Latest news with #SmallThingsLikeThese
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
From The Archives: Claire Keegan talks to Sean Rocks
The arts community lost a great friend this weeks with the loss of Seán Rocks, the presenter of Arena. By way of tribute, we are broadcasting a public interview Sean did with writer Claire Keegan, the acclaimed author of Small Things Like These and Foster, a classic example of Sean at his finest - listen above.
RTÉ News
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Cillian Murphy's new film Steve to have European premiere in Cork
It has been announced that Cillian Murphy's new film Steve will have its European premiere in the actor's native Cork this September as part of the programme for this year's Sounds from a Safe Harbour arts festival in the city. The festival runs from 11 to 14 September, and the European premiere of Steve will take place at the Arc Cinema Cork on Saturday 13 September. Murphy will also take part in a public interview with Steve 's director Tim Mielants and screenwriter and author Max Porter in the Cork Opera House. For more, see: Steve reunites Murphy with Small Things Like These director Mielants and co-star Emily Watson for a school-based drama. The film will receive its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) earlier in September, where it will compete as part of the festival's Platform programme. It will be released in selected Irish cinemas in September and will arrive on Netflix on 3 October. Steve is described as "a reimagining" of Porter's best-selling novel Shy. The British author is also the film's executive producer. "The film follows a pivotal day in the life of headteacher Steve (Academy Award winner Cillian Murphy) and his students at a last-chance reform school amidst a world that has forsaken them," says the Netflix synopsis. "As Steve fights to protect the school's integrity and impending closure, we witness him grappling with his own mental health. "In parallel to Steve's struggles, we meet Shy (Jay Lycurgo), a troubled teen caught between his past and what lies ahead as he tries to reconcile his inner fragility with his impulse for self-destruction and violence." Joining Murphy, Watson, and newcomer Lycurgo in Steve are Tracey Ullman (The Tracey Ullman Show, Mrs America) and Simbi Ajikawo (Top Boy) aka rapper Little Simz. Having launched their company Big Things Films with the acclaimed adaptation of Claire Keegan's bestseller Small Things Like These, Murphy and his production partner Alan Moloney are releasing Steve as their second feature. Murphy and author Porter previously collaborated on the stage adaptation of Porter's Grief Is the Thing with Feathers and the short film All of This Unreal Time. "I just adore Max's writing and the thing his writing does for me, which Claire Keegan's writing does as well - and it's something I've always chased down in writing - is something that has an actual visceral effect on you, an emotional effect," the Cork actor told entertainment trade publication Deadline when Steve was first announced in February 2024. "I remember reading Foster, Claire's short story, I remember actually crying reading the book and having to put my hood up on the train to try to hide, I was so embarrassed. "And then Shy was also that book. Max gave me that book in a proof edition before he finished it, and again it just broke my heart. They're the sorts of things I love as a reader and as a performer, so I really wanted to do something with him."
RTÉ News
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Cillian Murphy-starring Steve to have world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival
The Cillian Murphy-starring Steve is to receive its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September, where it will compete as part of the festival's Platform programme. The Platform programme is described as "a first glimpse at some of the most compelling cinematic voices on the rise" and champions "bold directorial vision and distinctive storytelling". The Platform Award is the only juried prize at the Toronto International Film Festival, which runs from 4 to 14 September. The school-based drama Steve reunites Murphy with Small Things Like These director Tim Mielants and co-star Emily Watson. The film will be released in selected Irish cinemas in September and will arrive on Netflix on 3 October. Steve is described as "a reimagining" of Max Porter's best-selling novel Shy. The British author has written the screenplay and is also the film's executive producer. "The film follows a pivotal day in the life of headteacher Steve (Academy Award winner Cillian Murphy) and his students at a last-chance reform school amidst a world that has forsaken them," says Netflix. "As Steve fights to protect the school's integrity and impending closure, we witness him grappling with his own mental health. "In parallel to Steve's struggles, we meet Shy (Jay Lycurgo), a troubled teen caught between his past and what lies ahead as he tries to reconcile his inner fragility with his impulse for self-destruction and violence." Joining Murphy, Watson, and newcomer Lycurgo in Steve are Tracey Ullman (The Tracey Ullman Show, Mrs America) and Simbi Ajikawo (Top Boy) aka rapper Little Simz. Having launched their company Big Things Films with the acclaimed adaptation of Claire Keegan's bestseller Small Things Like These, Murphy and his production partner Alan Moloney are releasing Steve as their second feature. Murphy and author Porter previously collaborated on the stage adaptation of Porter's Grief is the Thing with Feathers and the short film All of This Unreal Time. "I just adore Max's writing and the thing his writing does for me, which Claire Keegan's writing does as well - and it's something I've always chased down in writing - is something that has an actual visceral effect on you, an emotional effect," the Cork actor told entertainment trade publication Deadline when Steve was first announced in February 2024. "I remember reading Foster, Claire's short story, I remember actually crying reading the book and having to put my hood up on the train to try to hide, I was so embarrassed. "And then Shy was also that book. Max gave me that book in a proof edition before he finished it, and again it just broke my heart. They're the sorts of things I love as a reader and as a performer, so I really wanted to do something with him."
Irish Independent
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Two Irish films earn enough to break into the top 25 box office performers
That is according to the 2024 annual report for the Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) which shows that the biggest movie at the Irish box office last year was Disney's Inside Out 2 which grossed €6.2m. Inside Out 2 was well ahead of the second biggest hit at the box office last year, Despicable Me 4 which grossed €4.83m. Paul Mescal's much anticipated Gladiator II opened in November to mixed reviews and recorded the fifth highest box office of the year at €3.67m, and was edged out of the top four by Deadpool & Wolverine, which grossed €4.36m and Wicked, which enjoyed a box-office of €3.83m. No Irish movie broke into the top 25 top box office movies for 2023, but last year, two did with Small Things Like These ranked 11th, with a box office of €2.4m, while Kneecap had a box office of €1.14m and was ranked 25th. The report says that total box office revenue in 2024 at the Irish cinema was €102.5m, up €1.5m on 2023, while total box office admissions in 2024 was 11.62m, up 1pc on 2023. In his report, director at the IFCO, Dr Ciarán Kissane said: 'It is great to see Irish titles, Kneecap and Small Things Like These, in the top 25 box office earners in 2024.' Small Things Like These stars Cillian Murphy and Emily Watson, and was adapted for the screen by Enda Walsh from the best-selling Claire Keegan 2021 novel. The comedy drama Kneecap depicts the rise of Kneecap, the hip-hop trio from Belfast. The movie premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, and was the first Irish language movie to do so where it won the NEXT Audience Award. Dr Kissane said: 'Films originating from Ireland accounted for 17pc of features and shorts classified for Irish cinema in 2024. ADVERTISEMENT This is a significant increase on 2023 figures, where Irish features accounted for just 10pc.' The report says that 'the increase in Irish material is linked to the increase in the number of shorts classified and this reflects IFCO's increased engagement with Irish film festivals and producers'. Dr Kissane said that 'while box office revenue is back to the pre-pandemic peak, admissions are still over 3.5m lower than 2019'. He said: 'This indicates that there remains significant room for growth and this is supported by independent analysis.' He said that in PwC's Ireland Entertainment Media Outlook 2024-2027, total cinema revenue in Ireland is projected to grow to €161m by 2027. 'This would be a significant increase on the pre-pandemic 2019 figure of €124m.' He said the majority of the top 25 grossing films in 2024 were US releases and these accounted for more than 55pc of total box office revenue. Concerning complaints received in 2024, IFCO received correspondence about 13 different films and the report says that 'all were dealt with and closed within specified timeframes'.
Irish Examiner
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Kneecap among the top performers as Irish box office totals €102.5m
Two Irish movies, Small Things Like These and Kneecap last year broke into the top 25 box office performers at the cinema here. That is according to the 2024 annual report for the Irish Film Classification Office (Ifco) which shows the biggest movie at the Irish box office last year was Disney's Inside Out 2, which grossed €6.2m. Inside Out 2 was well ahead of the second biggest hit at the box office last year, Despicable Me 4, which grossed €4.83m. Paul Mescal's much anticipated Gladiator II opened in November to mixed reviews and recorded the fifth highest box office of the year at €3.67m, and was edged out of the top four by Deadpool & Wolverine, which grossed €4.36m and Wicked which enjoyed a box-office of €3.83m. No Irish film broke into the top 25 box office movies for 2023 but last year, two did, with Small Things Like These ranked 11th and had a box office of €2.4m, while Kneecap had a box office of €1.14m and was ranked 25th. The report says total box office revenue in 2024 at the Irish cinema was €102.5m, up €1.5m on 2023, while total box office admissions in 2024 was 11.62m, up 1% on 2023. In his report, Ifco director Dr Ciarán Kissane said: 'It is great to see Irish titles, Kneecap and Small Things Like These, in the top 25 box office earners in 2024.' Small Things Like These stars Cillian Murphy and Emily Watson and was adapted for the screen by Enda Walsh from the best-selling Claire Keegan 2021 novel. The comedy drama Kneecap movie depicts the rise of Kneecap, the hip-hop trio from Belfast. The movie premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and was the first Irish language movie to do so where it won the NEXT Audience Award. Read More Irish companies double down on DEI despite shift in the US
