A Co Armagh woman is taking the lead in a new Irish feature film set to make its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh this weekend.
Geraldine McAlinden, originally from Maghery and now living in Dublin, takes the lead in the film, Verdigris, starring as Marian, a recently retired woman who takes a job as a census enumerator.
Geraldine has been an actor for over 15 years, appearing in the Sharon Horgan series Bad Sisters, as well as hit series Bloodlands and Miss Scarlet and The Duke.
Verdigris also stars Maya O’Shea (Normal People), Killian Filan (Crash Scene Investigates) and Michael James Ford (Penny Dreadful). It was directed by renowned Irish film-maker Patricia Kelly, whose award-winning short films have screened worldwide at film festivals.
Kelly also wrote Verdigris and it was filmed in inner-city Dublin and in the seaside town Rush.
Verdigris tells the story of two very different women, Marian and Jewel, who become unlikely friends on the streets of inner-city Dublin.
Recently retired, middle-class Marian takes a job as a census enumerator, believing it will give her the independence she craves and a breakaway from her abusive and controlling husband. On her challenging inner-city route, she comes up against Jewel, a teenage girl living on her own and working as a prostitute.
The two eventually strike a deal – Marian won’t report Jewel to the authorities if Jewel helps Marian with the census. As they walk the Dublin streets, Jewel finds herself forming a real bond with this most unexpected friend.
Maghery actress Geraldine McAlinden
And Marian comes to admire Jewel’s independence and strength and realises that life away from her miserable marriage is not just a dream – it’s a real possibility.
Verdigris will screen at the Galway Film Fleadh on Friday 14th July 2023 at 4.30pm in Galway’s iconic Town Hall Theatre, with a Q&A afterwards with Geraldine, producer Paul FitzSimons, Director Patricia Kelly, cinematographer Tania Freimuth and other cast.
The film is also up for a number of the festival’s awards, including Best Irish Film, Best First Irish Film and the Rising Star Award.
For more on Verdigris, visit https://www.preludecontent.com/verdigris.
