THE world premiere of a new movie starring Paddy Kielty in his first screen acting role and set in the north has taken place as part of the 22nd annual Belfast Film Festival.
The Co Down-born comedian stars in Ballywalter, which was screened at last night's opening of the festival at Cineworld in the city's SSE Arena.
The film is is the debut feature from actor-turned director Prasanna Puwanarajah, who previously starred in BBC hit drama Line of Duty, and was written by east Belfast's Stacey Gregg.
In Ballywalter, which was shot on locations including the Ards peninsula, Kielty plays Shane, a wannabe stand-up comedian dealing with the breakdown of his marriage, who has exiled himself to live in the eponymous Co Down coastal village.
Dublin actress Seána Kerslake also stars as university drop-out Eileen, who strikes up a friendship with Shane after she returns from a life in London to live with her mother.
Ms Kerslake joined her co-stars and the film's writer and director for last night's premiere,which was part of a gala event for the Belfast Film Festival hosted by Derry Girls star Tara Lynne O’Neill.
Paddy Kielty has described his experience shooting the film as "one of the most amazing adventures that I've had". He first turned his hand to acting by starring in Marie Jones-written play A Night in November, a one-man show about a Protestant football fan coming to terms with his sectarianism following a soccer match between Northern Ireland and the Republic's team at Belfast's Windsor Park stadium.
Ballywalter is one of several premieres to be held at the festival, with others including found-footage horror The Quarry, the debut film from Belfast actor-turned-director Tony Devlin.
The festival features 116 screenings over 10 days, with films featured from 32 countries. The full line-up of screenings and events can be viewed online at www.belfastfilmfestival.org/whats-on.
Festival director Michele Devlin said: "This year’s festival contains an impressive line-up of guests including Oscar-winning director Andrea Arnold and multi-award winning actor Stephen Rea. Alongside a spotlight on Ukraine and a wonderful array of international premieres, from major Cannes festival prize winners to exciting off-the-beaten-track discoveries, we have a programme that celebrates indigenous talents."
