The film has received IFTA nominations for Best Film, Best Lead Actor in a Film (Éanna Hardwicke), Best Lead Actress in a Film (Danielle Galligan), and Best Score (DaithÍ Ó'DronaÍ).
Lakelands is the debut feature from Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney, featuring emerging Irish stars Éanna Hardwicke (Vivarium, Normal People), who was recently named one of Screen International’s Rising Stars Ireland, and Danielle Galligan (Shadow and Bone) as well as Gary Lydon (The Banshees of Inisherin), Dafhyd Flynn (Michael Inside), and Lorcan Cranitch (The Dig).
The film follows Cian, a young Gaelic footballer struggling to come to terms with a career-ending injury after an attack on a night out. He undertakes a search for his own identity in a small town where Gaelic football is a religion, and identity is defined by what you can do on the pitch.
Lakelands had its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh last summer where it picked up the Best Irish Film prize, and both Hardwicke and Galligan were awarded the Bingham Ray Talent Award for their performances in the film. The feature went on to screen at other festivals including the Kerry Film Festival where it won Best Film and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival where it had its US premiere.
Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney also produced the film for Harp Media with support from Screen Ireland, Creative Ireland, Longford Arts Office and Backstage Theatre. Chris Higgins and Andrei Bogdan co-produced.
Lakelands screens in Irish cinemas from Friday 5th.
