A starring role for Inishowen at North West film premiere
The Inishowen-shot Irish-Canadian production opens the Foyle Film Festival, with actor Keith McErlean among its featured cast
A Carndonagh actor will be among the special guests at the North West premiere of a feature film shot extensively around Inishowen, when it opens this year's Foyle Film Festival.
Keith McErlean features in The Lightkeeper, an Irish-Canadian production starring Dominic Cooper, Sarah Bolger, Sarah Gadon and Aidan Quinn, which has been selected as the festival's opening-night film.
The premiere takes place at Brunswick Moviebowl in Derry on Wednesday, November 18, at 8pm, with Keith set to attend and take part in a discussion with audiences after the screening.
Directed by Canadian filmmaker Vic Sarin, the film was shot in 2023 at locations across Inishowen and beyond, bringing a touch of Hollywood glamour to the peninsula.
Malin Head provided a spectacular backdrop for the production, while the village of Culdaff was transformed into a setting from another era, with its main street given a 1920s makeover featuring vintage vehicles, horse-drawn carriages and actors in period costume.
McGuinness' Bar was also among the local establishments involved in filming.
Set in Ireland in 1924, The Lightkeeper tells the story of a lighthouse keeper living in emotional isolation following a personal tragedy. His ordered existence is disrupted by the arrival of an American widow, opening the door to an unexpected relationship and the possibility of healing.
The film explores themes of grief, companionship, love and human connection.
Originally titled Cry from the Sea, the production was also filmed in other parts of Donegal and Mayo.
The Foyle Film Festival runs from November 18 to 29, showcasing Irish and international cinema, with The Lightkeeper providing a particularly strong local connection for audiences on both sides of the border.