating cinematography but on the other is the script based on McGahern’s unique work as an Irish writer. He broke the mould of Irish writing in the 1960’s and prepared the way for writers like Roddy Doyle and even Sally Rooney to talk about the underbelly of Irish life,” said Festival Director, Dr Enda Murray.
2024 FESTIVAL DATES / LOCATIONS
17-20 OCT: SYDNEY Dendy Cinema, Newtown
24-27 OCT: MELBOURNE Cinema Nova, Carlton
1-3 NOV: PERTH Luna Cinema, Leederville
15-17 NOV: BRISBANE Dendy Cinema, Coorparoo
22-24 NOV: CANBERRA Dendy Cinema, Canberra
Online across Australia 17 OCT – 3 NOV
FULL PROGRAM & TICKETS RELEASED SEPT 26
including tickets to a very special opening night event for the That They May Face the Rising Sun Premiere Screening in Sydney!
Slán agus beannacht
Enda Murray
Director Irish Film Festival
