Irish Abroad: Darkness on the Edge of Town to play the Zlín Film Festival

Following news that Irish Neo-Western Darkness on the Edge of Town is heading to Romania, comes further news that the film will also play in the Czech Republic, at the historic Zlín Film Festival.

The Zlín Film Festival, also known as the International Film Festival for Children and Youthis, the oldest festival of its kind, celebrating its 55th anniversary in 2015. Darkness plays out of competition in the Night Horizons strand, which is a specialist section for serious and provocative topics. The strand specialises in films which incite debate and attract the more mature part of the audience, in particular college and university students, covering topics of transition from childhood to adult age, captured to be attractive for older spectators.

Written and directed by Patrick Ryan and starring Emma Eliza Regan, Emma Willis and Brian Gleeson, Darkness on the Edge of Town premiered at the 2014 Galway Film Fleadh, before being selected for Slamdance Film Festival in January 2015. It has garnered strong reviews and high praise on both sides of the Atlantic for its script, performances and cinematography. The film was a hot property at Slamdance; in the wake of its sold out premiere it was acquired for US distribution by Candy Factory Films, as well as being picked up by international distributor CinemaVault.

Darkness on the Edge of Town tells the story of a troubled teenage sharpshooter striving to avenge the murder of her estranged sister. It was shot by Tommy Fitzgerald and edited by Conor Fitzpatrick. Production and costume design were provided by Aoife Murray and Tania Persechini respectively, while Julie Caulfield acted as Make-up Artist. The score was composed by Alex Ryan, bassist and musical director for Hozier.

A UK and Irish release for Darkness on the Edge of Town is likely in the latter half of the year.