Irish Film Institute -International Film Directory – Film Listing

Once Upon a Time in a Cinema

    • Director

      David Gleeson

    • Credits

      Producers:
      Nathalie Lichtenthaeler,
      Judy Tossell.

      Writer:
      David Gleeson

      Cinematographer:
      Hyun de Grande

    • Principal Cast

      Colin Morgan,
      Calam Lynch,
      Clara Crichton,
      India Mullen,
      Niamh Cusack,
      Stanley Townsend.

  • Category

    Feature

A cinema in a small Irish town in the mid-80s is the setting for David Gleeson's (Cowboys & Angels) charming crowd-pleaser which follows weary manager Earl Clancy (Colin Morgan) as he struggles to stay afloat during one chaotic Friday night screening of Breathless (the Richard Gere-starring remake of Godard's original). As technical disasters, unruly patrons, and family tensions mount, Earl must confront the uncertain future of his beloved single-screen theatre.

Notes by David O'Mahony

World Premiere: Dublin International Film Festival, 2026

90 minutes, Ireland, 2026, Colour

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