Luke McManus’ North Circular will have a theatrical release in New York City, beginning on July 28th.
Shot in black and white, North Circular is a documentary musical that travels the length of Dublin's North Circular Road, exploring the turbulent history, diverse music and vibrant streetscapes of the city artery linking some of Ireland’s most beloved and infamous places.
"Stepping into the world of North Circular, I found myself instantly immersed in a sensory symphony,” said Dara Messinger, Programmer at New York’s esteemed DCTV Firehouse Cinema. “What a delight to be transported so far yet feel so close. These songs and stories resonate beyond borders. I'm so grateful to share this piece of Dublin with NYC."
"Bringing North Circular to New York City is massively exciting and a week of screenings downtown at DCTV's Firehouse Cinema, a community-run documentary cinema is a perfect fit for the film,” said Director Luke McManus. “I'm really looking forward to sharing the music, stories and history of Dublin's North Circular Road with New York audiences."
Featuring captivating intimate stories and musical performances from a wide variety of subjects and artists from North Circular’s working-class communities, the film vividly portrays the creativity fueling the resilient spirit of the city and nation. From the haunting legacies of British colonialism and the prison-industrial complex, to the fight for women’s liberation and personal perseverance, North Circular also engages with the urgent current issues of gentrification and displacement, including the battle to save the Cobblestone Pub, the epicentre of Dublin’s folk revival, from destruction at the hands of property developers.
North Circular continues to screen to Irish audiences at various cinemas 8 months after initial release.
The film includes musical performances from artists local to the North Circular, including John Francis Flynn, Séan Ó Túama, Eoghan O'Ceannabháin, Ian Lynch & Gemma Dunleavy.
Following its world premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival in 2022, North Circular won the Best Documentary award at the festival. The film has also won awards at Salem Film Fest, FIPADOC, Louth International Film Festival, Thin Line Fest, and IndieCork Film Festival.
North Circular has been officially selected for many other festivals such as Sheffield DocFest (2022), CPH:DOX (2023), Santa Barbara International Film Festival (2023), Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (2023), BAFICI – Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival (2023), and DOXA Documentary Film Festival (2023).
The film was written and directed by Luke McManus, and edited by John Murphy. McManus and Elaine Gallagher produced the film.
