Element Distribution has announced that they will release Northern Irish directors Andy and Ryan Tohill’s debut feature The Dig in select Irish cinemas on April 26th.
After serving fifteen years for murder, Callahan returns home to find Sean, his victim’s grieving father, searching for the body on an endless bog. When Callahan asks the local police officer to remove the man from his land, he soon realizes that the police and community want the killer in their midst gone for good. With no memory of the murder and no way of stopping Sean, Callahan’s only option is to join The Dig. Sean’s disapproving daughter Roberta watches this uneasy alliance unfold and as they dig closer to the truth, Callahan hopes he will soon find the closure he has been searching for.
The film stars Moe Dunford (Michael Inside, Vikings), Emily Taaffe (Beast, Paula), Francis Magee (Jimmy’s Hall, Rogue One) and Lorcan Cranitch (The Legend of Longwood, Love, Rosie).
The screenplay, written by Belfast native Stuart Drennan, was developed through Northern Ireland Screen’s New Talent Focus scheme with Lottery funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Brothers Ryan and Andrew Tohill direct while Brian J. Falconer will produce for Out of Orbit. Stuart has previously written for television dramas including Hollyoaks, 6 Degrees and Seacht and has worked with a range of broadcasters including BBC, Channel 4 and TG4.
The Tohill Brothers have directed several short films together. Their most recent short, Insulin, was a prequel for the critically acclaimed The Survivalist. Their previous short, Eyeline, was very well received on the festival circuit winning the Up and Coming Filmmakers award at the Cornwall Film Festival and was a finalist in the Soho Rushes Shorts in 2012. The Dig is their first feature-length film as directors and recently won Best Irish Feature at the 30th Galway Film Fleadh before playing at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival.
Our dedicated cast and crew endured winter wind and rain, on the bogland of Antrim for three weeks of creative chaos. It is the relentless passion and professionalism of that team, who forged this film into existence. Now that Element Picture Distribution have joined us on the journey, we are humbled and thrilled to share THE DIG with audiences across Ireland.
Andy and Ryan, Directors
The Dig will be in select cinemas from April 26th.