The 2015 Galway Film Fleadh, which runs July 7th to 12th, will open with the world premiere of Simon Fitzmaurice’s debut Irish drama My Name Is Emily.
The film is a road movie and love story between two teens, as Emily escapes from her foster home with the help of Arden, and sets out to find her father Robert, a visionary writer locked up in a psychiatric institution.
Evanna Lynch, best known for her role as Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films, stars in the title role as Emily, with support from acclaimed Irish actor Michael Smiley (Kill List, A Field in England) as her father Robert, and newcomer George Webster as Arden.
Award-winning film director and writer and father of 5, Simon Fitzmaurice was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (ALS) in 2008 – just after his 2nd short film The Sound Of People screened at the Sundance Film festival. Although now completely paralysed, he has typed the script for the film, as well as his best-selling book It’s Not Yet Dark by using his eyes and iris recognition software.
My Name is Emily is produced by Irish companies Newgrange Pictures and Kennedy Films, with financing from the Irish Film Board, BAI, TV3, and the Irish tax incentive. Co-production finance comes from Sweden and Norway. Last November the Irish producers ran a highly successful crowd-funding campaign, which raised over €100,000 towards the costs of enabling Fitzmaurice to realise his film.
Eclipse Pictures has secured distribution rights for Ireland, with My Name is Emily having already secured TV slots in Sweden. Producer Kathryn Kennedy has a making of documentary that captures the 28 day shoot and post-production process that should go with the film on its home release.
Speaking on the news, Managing Director Miriam Allen said: [quote]We are honoured to screen My Name is Emily as the opening film for our 2015 festival. After watching the film we were moved to tears, not only due to powerful film-making but also by Simon Fitzmaurice’s own inspirational story.[/quote]
Director Fitzmaurice said: [quote]I’m deeply honoured that the Galway Film Fleadh has invited My Name is Emily to open the festival. Everyone involved with the making of this film has worked so hard and I cannot think of a better reward and a better place for our film’s world premiere.[/quote]
My Name is Emily will receive its World premiere on Tuesday July 7th, at 7.30pm in the Town Hall Theatre, with cast and crew in attendance. For tickets, further details and information, visit www.galwayfilmfleadh.com.
Other films already confirmed for the 2015 Galway Film Fleadh include the Irish premiere of Mark Noonan’s You’re Ugly Too, and the Irish premiere of Cartoon Saloon’s IFTA Award-winning Song of the Sea on July 9th.