Galway film selected for Great 8 at Cannes Film Festival

The Irish feature film 'Learning to Breathe Under Water', filmed in Galway last September and co-produced by Galway-based production company Éiru Films, has been officially selected for the prestigious Great 8 showcase at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival! Find out more here...

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The film stars Rory Kinnear (James Bond, Men, The Imitation Game) and Academy Award-nominee Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), and introduces rising Irish actor Ezra Carlisle in his first major screen role.

Éiru Films, founded by Galway’s own Ivan McMahon and Heather Higgins, co-produced the film alongside Shudder Films, Wildcard, KeyFilm, and One Wave Films. Learning to Breathe Under Water was supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, the WRAP Fund, the UK Global Screen Fund, and other international partners.

Ivan McMahon & Heather Higgins Producers at Galway based Éiru Films - photo by Andrew Downes

The selection for the Great 8, an exclusive Cannes spotlight run by the BFI and British Council, places the film among an elite group of standout new works from emerging talent. The initiative has previously launched acclaimed films like Aftersun, Saint Maud, and Kneecap. Bankside Films is handling international sales.

Written by Richard Brabin and directed by Rebekah Fortune (Just Charlie), the film follows eight-year-old Leo (Carlisle), a curious and imaginative boy who escapes into daydreams and secrets shared with a giant shark sculpture created by his emotionally distant father, Peter (Kinnear). When Anya (Bakalova), a free-spirited au pair, enters their lives, her warmth begins to bring colour, clarity, and hope to their muted world.

"Bringing this film to life in Galway was incredibly special for us," said Ivan McMahon of Éiru Films. "It’s a region full of creative talent and cinematic landscapes, and we’re proud to have helped tell such a heartfelt story right here at home."

One of the standout filming locations was the terminal at Galway Airport, transformed into a key set for the production. Heather Higgins, co-founder of Éiru Films, remarked; "The team at Galway County Council and Galway City Council were incredibly supportive allowing us to use the airport. We were able to turn the disused terminal and hanger one into a working film set, this is a perfect example of how local infrastructure can breathe new life into storytelling. It became one of our most visually striking locations."

The film’s Galway roots, from its location, crew base and the homegrown talents behind Éiru Films, underscore the West of Ireland’s growing impact on global cinema.

The Great 8 showcase is presented by the BFI and British Council, with support from BBC Film and Film4.

Cover Photo: A still from 'Learning to Breathe Underwater' featuring Irish actor Ezra Carlisle & Maria Bakalova