The film Rewind which I worked on is about to hit cinema screens all over Ireland this weekend. I am absolutley thrilled that its getting a very substantial cinema release. Getting to work on it was a great experience and a fantastic opportunity and I have to thank the Director PJ Dillon and the producer John Wallace for giving me that chance. Editing is slightly different then most departments on film sets, in that it is very hard to get work as an out and out editor on films shot here as a lot of them are edited abroad. With so few films being edited here and the fact that the editing department is usually a one person unit, it can be hard to break into the feature film business. This is compounded by the fact that if the director has a lot of experience they will most likely have an editor they have used for a long time and who has an understanding of that directors style, If the director is inexperienced, the producer or indeed the funding body will insist on an experienced editor to counteract the rawness of the director. So for guys like me, who have been slowly plowing our own furrows with television and on short films it can be hard to get that chance and I am truly grateful to my friend John Wallace for affording me the opportunity. Several years ago I edited a short John produced which goes to show the importance of doing smaller projects, often for no renumeration and how they can benefit you further down the line. Indeed, every sniff of a feature drama I had received prior to this (for every one you get there are at least 3 you almost got) has come from a relationship built around a short or a music video that was done in a few days. It is important to me that Rewind does well as a reward for all the hard work my friend John has put in over the years but also in a purely selfish way (its what this blog does best) as the better it does the more likely it is that i’ll get to do more feature films. That being said, I have been remarkably lucky with the quality of Television work I’ve been able to do in the last year especially.
However you don’t get offered films as good as Rewind every day. Its director is PJ Dillon who is a much respected and quite frankly much loved member of the Irish Film Industry. As a DP he has won at least two IFTA’s for Cinematography including this years and he is much in demand for his work in that disciplne. Having previously directed two award winning shorts, Rewind was his feature film debut.
Rewind, which screened to critical acclaim at the Galway Film Fleadh in 2010, stars Amy Huberman as Karen, a former addict whose life is shaken when a former boyfriend (Allen Leech) suddenly reappears and forces her to confront the demons of her past, and go to whatever lengths necessary to protect her family. The film features a stand-out performance from Huberman as the troubled character unexpectedly caught between a mysterious past and a comfortable present. Crackling with tension throughout, the film displays the wealth of talent available in contemporary Irish cinema.
The Irish Independent said it was “one of the best mainstream Irish films in recent times” and the Irish Times said it was “remarkable” and entertainment.ie called it “a tight efficient thriller with a wonderful lead performance from Amy Huberman”
Indeed she went on to win an IFTA for her performance.
Commenting on her IFTA win, Amy Huberman said “I am delighted to have even been nominated in this category and particularly for Rewind, which we all worked extremely hard on – it was a fantastic opportunity to play a different type of role and in particular such a gritty character. It’s wonderful to see the film get recognition at the IFTA’s, and a nationwide release”.
Rewind was produced under the Catalyst Scheme with the support of the Irish Film Board, FilmBase, TV3, The Arts Council, Screen Training Ireland, and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The theatrical release at selected cinemas nationwide is supported by the Irish Film Board. The film was produced by Alex Jones and John Wallace for Carbon Films.
Here is the trailer
So Please go see it. The film is screening in the following cinemas. No Excuses now!
Movies @Dundrum
Movies @Swords
Omniplex, Rathmines
Century Cinemas, Letterkenny, Donegal
Gaiety Cineplex, Sligo
Gaiety Cineplex, Arklow
SGC Cinemas, Waterford
Movies @ Gorey, Wexford
Movies @ Castlebar, Mayo
Omniplex Cinemas, Limerick
The Reel Cinema, Ballincollig, Cork
Eclipse Cinemas, Lifford, Donegal
Eye Cinemas, Galway
Gate Cineplex, North Main Street, Cork
Screen, D’Olier Street
Cineworld, Parnell Street, Dublin
John Murphy 