Scéal, a new series of Irish short films, begins on TG4 tonight, Wednesday April 24, at 10:00pm with Bás Arto Leary (The Death of Arto Leary).
Scéal sees Irish-speaking writers and directors adapting stories from Irish language literature or folklore and updating them for the present day.
Directed by Luke McManus and written by Manchán Magan, Bás Arto Leary is described as "a contemporary version of the epic 18th century poem Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire, relocated to modern day Galway".
It stars Kelly Gough (RAW, Scúp), Lochlainn O'Mearáin (The Summit), Aoife Nic Ardghail (Rasaí na Gaillimhe, Seacht) and Owen McDonnell (Single-Handed, Saving the Titanic).
The film won the Audience Award at the Dingle International Film Festival last month.
Director McManus said: "I was immediately attracted by Manchán's remorseless modernisation of the original poem. The script was full of incident, energy and dramatic possibilities. It's a story with a powerful heroine and Kelly Gough played against type tremendously well. All the cast were terrific."
The other upcoming films in the Scéal series are: Eoinín by Seán T Ó Meallaigh and Tom O’Sullivan; Pairtnéir (Partner) by Ann Marie Flanagan and Colm Bairéad; Síle by Séamus Moran and Cathal Ó Cuaig; An Gadaí (The Thief) by Medb Johnstone and Niall Fallon; and Dílseacht (Loyalty) by Marion Ní Loingsigh and Brendan Murray.
