An Cailín Ciúin / The Quiet Girl – Followed by a Q&A with the Writer, Director Colm Bairéad

As part of our 3 day season, ‘Scannán – A Focus On The Phenomenal Success of Irish Language Films in Global Cinema”, the ICC is delighted to present this special preview screening of this new, award-winning Irish language drama, before it goes on general release. This special screening will be followed by a Q&A with the Writer and Director Colm Bairéad.

Colm Bairéad’s debut feature is an intricately exquisite coming-of-age drama that delves into the many layers of family relations through the eyes of a young girl. The film follows Cáit (Catherine Clinch) as she is sent to live with distant relatives for the summer. She is welcomed with open arms by Eibhlín (Carrie Crowley), but her husband (Andrew Bennett) keeps Cáit at arms length. Slowly but surely a warmth grows within this makeshift family and Cáit reaps the benefits. Until, that is, she discovers more than she anticipated.

Award-Winning Sensation

Irish writer-director Colm Bairéad’s coming-of-age feature “An Cailín Ciúin / The Quiet Girl” received its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in February 2022, where it was awarded the “Grand Prize” in the Generation Kplus strand, and has since been screened at The Dublin and Glasgow film festivals. It also won  eight awards at The Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAs), including best actress for it’s 12-year-old lead, Catherine Clinch, and best film – the first time in IFTA history that an Irish-language feature has taken the top award.

Set in 1981 in rural Ireland, the story follows a young girl who blossoms while in the care of foster parents one summer until she discovers a painful truth. The film was adapted by Bairéad from Irish author Claire Keegan’s acclaimed novella, Foster.It marks the feature debut of director Bairéad and producer Ní Chrualaoi of Dublin-based Inscéal.

Shot on location in Meath and Dublin in 2020, funding came from Screen Ireland, TG4 and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland as part of the Cine4 scheme.

The ICC would like to thank “Break Out Pictures” for arranging this special preview screening.

“An Cailín Ciúin / The Quiet Girl” is being screened at The ICC as part of “Scannán – A Focus On The Phenomenal Success of Irish Language Films in Global Cinema” taking place over the weekend of  May 6 – 8^th. The season will screen four Irish language feature films, a selection of Irish language short films and on Sunday May 8^th there will be a symposium on the origins and success of Irish language films in cinema.

Writer/Director: Colm Bairéad; Producer: Cleona Ní Chrualaoí

Production Company Inscéal. Distributor Break Out Pictures

Ireland 2022: Length 94 mins:  Language Irish /English with subtitles

The Screening will be followed by a Q&A with Director/ Writer Colm Bairéad and Gerry McGuire from Irish Film London.