Five must-watch movies at this year’s Galway Film Fleadh

Rory Cashin

The west coast film festival kicks off next week!

Running from Tuesday 11 to Sunday 16 July, the 35th edition of the Galway Film Fleadh is a must-visit for film fans in Ireland. The full programme for the festival can be found right here, but we’ve picked out the five entries that we consider absolute must-watches. Kicking off with:

APOCALYPSE CLOWN – Fri 14 July @ 21.30

A dark comedy set in the aftermath of a global apocalypse, telling the story of a group of failed clowns who head off on a dangerous road trip with a journalist… and maybe love blossoms along the way? Filmed in Dublin and Kildare, and written by Irish comedy band Dead Cat Bounce, the movie will have its World Premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh this year.

LET THE CANARY SING – Sun 16 July, 19.30

A documentary charting the incredible rise to fame of the much-loved Cyndi Lauper, performer of legendary hits such as ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’, ‘True Colours’, ‘All Through The Night’, and ‘Time After Time’. Lauper will be in attendance for a post-screening discussion.

THE MARTINI SHOT – Thurs 13 July – @ 21.30

Filmed in Ireland, this existential drama about a director (played by Matthew Modine, of Stranger Things and The Dark Knight Rises fame) who begins work on what he believes will be his final ever movie. Beginning as a regular story, it soon develops into something much bigger and much deeper. Matthew Modine will be attending the Fleadh for a Masterclass, too.

NIGHTMAN – Fri 14 July @ 22.15

Not to be confused with the character from It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, this psychological thriller sees a couple living in Ireland, preparing for the arrival of their first child. However, when a number of murders begin to take place in their local town, the pregnant wife begins to suspect that her loving husband might be a dangerous sleepwalker… or even worse, he’s hiding a terrible secret.

PAST LIVES – Wed 12 July @ 18.15

Ahead of its full cinematic release here in September, you can check out what is already being called the very best movie of 2023 by pretty much every single critic who has seen it. We have also seen it, and can confirm that it is the best movie we’ve seen this year so far. The movie’s writer/director Celine Song will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.