The Journey
The Journey

#IrishAbroad: IFC Films acquires North American rights to Nick Hamm’s The Journey

News from the Toronto International Film Festival, where IFC Films have acquired the North American rights to Nick Hamm’s new Northern Irish drama The Journey.

The film stars Timothy Spall as DUP leader Ian Paisley and Colm Meaney as Sinn Fein deputy leader Martin McGuinness. It is a fictional take on the improbable friendship between the two Northern Ireland political titans, that sees the pair forced to take a short journey together having spent years avoiding one another.

The pair are joined by Toby Stephens (Believe) as Prime Minister Tony Blair, Freddie Highmore (The Spiderwick Chronicles) as Jack, a young government employee tasked to drive Paisley and McGuinness on their journey, and cinematic legend John Hurt (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) as Harry, an accomplished veteran political fixer overseeing the St. Andrews Agreement.

The Journey is directed by Hamm (Killing Bono) from a script by Colin Bateman (Divorcing Jack). It is backed by Northern Ireland Screen supported by Invest NI. IFC Films brokered the deal with CAA and producers IM Global, and plans a mid-2017 theatrical release.

The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival at the start of the month before heading to Canada.