Closing Night Gala – That They May Face the Rising Sun

The 23rd edition of Dublin International film Festival will screen the much-anticipated adaptation of John McGahern’s ‘That They May Face The Rising Sun’ as our Closing Night Gala. 

Director Pat Collins said ”It’s a huge honour for us that the Irish premiere of That They May Face the Rising Sun is the Closing Film for this year’s DIFF. We have a long association with the festival and have had many special screenings there over the years and are delighted to be showing it here first.” 

Capturing a year in the life of a rural, lakeside community in Ireland in the 1970’s, That They May Face The Rising Sun is an adaptation of the final novel from John McGahern, one of Ireland’s greatest novelists. Joe and Kate Ruttledge have returned from London to live and work among the small, close-knit community near to where Joe grew up. Now deeply embedded in life around the lake, the drama of a year in their lives and those of the memorable characters around them unfolds through the rituals of work, play and the passing seasons as this enclosed world becomes an everywhere.  

 Directed by Pat Collins (Silence), the film stars Barry Ward (Jimmy’s Hall, Bad Sisters) and Anna Bederke (Soul Kitchen, Sterben) in the lead roles. Lalor Roddy (Grabbers, God’s Creatures), Sean McGinley (Michael Collins, Braveheart), Ruth McCabe (Philomena, Joy Ride) and first-time actor Phillip Dolan make up the rich cast of supporting characters.  

Break Out Pictures will release the film theatrically in Ireland and the UK in 2024, with audiences getting a unique opportunity to see it early in the festival. 

Tickets for That They May Face The Rising Sun are now on sale! Follow the link below for more details.  

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