Variety is reporting that Starline Entertainment has struck a deal to represent the worldwide sales for Tom Collins’ latest feature Aithrí / Penance which premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh last year.
Peter Coonan plays Father Eoin O’ Donnell, a young firebrand priest, who uses his influence over his parishioners, and in particular a teenage boy called Antaine, to promote violence against the British in the lead-up to the 1916 Rising. O’Donnell and Antaine meet again in Derry in 1969 where both men are forced to re-examine their shared past and the deadly events that have been set in motion as a result.
In these times of loudly debating nationalism, borders and Brexit, I hope this film, through the central character’s story, underlines that we are always a few heart beats away from violence and we can live to regret ill-judged rhetoric.
Tom Collins, Writer/Director
Tom Collins has been producing and directing award-winning feature films and documentaries since Hush-a-Bye Baby in 1988. During his career he has had the unprecedented distinction of being twice nominated as Ireland’s Entry for Best Foreign Language Film at The Academy Awards for his films Kings 2008 and The Gift / An Bronntanas in 2014. He has produced or directed 13 documentries and feature films including Bogwoman, Dead Long Enough; Teenage Kicks – The Undertones and The Boys of St Columb’s. In 2015 he was awarded the prestigious Life Time Achievement award by the Directors Guild of Ireland for his “Outstanding contribution to Irish Film making”.
Peter Coonan in Aithrí / PenanceThe film was written by Greg Ó ‘Braonáin and Tom Collins, with Collins produces alongside Edwina Forkin (Zanzibar Films), Aithrí / Penance is funded by Northern Ireland Screen, The Irish Film Board, TG4, and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The film also features Terry Byrne, Barry McGovern, Gerry McSorley, Diona Doherty, Dara Deveney, and Padraig Parkinson.
Indisputably one of the best directors working in Ireland today, Tom’s tremendous capacity for human insight has always been at the heart of his films, engaging audiences in the remarkable personal journeys of vividly realized characters. Penance more than demonstrates these unique gifts and we’re thrilled to be bringing it to a worldwide audience.
Carey Fitzgerald, Co-Founder Starline Entertainment