Irish film Fidil Ghorm (Blue Fiddle) will have its International Premiere at the acclaimed Newport Beach Film Festival in California on October 20, a year on from filming in beautiful Rathmullan, Co. Donegal.
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 at a festival committed to championing the work of original storytellers from around the globe, celebrating cinematic excellence .
Fidil Ghorm is about 10-year-old Molly who meets a grumpy old fiddle player whom she hears has ‘magic in his hands’ and she believes that if she can convince him to teach her to play the fiddle as beautifully as her father did that she can wake him from a coma.
Having won Best First Feature at the Gaway Film Fleadh in July it was quickly snapped up by Newport Beach.
“This well crafted and heartwarming film is sure to be a favourite with our audience. It’s ability to connect on multiple levels transcend language and make for a thoroughly enjoyable cinematic experience. We are truly proud to have it as our International Spotlight,” says Cindy Cisneros, Co-Director of Feature Film Programming, Newport Beach Film Festival.
Bríd Seoighe, Producer, Abú Media says: “When we were offered to have Fidil Ghorm’s International premier at Newport Beach Film Festival there was no doubt in our minds that Newport Beach was the right home for the film. I’ve had a long distance love affair with Newport Beach, more so because off all the musicians associated with the place but going here to screen Fidil Ghorm is truly a dream come true. With a longstanding history of the greatest music artists at the Newport Beach Folk Festival , we felt this was a spiritual home coming for Fidil Ghorm.”
Pierce Boyce, Producer, Abú Media says: “We are delighted and honoured to have our latest CINE 4 feature film ‘Fidil Ghorm’ have its International premiere at Newport Beach Film Festival in California this October.”
Main Cast includes; Barry Mc Govern, (Waiting for Godot, Braveheart, Far & Away) Edith Lawlor, Ruadhán Ó Flatharta, Siobhán O’Kelly, (Borderline, Blackshore, The Tourist, Dominion Creek), Aindrais de Staic & Marcus Lamb.
The film’s director Anne McCabe says: “It’s a story about hope, and the magic happens for me watching actors through the lens, when the script ignites and comes alive. What a privilege to work with renowned Beckett actor, Barry McGovern, and with the raw talent of a total newcomer, Edith Lawlor. Together they shine and become real. I am very proud to have been a part of creating that magic on set.”
Filmed on location in Rathmullan, Donegal, the film really showcases the northern most tip of Ireland’s acclaimed Wild Atlantic Way. The fact that Rathmullan is also the birthplace of Producer Pierce Boyce is no coincidence.
“I was always very keen to shoot something big up there but never had the script until Fidil Ghorm came along and it fitted everything in the story so well, it was a no brainer really”, says Pierce Boyce .
The film is scored by composer Odhrán Ó Casaide who has seamlessly integrated the traditional and classical idioms to create a powerful film score that brings us through a wide range of emotions from despair to hope.”
“This film is a composers dream because it contains so many great elements of emotion, from happiness to tragedy and from overcoming adversity to salvation. It is essentially a story about musical discovery with music as a central element. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this score,” says Odhrán Ó Casaide.
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.
From the haunting opening sequence sung by Sibéal Ni Casaide, (daughter of the composer) through to the rousing orchestral dramatic escape across the lough, from the sadness and pathos of loss to triumph, these mood changes are reflected in this stunning musical score.
The charming screenplay is written by author Patricia Fordewho is Ireland’s children’s literature laureate for Children ‘Laureate na nÓg’ and is her first screen play.
Fidil Ghorm was developed with funding from Abú Media’s partners in TG4, Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Mean and Section 481 tax incentive under the CINE4 scheme.
