The Unholylands, written and directed by Fermanagh’s Paddy Duffy, hit cinema screens across the United Kingdom and Ireland on Friday, 3 October.
Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, Paddy discussed his filmmaking process and what inspired the coming-of-age comedy set in Belfast’s notorious Holylands student area.
“Growing up I was always deeply drawn to the way films made me feel,” he said. “They weren’t just something I watched for a few hours of entertainment, they were pure escapism, and they made me more aware of my emotions unlike anything else.
“Capturing that feeling has always been important to me as a filmmaker, and it’s a major part of what drives me creatively.”
(Image: The Unholylands.)
Paddy added: “With The Unholylands, I want people not only to laugh but to feel a sense of deep nostalgia for a time in their lives that they may or may not have experienced.”
Originally, The Unholylands made its debut at the Belfast Film Festival in 2024. It is now being shown on the big screen across the United Kingdom, including in Paddy’s hometown of Enniskillen.
“It feels incredible to be honest. Anyone who works in film will tell you that having your own cinema release is a dream come true in a sense, and the fact that it’s actually happening now still feels surreal,” he told this newspaper.
“I’m especially proud to have the film play in the hometown of Enniskillen, especially in the local cinema here which played a big part in my childhood. It’s a very special time that I won’t forget anytime soon.”
(Image: The Unholylands.)
Paddy’s visual style as a filmmaker centres on a gritty aesthetic, incorporating elements of social realism woven into the cinematic narrative.
“With The Unholylands I wanted it to feel and look really naturalistic, almost like something out of a Shane Meadows film,” he said.
“Anything too polished or ‘Hollywood-esque’ in terms of lighting or camera work would’ve taken away from the rawness and grit of the setting. For a film set in the Holylands, I think it’s important to stay true to that atmosphere.
“Whether or not I want to continue this style for future films will depend entirely on the type of film it is,” he added.
(Image: The Unholylands.)
Paddy told this newspaper about the challenges he faced during post-production for The Unholylands, attributing them to his pursuit of perfection for his first feature-length film.
“Surprisingly the biggest challenge of the film was actually the edit. It took much longer than I expected and to me it was the final opportunity to make everything perfect. It required a lot of long hours and focus to get it right,” he said.
When asked about the themes and messages he likes to explore in his films, Paddy explained that they “usually depend on the story itself.”
“In the case of The Unholylands, I wanted to delve into themes of mental health and the pitfalls of party culture. Having seen first hand the impact it can have on people, this felt like the right film to explore those ideas,” he said.
Looking ahead to the future, Paddy said: “I actually have something very, very exciting in the pipeline, and when the time is right to reveal it I think people are going to love it.
“Right now, though, I want to focus entirely on The Unholylands and make sure it’s the best release it can be,” he added.
If you are interested in a screening of The Unholylands it is currently showing in IMC Enniskillen and film is also showing in cinemas across Ireland and the United Kingdom.
(Image: Instagram)
Audiences can catch the film at Moviehouse Belfast Cityside and The Avenue Belfast, as well as Omniplex locations in Dundonald, Kennedy Centre, Lisburn, Newry, Cork, Galway Salthill, and Dublin Rathmines.
IMC theatres in Enniskillen, Newtownards, Ballymena, and Banbridge are also screening the film, alongside Moviebowl Derry.
Additional showings are available at Odeon cinemas in Belfast Victoria Square, Liverpool Switch Island, Glasgow Braehead, and Dublin Coolock, and at Eclipse Cinemas in Bundoran and Lifford/Strabane.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source uk.news.yahoo.com ’
