Film Hub NI brings BALLYWALTER to audiences across Northern Ireland.

Filmed and set across the Ards Peninsula and Belfast BALLYWALTER sees local hero Patrick Kielty in his first acting role, co-starring with the fantastic Séana Kerslake in Prasanna Puwanarajah’s directorial debut.

BALLYWALTER follows two lost souls as they navigate the circumstances in their lives that brought them together in this unlikely coupling – Shane (Kielty), a recently separated middle-aged man who decides to try his hand at comedy, and Eileen (Kerslake), a sharp-tongued university drop-out who has moved back to the family home and is driving a taxi to make ends meet.

When Shane calls a taxi to get him to his classes, Eileen answers and a surprising connection is made. As the two spend time together shuttling back and forth, a beautiful friendship develops, leading both to a moment of realisation.

Shane reintegrates; Eileen makes peace with herself and who she really is. Finally, she can stop running and just drive.

British Sri Lankan director Prasanna Puwanarajah felt a particular connection to the screenplay and characters for BALLYWALTER created by Belfast writer Stacey Gregg (HERE BEFORE), as he explains: “There’s something about the three-dimensional humaneness of her characters colliding with a freewheeling sense of humour and beautiful, delicate pathos that struck a particular harmony with me when we started working together over 10 years ago. As soon as I came to Northern Ireland, there was something I recognised in the way the people lived with their history. I connected with the rhythms and the humour in a way that surprised me initially and that later on I completely fell into. It felt like a recognisable and familiar place to me.”

Sara Gunn-Smith (Film Hub NI) said “There has been great demand from audiences and our Hub members to include BALLYWALTER as one of the Collective film tours and I am delighted to have been able to work with Break Out Pictures and the filmmakers to bring the film to so many venues in early 2024. It is a fantastic life-affirming film, with a terrific script and tremendous performances from the main actors and also all the supporting local cast. Don’t miss out on seeing it on the big screen!”

The film was supported by Northern Ireland Screen, had its world premiere at Belfast Film Festival in 2022 and a successful cinema-run in Sept 2023. Film Hub NI are thrilled to now bring it on tour as part of the Collective initiative which brings local films to audiences right across Northern Ireland so more people can enjoy this charming and funny film.

*Q & As with cast and crew will be taking place on some of the dates and will be announced on social media.

The film will be calling at Aurora Community Cinema (Rostrevor), Newcastle Community Cinema, The Court House (Bangor), Dungannon Film Club, Strand Arts Centre (Belfast), Portrush Film Theatre, Ormeau Community Cinema (Belfast), Braid Film Theatre (Ballymena), Subterranean Community Cinema (Omagh) and Seamus Heaney HomePlace (Bellaghy).

Full list of dates and ticket information. 

Thanks to all at Breakout Out Pictures, Prasanna Puwanarajah, James Bierman, Hannah Layton and Nik Bower for their assistance with tour logistics.