The upcoming Galway Film Fleadh has landed a world premiere of a very local story from arguably Ireland’s most renowned producers in Element Pictures and, in Liam Neeson, one of the country’s biggest stars.
“The Lost Children of Tuam,” directed by Frank Berry (“Aisha,” “Michael Inside”) and written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz (“The Salt Path,” “She Said”) will make its debut at the festival, with key cast and creatives set to attend.
Based on the The New York Times article of the same name. by Dan Berry, which was optioned by Neeson, the film tells the real life story of County Galway’s own Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in the town of Tuam, where in 2013 history enthusiast Catherine Corless uncovered the devastating possibility that as many as 796 children had been buried in unmarked graves on the property. The discovery began a campaign for justice for both victims and survivors of the home that has had a lasting impact on Ireland today.
The cast of “The Lost Children of Tuam” is led by Monica Dolan (“Sherwood,” “Mr Bates vs The Post Office”) as Corless, alongside Andrew Bennett (“God’s Creatures,” “The Quiet Girl”) and Ian McElhinney (“Game of Thrones,” “Derry Girls”).
Neeson produces for El Paso Films, along with Jules Daly for Big Red Films, Chelsea Morgan Hoffmann, Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe for Oscar-winning Element Pictures and Martina Niland for Port Pictures. The film is presented by Screen Ireland and BBC Film in association with Fremantle, Coimisiún na Meán, MK2 and RTÉ with MK2 handling worldwide sales, with Volta Pictures Distribution releasing the film in Ireland.
“The Lost Children of Tuam” is a profoundly moving and important piece of filmmaking,” said Charlene Lydon, programmer of the Galway Film Fleadh. “Frank Berry approaches this story with immense sensitivity, compassion and humanity, creating a film that honours the lives of the children and the experiences of survivors while confronting a painful chapter of our shared history. We are honoured to present its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh and to provide a platform for a story that continues to resonate both in Ireland and around the world.”
Added the producers: “We are so honoured and proud to begin the journey of ‘The Lost Children of Tuam’ with its world premiere in Galway at the Fleadh and that audiences will now see this profound story of relentless pursuit and dedication in uncovering the horrific truth of the events in Tuam that shocked our nation to its core and is still reverberating in every aspect of our society. The truth will out.”
“The Lost Children of Tuam” will premiere on July 11 as part of the 38th Galway Film Fleadh, which runs July 7-12.