Element Distribution and Picturehouse Entertainment have announced that female-driven drama Herself, will be released into Irish and UK cinemas from 16th October. The film received its world premiere to critical acclaim at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Herself is directed by Phyllida Lloyd (The Iron Lady) and co- written by Clare Dunne who also stars in the film in what is her feature debut, alongside Harriet Walter (Killing Eve, Succession).
Herself follows the story of Sandra (Clare Dunne), who on the surface of it, is a young Mum struggling to provide her two young daughters with a warm, safe, happy home to grow up in. Beneath the surface, Sandra has a steely determination to change their lives for the better and when it becomes clear that there are no other options left to her, she decides to build it herself from scratch, drawing together a community of friends to support her. Supporting cast includes Conleth Hill (Game of Thrones) and Cathy Belton (Philomena).
Herself was co-written by Clare Dunne and Malcolm Campbell (What Richard Did). It was co-developed by Element Pictures and Merman and is produced by Academy Award® nominee Ed Guiney (The Favourite, The Lobster) and Rory Gilmartin (Rosie) for Element, together with BAFTA award-winning actress, writer, producer and director Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe, Divorce). Clelia Mountford (Motherland, There She Goes) from Merman, Element Pictures’ Andrew Lowe, BBC Films’ Rose Garnett, Cornerstone Films’ Alison Thompson, Mary Burke from the BFI and Lesley McKimm from Screen Ireland are executive producers. The film was developed with BBC Films and Screen Ireland and production was backed by Screen Ireland, BBC Films and the BFI (with National Lottery funding).