Audience Favourite Film to close Generation Fleadh 2026

Learning to Breathe Underwater, filmed entirely in Galway, will screen as the closing film of Generation Fleadh 2026 on Sunday 8th of November, following its Audience Award win at this year’s Galway Film Fleadh! Find out more here...

Advertisement

The special screening at Pálás Cinema offers audiences another opportunity to experience the acclaimed feature on the big screen, with a Q&A afterwards with co-producers Heather Higgins and Ivan McMahon, who will discuss the production of Learning to Breathe Underwater in Galway and the experience of bringing the project to life in the West of Ireland.

Directed by Rebekah Fortune and co-produced by Éiru Films, Learning to Breathe Underwater tells the story of eight-year-old Leo, whose vivid imagination helps him navigate a complicated reality. When a spirited au pair enters his life, Leo is challenged to embrace the unpredictable world around him. A heartfelt and imaginative story, the film has resonated with audiences, culminating in its Audience Award win at the Galway Film Fleadh.

For the Galway-based production team, the Generation Fleadh closing screening is particularly meaningful, bringing a film with a strong local production connection back to Galway audiences and introducing it to a new generation of cinema-goers.

Heather Higgins, co-producer, said; "We’re absolutely delighted that Learning to Breathe Underwater has been selected as the closing film for Generation Fleadh. Winning the Audience Award at the Galway Film Fleadh was a very special moment for us, and to have the film return to Galway for another screening is wonderful. The film was made here, with a fantastic team, and it means a great deal to be able to share it with audiences in the city once again. We’re looking forward to meeting audiences afterwards and talking about the experience of filming in Galway."

Ivan McMahon, co-producer, said; "Making Learning to Breathe Underwater in Galway was a hugely rewarding experience. The city and the wider region provided a fantastic backdrop for the film, and we were fortunate to work with an exceptional crew. The Audience Award at the Galway Film Fleadh was a real endorsement from audiences, so closing Generation Fleadh is a fitting next chapter for the film. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to share some of the stories behind the production with audiences at the Q&A."

The closing screening provides a wonderful opportunity for audiences to see the Galway Film Fleadh Audience Award winner, celebrate the work of director Rebekah Fortune and the film’s creative team, and hear first-hand from its producers about the experience of making a feature film in Galway.

Book tickets to this special screening and Q+A of Learning to Breathe Underwater HERE.

Generation Fleadh runs from 4–8 November 2026, bringing a vibrant programme of cinema, Irish premieres, classics, short films and special events to audiences at Pálás Cinema, Eye Cinema and venues across Galway.