"It's Actually A Sunny Day In Ireland" Damian McCann, director of AONTAS (2025), Ireland's Oscar Pick for 2027
The most Irish friendly film podcast is back with another Irish guest, director Damian McCann, who brings a host of firsts with him -- first Irish language film made in Northern Ireland; first guy to be doing the laundry when he found out that his film, AONTAS (2025), is Ireland's nominee for the 2027 Oscar for Best International Film; and first guy to ask his parents about how to rob a bank and then use that information to make a banger of a heist film.
On the last part: maybe. Hopefully. This is fantastic filmmaking that moves the bar foward for original screenwriting; Irish language films; and Irish filmmakers. Here's to hoping we get to hear some Irish at the 2027 Oscars.
Damian and I discuss:
- the weather in the film -- they rent RAIN MACHINES in Ireland?;
- why it's important that his new film is the first Irish language film made in Northern Ireland;
- how he got his start in filmmaking;
- the choice of making an Irish language film;
- what he took from his first feature and documentary work;
- the format of reverse chronology;
- how he researched robbing banks;
- linking objects to visually tell people about flashbacks instead of text;
- is there a reverse chronology club of filmmakers who tried this concept?
- how he found out about Ireland's nomination for the Oscars and what the campaign looks like;
- the production company he founded to create bilingual films and what's next for him.
Damian's Indie Film Highlights: KNEECAP (2024) dir. by Rich Peppiatt; THE QUIET GIRL (2022) dir. by Colm Bairéad; FOUR MOTHERS (2024) dir. by Darren Thornton
Memorable Quotes:
" It's actually a sunny day in Ireland, which is such a rarity that we are-- you're actually legally not allowed to complain at all throughout the day."
" I often say that a lot of Irish speakers will talk this way, that you're an activist first and then your job second."
"I just had it in my head that I wanted to make a heist film."
"As soon as you start writing [reverse chronology], you realize why people don't do it very often."
"The ideal case here is some people hate it and some people love it."
"The phone rings, do you fancy the Oscars?"
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