Two world premieres have been announced for this year's Galway Film Fleadh lineup. Taking place this July 5th – 10th, the festival celebrates its 34th iteration. It returns this year with live showings at the Town Hall Theatre and Pálás Cinema after two years of online & outdoor events. The leading Irish film event has teased a record number of new Irish and European features, nail-biting documentaries, and short films. Ahead of the full line-up, two Irish premieres have been announced

The Fleadh will open with the world premiere of Joyride on July 5th in the Town Hall Theatre. Directed by Emer Reynolds, Joyride tells the story of Joy (Olivia Colman) - a complicated woman struggling with motherhood. She finds herself on the run with Mully (Charlie Reid), an adolescent with a mum-shaped void in his life. In this feel-good, foul-mouthed fairy-tale, we follow these roguish ‘outlaws’ as they tear up the road on their riotous journey across Ireland in search of their dreams.

Also announced is the midlands-set football drama, Lakelands. The film follows Cian, a young Gaelic footballer who struggles to comes to terms with a career-ending injury after an attack on a night out. We follow Cian as he undertakes a search for his own identity in a town where Gaelic football is a religion, and identity is defined by what you can do on the pitch. The film features the directorial debuts of Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney alongside a cast of emerging Irish stars includes Éanna Hardwicke (Vivarium, Normal People) and Danielle Galligan (Netflix’s Shadow and Bone). Lakelands will premiere on July 9th at 9pm at the Town Hall Theatre.

Lakelands previously won an award for the Best Marketplace Project. The concept was pitched at the Film Fleadh’s film & television marketplace, a one-of-a kind Irish event where filmmakers with projects in development can meet with film financiers, distributors, sales agents, broadcasters, and major producers.

The Film Fleadh’s Director of Programming William Fitzgerald teased a bumper edition, “It’s exciting, the whole industry is looking forward to return to the first ‘proper Fleadh’ in three years, and we’re not going to disappoint with a record number of New Irish Film premieres in this year’s programme. Stay tuned for more to come.”

Full programme details will be announced in two weeks, along with hundreds of events including screenings, Q+A’s and filmmaker interviews, panel discussions, and more.

For tickets and further info, visit the Fleadh website or contact Town Hall Theatre box office on 091 569777. The Galway Film Fleadh is supported by the Arts Council, Failte Ireland, Screen Ireland and Galway City Council.

👀2022 Sneak Peek👀

Lakelands World Premiere ⚽️

Joyride 🍼 to open 34th #FilmFleadhhttps://t.co/DgS3JtBi8d pic.twitter.com/YjEisM2kCT

— Galway Film Fleadh (@GalwayFilm) June 8, 2022