CHRISTY
IRELAND, UNITED KINGDOM – 2025 – 19’50”

Direction: Brendan Canty
Screenplay: Alan O’Gorman, Brendan Canty
Cinematography: Colm Hogan
Editing: Allyn Quigley
Production design: Martin Goulding
Music: Daithí
Costumes: Hannah Bury
Cast: Danny Power (Christy), Diarmuid Noyes (Shane), Emma Willis (Stacey)
Producers: Marina Brackenbury, Meredith Duff, Rory Gilmartin
Production: Sleeper Films (Ie), Wayward Films (Uk), Nite Owl Film & TV (Uk)
World Sales: Charades

Synopsis
The life of 17-year-old Christy is at a crossroads. He has just been thrown out of his comfortable suburban foster home and moved in with his estranged older brother Shane, who lives in Cork’s working-class north side. As far as Shane is concerned, this is just a temporary arrangement. But Christy begins to feel at home, becomes involved in the local community and makes friends. And, in spite of the bad reputation of his extended family, he also reconnects with his past – even though Shane tries to steer him away from this crowd. Shane wants something better for Christy at all costs, even if that means he has to push him away. After spending so many years apart, the brothers are now faced with the task of reconciling with their turbulent pasts and deciding what the future might look like.

director’s statemen
“The film is set on the north side of Cork, and over there, you have the Kabin Studio, where my friend Gary has been teaching kids how to make hip-hop music for the last ten or 15 years. Christy was originally a short. When we wanted to cast kids, we went to this place. Since then, I’ve become quite involved up there. I wanted the tone of the film to reflect the tone of the Kabin. It’s a sanctuary where everyone can be themselves. It’s a working-class area and a marginalised community where, I guess, expressing yourself isn’t that common.”

awards and festivals
2025 Berlinale – Generation 14+: Grand Prix of the International Jury as Best Film
2025 Chicago IFF – New Directors Competition
2025 Galway Film Fleadh: Best Irish Film
2026 European Film Awards: nominated in shortlist