Irish Film Institute -International Film Directory – Film Listing

Learning to Breathe Under Water

    • Director

      Rebekah Fortune

    • Credits

      Producers:
      Patrick O'Neill,
      Jack Tarling.

      Writer:
      Richard Brabin

      Cinematographer:
      Richard Kendrick

    • Principal Cast

      Rory Kinnear,
      Maria Bakalova,
      Niamh McCann,
      Declan Conlon,
      Ezra Carlisle.

  • Category

    Feature
    F-Rated Female-led

Eight-year-old Leo (Ezra Carlisle) is mourning his mother, who died five years ago, while his father Peter (Rory Kinnear) swings between manic creativity and anxiety. That all changes when Bulgarian au pair Anya (Maria Bakalova) joins the household to help care for Leo.

World premiere: Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, 7 July 2026
Ireland premiere: Galway Film Fleadh, 10 July 2026

Awards:
+ Audience Award, Galway Film Fleadh 2026

95 minutes, UK, Netherlands, Ireland, 2026, Colour

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