New film: ANN based on the story of a Granard girl releases into cinema next week

Hill Sixteen Features are delighted to announce that Ciaran Creagh’s Double Irish Film and Television Award Nominee and Dublin International Film Festival Winner “ANN” which was filmed locally will have its cinema release on April 28that selected cinemas nationwide.

ANN, an observational narrative drama, is set over one day, the 31st January 1984 and is based on the true story of the then 15-year-old Ann Lovett who was full term pregnant and subsequently gave birth in the grotto in Granard.  This story will shine a light into the last day of her life, a girl alone abandoned by society, by its prejudices, taboos and traditions.

Ann was made in association with RTE and stars Eileen Walsh, Ian Beattie, Zara Devlin, Senna O’Hara, Frank O’Sullivan, Joe Mullins and Sean T. O’Meallaigh.  It was shot on location in Boyle Co. Roscommon, during covid in the summer of 2021, with the assistance of the Film Office in Roscommon County Council.

The world premiere of “Ann” took place at the “A” category FIAPF accredited Tallinn Black Nights International Film festival in November 2022 where it had been selected for the main competition.   Following on from its world premiere in Tallinn, it was selected for a further two “A” category FIAPF accredited festivals, also in November, that is Cairo International Film Festival and International Film Festival of India, Goa.  Other festival outings include Chennai and Bengalura International Film Festivals.

At the 2023 Dublin International Film Festival, Ann has its Irish premiere where it picked up the Michael Dwyer Discovery Award for Zara Devlin's portrayal of Ann Lovett.  Following on from the success at Dublin International Film Festival, Ann received two nominations for the 2023 Irish Film and Television Awards for Lead Actress (Zara Devlin) and Supporting Actress (Eileen Walsh).

Ciaran Creagh is a screenwriter, director & producer whose credits include In View, a feature he wrote and directed which won Best Screenplay at the Rhode Island International Film Festival and was nominated for the Grand Newcomer Award at the Mannheim-Heidelberg Film Festival. Creagh also wrote the feature Parked, starring Colm Meaney. Parked was nominated in four categories at the Irish Film and Television Awards and won Best First Feature at the Galway Film Festival and Best Screenplay at the 2012 Foggia Film Festival. Creagh also wrote and directed the short The Note, starring Aidan Gillen.  Cry from the Sea, a feature he wrote is to be shot in May 2023 in Mayo and Donegal.