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Director
Glenn Leyburn, Lisa Barros D'Sa
Credits
Producers: Trevor Birney, Oliver Butler, Macdara Kelleher, John Keville.
Cinemtographer TBA
Writer: Paul Fraser
Principal Cast
Éanna Hardwicke, Steve Coogan,
Category
Feature
Following Good Vibrations (2012), their vibrant chronicle of the life and times of Belfast punk maven Terri Hooley, directors Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn turn to more recent national cultural history in Saipan, an account of one of the most infamous episodes in Irish sport. Having qualified for the 2002 World Cup, led by talismanic captain Roy Keane (Éanna Hardwicke, displaying an impressive glower and very much the hero of the piece) and under the management of Mick McCarthy (Steve Coogan), the Republic of Ireland team arrive on the titular island to prepare for their campaign. Driven and uncompromising, Keane grows increasingly frustrated with the poor resources and his teammates’ lack of commitment. Open hostility quickly breaks out between him and the ever-more downtrodden and woebegone McCarthy in a film with appeal far beyond that of the football audience. Notes by Kevin Coyne World premiere: Toronto International Film Festival, 4 September2025. Ireland premiere: Cork International Film Festival, 6 November 2025.
91 minutes, Ireland, Northern Ireland, 2025, Colour
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FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER 13.25
HOKUM 11.05, 18.15
ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA 20.10
PRIMAVERA 11.00, 20.35
ROSE OF NEVADA 20.20
THE STRANGER 13.05
THIS MORTAL COIL: ANXIETY + DEATH & TRANSFIGURATION 15.40
TRAD 13.20, 18.20
The IFI is supported by The Arts Council