Arracht release could pave way for more TG4 film success

Arracht, the Irish-language famine thriller by writer-director Tom Sullivan and production company Macalla Teo, had a busy 2020, winning best Irish feature at that year's Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival, showing at the Galway Film Fleadh and then being selected as Ireland's Oscar contender for Best International Film.

That it hasn't yet been released in Irish cinemas is understandable given that they have been closed for most of that time due to Covid-19 restrictions. But, as the film's official Twitter account declares, "it is coming... tá sé ag teacht". On October 15th, to be precise – a fact that brings much pleasure to TG4, which backed it through Cine4.

The mission of Cine4 – a partnership between the broadcaster, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland – is to develop original feature films in the Irish language. The idea is to encourage the visual flair and high-production values that look at home on the big screen while potentially bothering the Oscar voters.

“That is a magic triangle that we can’t do without,” said Derbhile Ní Churraighín, a TG4 commissioning editor, of the funding partners.

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“It’s very hard to fund huge projects of this magnitude on our own so we’re very grateful to the BAI and Fís Éireann, who come on board with us and help us with the funding.”

Cinema distribution

Theatrical releases "are very important", she added, with Arracht's autumn arrival set to be followed by the release of another Cine4 production, Foscadh from production company Magamedia, in the spring. Other titles are on the way with themes running from sport to the supernatural, meaning TG4 executives can "live in hope" that one of its future projects will eventually get that coveted Academy Award nomination.

Ní Churraighín said TG4 was “very proud” of the films in development, given the opportunities it affords to Irish screenwriters, directors and producers to upskill. This is still a nascent initiative, and the total budgets are modest, but Cine4 has the potential to do something special.