A musical trip through inner city Dublin.

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Luke McManus

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I have lived in this part of Dublin for most of my adult life and when the COVID-19 lockdown came, I realise just what a fascinating, diverse, culturally rich and downright weird place that it is.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

If you want to hear some incredible songs, see some unforgettable images and hear some remarkable stories, this is a musical trip through Dublin that you will never forget.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

I poured my many obsessions into this film which is the most personal work of my career. But counter-intuitively, this has also worked to the film's advantage globally - there is something universal about this place and this film and its engagement with audiences around the world never ceases to surprise me. The themes are communion and community, the power of creativity to overcome trauma and the strange river of Irish history as it flows along this weirdest of roads.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

Any documentary grows and changes in the telling.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Incredibly positive feedback. Brilliant reviews and better still, busy cinemas with enthusiastic personal responses. It has been a remarkable experience.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Generally, the positivity has surprised me massively. One or two people have said that they have felt that it makes the community look like a dark, grim place, but generally, the response has been tremendous.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

We want to bring the north inner city of Dublin to the world - hopefully, you can help with that.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

We have an excellent producer and a great sales agent so we are looking for buyers, distributors, film festival directors, and journalists to get on board to amplify the film's message.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

We would like cinema audiences around the world to enjoy this film, together.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Do our cities work for us, or for global capital? Can you overcome generational trauma through music and art? How did that crow end up in that cannon?

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Luke McManus is currently completing a three-part TV series about the homeless on the streets of Dublin called Stories From The Street

Interview: January 2023

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

North Circular

A musical trip through inner city Dublin.

Length: 1:25:56

Director: Luke McManus

Producer: Elaine Gallagher

Writer: Luke McManus

About the writer, director and producer:

LUKE MCMANUS is a documentary filmmaker based in Dublin. He has made acclaimed films for Netflix, BBC, NBC, Channel 4, ITV, RTÉ, TV3, NDR, Virgin Media Television, Al-Jazeera and TG4. His work has won the FIPADOC Grand Prix, four Irish Film & Television Awards, the Celtic Media Award, the Radharc Prize, the Spirit of IndieCork Awards and the EBU Connect Award. His debut feature documentary as a director, North Circular, had its International Premiere at Sheffield Doc/Fest in 2022 and won awards at Dublin IFF, Louth IFF and IndieCork Film Festival as well as the Grand Prix at FIPADOC.

ELAINE GALLAGHER is an Irish writer, director, producer and stand-up comedian from Kells, Co. Meath. In 2018, Elaine co-directed the Filmbase masters comedy-drama-musical feature film, The Comeback, starring Rob Arkins and Tara Flynn, which premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh. Elaine’s previous work includes the Screen Ireland-funded dance short, An Rinceoir (2011), which screened at a great number of film festivals around the world and is currently on the Irish language syllabus for the Junior Certificate First Year programme.

Key cast: Sean O Tuama, Ian Lynch, Gemma Dunleavy, Annie Hughes, Gemma Dunleavy, Julie Kavanagh

Looking for: distributors, film festival directors and buyers

Facebook: North Circular

Twitter: @northcircular_

Instagram: @northcirculardoc

Hashtags used: #northcircular

Website: www.northcircularfilm.com

Made in association with: Madhouse Films

Funders: The Arts Council/An Chomairle Ealaíon

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?

Santa Barbara International Film Festival - Feb 16 and 17th