Handsome Devil
Handsome Devil

#Festival: John Butler’s Handsome Devil to open 13th Glasgow Film Festival on February 15th

The Glasgow Film Festival has announced the opening and closing night films of their 13th annual festival. John Butler’s sublime new Irish feature Handsome Devil will have its European premiere as the opening night film on February 15th. The festival is bookended by the world premiere of Mad To Be Normal on February 26th, which features Irish star Gabriel Byrne.

With his shock of red hair, proclivity for old rock songs, and general oddness, Ned is a certified outcast in his rugby-crazy, all-boy boarding school. Ned doesn’t even dislike rugby, but that doesn’t stop him from being an easy target. His mind is set on expulsion or escape, until the arrival of a new English teacher and a new roommate, a surprisingly sensitive rugby player with more than a few secrets, sets Ned on a path towards finally allowing himself to be heard.

The young cast is led by Fionn O’Shea and Nick Galitzine (one of the 2015 Screen Stars of Tomorrow), with support from Andrew Scott (The Stag, Sherlock), Moe Dunford (Vikings, Patrick’s Day), Michael McElhatton (Game of Thrones), Ruairi O’Connor, Jay Duffy, Mark Lavery, and Jamie Hallahan. The film also features cameo performances from Ardal O’Hanlon, Amy Huberman, Norma Sheahan, Mark Doherty, and Hugh O’Conor.

Handsome Devil - Image
Fionn O’Shea as Ned – Handsome Devil © Treasure Entertainment − All right reserved.

Post-production on Handsome Devil took place at Windmill Lane Pictures with The Stag editor John O’Connor. Rebecca O’Flanagan and Rob Walpole produce for Treasure Entertainment, with backing from the Irish Film Board.  Key crew include DOP Cathal Watters (Viva); production designer Ferdia Murphy, costume designer Kathy Strachan, and sound recordist Hugh Fox, all of whom worked with Butler on The Stag. Casting was by Louise Kiely.

Glasgow Film Festival Co-Director Allison Gardner said:

I am so excited to share the news about our great Opening and Closing Galas. Handsome Devil is a real crowd-pleaser with a joyous spirit that makes it a perfect film to launch the festival. David Tennant gives an absolutely stunning performance as R.D. Laing in Mad To Be Normal and it seems only fitting that Glasgow should have the honour of hosting the premiere of a film about one of the city’s most complex, charismatic figures. We are also privileged to be able to host the Scottish premiere of The Seasons in Quincy: Four Portraits of John Berger, a fascinating look at one of our greatest polymaths.

The 13th Glasgow Film Festival runs from February 15th to 26th. Irish audiences can catch Handsome Devil as the Closing Gala for the Audi Dublin International Film Festival on February 26th. Tickets for that screening are on sale now.