Ballywalter, a Northern Irish comedy-drama that sees comedian Patrick Kielty make his acting debut opposite Smother star Seána Kerslake, will receive its world premiere at the Belfast Film Festival this Thursday.
Billed as "a life-affirming story about the unexpected connections that can change the course of our lives", the film tells the story of the friendship between a college dropout, Eileen (Kerslake), and Martin (Kielty), a broken man who has returned to his Co Down hometown of Ballywalter after the breakup of his marriage.
They meet when Martin joins a stand-up comedy course and Eileen brings him to his classes in her unlicensed taxi.
Backed by Northern Ireland Screen, Ballywalter is the feature directing debut of actor-turned-director Prasanna Puwanarajah and was written by Dundonald writer Stacey Gregg.
"Northern Ireland is a place where people have had to do it on their own for a very long time," Kielty told US entertainment trade publication Deadline as he looked forward to the film's world premiere.
"There are so many moments where we haven't been led and we've had to lead ourselves. A lot of that is at the heart of the film, which is about two people on their own who have to do it for themselves, and whether they can help themselves through it."
"In Northern Ireland today, people are surviving because of their relationships and friendships," the Co Down star continued.
"They're making their own future because no one's actually helping them; no one's actually leading them, and the political world is letting them down. This is a story of two people that actually didn't think they were going to make it, and ended up finding each other and realising that maybe they could."
A release date for Ballywalter has yet to be announced. The Belfast Film Festival runs from 3 to 12 November.
