International film distributor and studio Lionsgate has announced that it has acquired the rights to the Cillian Murphy-starring Claire Keegan adaptation Small Things Like These for Ireland, the UK, and North America.
US entertainment trade publication Deadline reports that the release date is yet to be announced. The North American deal is in partnership with another distributor, Roadside Attractions.
Small Things Like These received its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year, where Murphy's co-star Emily Watson won the award for Best Supporting Performance.
Announcing the distribution deal, Adam Fogelson, Chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said: "We are incredibly proud to bring this film to audiences.
"Claire Keegan's book is a captivating, heart-wrenching, and empathetically told story of a character who uncovers not only a local mystery, but also discovers who he really is."
Fogelson described Oscar winner Murphy as being "at the peak of his powers, both as an actor and a producer".
"It's especially meaningful for us to be distributing in Ireland, where we are confident audiences will embrace the film," he added.
Set in an Irish town at Christmas 1985, Small Things Like These follows fuel merchant Bill Furlong (Murphy) as he discovers secrets about his homeplace and his own life. It was filmed in Wexford, Wicklow, and Dublin last year.
Small Things Like These reunites Murphy with Peaky Blinders director Tim Mielants.
The script is by one of Murphy's longtime collaborators, the playwright Enda Walsh.
The cast also includes Eileen Walsh and Michelle Fairley.
The film has received backing from Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and is the first feature from Murphy and production partner Alan Moloney's Big Things Films.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's company Artists Equity (AE) is also a producer.
Commenting on the distribution deal, Murphy said: "Especially since Small Things Like These marks the first project from Big Things Films, I'm particularly pleased Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions will bring it to audiences in Ireland, the US, and UK.
"Making the film was a labour of love; I can't wait to talk about it.
"We are enormously grateful to Artists Equity for their unwavering support throughout this process. From the moment we shared the script, they have been there for us, and we are immensely grateful for their philosophy and partnership."
Keegan's book Foster was the basis for the Oscar-nominated Irish-language film An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl), which was an award winner at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2022.
