"A Simple Killing" and "Where It All Began" to Screen at Foyle Film Festival

Both A Simple Killing and Where It All Began, with scores by Irish composer Emer Landers, will screen at the esteemed Foyle Film Festival in Derry-Londonderry this November. The Foyle Film Festival is renowned for its Oscar and BAFTA-qualifying Light in Motion competition, spotlighting impactful international and Irish short films, making it an ideal venue for these works. Both films will screen at the

“A Simple Killing” made its world premiere at Raindance Film Festival in London earlier this year and recently made its US debut at the Newport Beach Film Festival. The short is an ambitious horror film directed by Jason Branagan, written by Mark Conway, and produced by Emer Durcan of Western Front Studios and Mark de Carreau of Five Line Films. It was shot on location at Bellefield House and Gardens in Shinrone, county Offaly, and was awarded €10,000 by the Film Offaly Short Film Bursary 2023. It stars Daphne Cheung, Claire Gavin, and Aidan O'Callaghan. Brian Durcan handled cinematography, and Irish stunt coordination company Total Stunts oversaw the stunt work and armory.

Where It All Began made its world premiere at The 36th Annual Galway Film Fleadh in 2024. The film follows the experience of a transgender woman (Laylah Beattie) as she arrives in her rural hometown for her mother’s funeral and is met by the father (Lalor Roddy) she left behind. It was written and directed by Alan Dunne, and produced by Lee-Loi Chieng, Jayne Delahunt, Eoin Quinn, and Alan Dunne.

Both films will screen at the Light in Motion Competition | Irish Shorts Programme 1 , with tickets being released for sale on November 1st. Further information can be found here.