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Exclusive: UK sales outfit launches Ireland-set period-romance.

UK outfit 7 & 7 Producers’ Sales Service will begin sales at the Afm on Anglo-Irish war-romance A Nightingale Falling.

Based on the bestselling novel by Pj Curtis, A Nightingale Falling stars Tara Breathnach and Muireann Bird as two Irish protestant sisters who conceal a severely wounded British officer and find themselves caught between the Ira and the ruthless British Black & Tans.

Directed by Garret Daly and Martine McGlynn, the film was produced in association with Northern Ireland Screen and is just completing its theatrical release in Ireland, where it is due to air on TV early next year.

Maura Ford of 7 & 7 said: “This beautiful 1920s period romance has a look reminiscent of Downton Abbey with an Irish backdrop of civil war and a twist in the tail. This blend has brought strong interest from the Us and I’m confident Afm is the perfect market to launch it to a wider audience...

Based on the Pj Curtis novel, A Nightingale Falling is set in Ireland during the War of Independence and follows two sisters whose lives change forever after they find a wounded solider on their farm. Nursing him back from near death, May and Tilly find themselves falling for his good looks and in fear of his execution and maybe their own, they keep him hidden, like a glorified prisoner, from the Black&Tans. Visually, A Nightingale Falling is far removed from its low budget roots. With beautiful composition and a rather fantastic use of natural light, this movie looks like a million dollars. Combined with some great costume design and incredibly authentic sets and props, it is really a a sight to behold. Unfortunately, that’s about as good as it gets for A Nightingale Falling, save a solid performance from Tara Breathnach. Without Breathnach, this would be a movie that would fall apart.

Terry McMahon’s Patrick’s Day and Gerard Barrett’s Glassland have jointly picked up the Best Irish Feature Award at the Galway Film Fleadh, which closed last night (July 13).

The annual awards ceremony took place before the screening of the festival’s closing film An Bronntanas.

Patrick’s Day world premiered at SXSW earlier this year. It tells the story of a schizophrenic young man (Moe Dunford) who tries to build a relationship with a flight attendant. Barrett’s follow up to Pilgrim Hill stars Toni Collette, Jack Reynor and Will Poulter and centres around alcoholism.

The festival’s Galway Hooker Awards were given to Irish actor Brenda Fricker, whose latest film A Long Way From Home was screened during t festival, and to animation powerhouse Brown Bag Films in recognition of their success as Irish animators on the international stage, including such successes as Doc McStuffins and two Oscar-nominated shorts.

In other awards...

The premiere for A Nightingale Falling takes place tomorrow at the Galway Film Fleadh, and unless you’ve got your ticket, you won’t get one now as it’s been sold out for well over a week. However, we have the first trailer below and it looks great. It has a fantastic authenticity about it (the visuals are superb), and it’s very reminiscent of something the great Ken Loach would do. Some tense and powerful performances by the cast here too and this is something we’re looking forward to seeing! Best of luck to Garret Daly and all the cast and crew ahead of their premiere! Synopsis: Set in Ireland during the War of Independence, two sisters' lives are changed forever as they care for a wounded soldier. What transpires is a tragic love story of a household & its inhabitants, caught in the crucible of dark deep...

The Galway Film Fleadh announced today the five nominees for the Bingham Ray New Talent Award. They are: producer, Anne Marie Naughton for "The Canal;" actor, Moe Dunford for "Patrick's Day;" director, Niall Heery for "Gold;" actor, Tara Breathnach for "A Nightingale Falling;" and actor, Dara Devaney for "An Bronntanas." The winner will be announced at the closing night awards ceremony, which takes place in the Town Hall Theatre. The new premieres announced are for "Patrick's Day," "Gold," "A Nightingale Falling" and "The Canal." - Directed by Terry McMahon, "Patrick's Day" follows the story of Patrick (Moe Dunford), a warm-hearted 26-year-old virgin schizophrenic, who falls in love with a soon-to-be alcoholic air-hostess, Karen. - A shocking journey into the unknown, Ivan Kavanagh's "The Canal" follows a family slowly growing a part due to suspected infidelity and nightmares of an evil presence that might live within their house. - Ifta-winning Niall Heery's new.