First Date

Logline: A recently widowed farmer doesn’t want her daughter to move back to the city, leaving her alone. When a young man appears in a taxi for a date, she quickly intervenes

Synopsis: Tina (62) is not dealing well with the loss of her wife. She’s not sure how to navigate life alone. This turns into a crisis when she discovers her daughter JACKIE (27) has invited city boy SEAMUS (29) for a date at their farm. As Seamus arrives to the farm entrance in a taxi driven by the bight and bubbly ELLIE (58), Tina lures him into the cattle trailer and locks it, abandoning him in a far-flung field. As Tina and Jackie sit down to the dinner prepared for the date, Tina is shaken when Ellie arrives back to the farm with a bottle of wine that Seamus left in her taxi. Scrambling for an excuse to explain Seamus’ disappearance to Ellie and Jackie, Tina breaks away to release Seamus from the trailer. She gets caught in the act when Jackie catches her waving an axe at Seamus. Realising what has happened, Jackie packs her bags and leaves the farm with Seamus and Ellie, disgusted by Tina’s behaviour. That night, as Tina despairs at her lonely fate, Ellie returns to the farm. The two women talk beside a bonfire and Ellie shares her own experience of loss and loneliness, as well as providing Tina with a token of forgiveness from Jackie. This gives Tina renewed hope for the days ahead, leading her to believe that perhaps she may not have to be alone after all.

Director: Clara Planelles

Producer: Pete Moles

Writer: Áine Ryan

Cast: Aisling O’Sullivan, Carrie Crowley,Daithí O’Donnell, Johanna O’Brien

Director of Photography: Alfie Hollingsworth

Casting Director: Áine O’Sullivan

Composer: Daragh Dukes

Editor: Adam O’Dwyer

Sound Recordist: Caimin Agnew

Sound Trainee Fiona O’Connell

Production Designer Myriam Riand

1st Assistant Director Ben Spillane

Art Dept. Trainee Maria Jabłońska

Art Dept. Trainee Clara MacSweeny

Art Dept. Trainee Maria McSweeny

Locations Support Meadhbh Hennsey

Production Runner Fiona Ryan

Production Runner Arun Natarajun

Makeup Artist Kara Karmo

Costume Myriam Riand

Covid Officer Fiona O’Connell

Script Supervisor Olivia O’Malley

BTS/Stills Photographer Shane Joyce

1st AC Ben Walsh

DIT Scott Shanahan

Gaffer Noel McElligott

Best Boy Peter Morrissey

Electrician Trainee Luke Frawley

Driver Scott Shanahan

Driver Jim Ryan

Catering Róisín Ryan, Laura Shanahan

Production Assistant Ella Stapelton

Engine Scheme Manager Rachael Power

Executive Producer Film in Limerick Paul C Ryan

Awards

Winner Best International Comedy Film Discoveries Film Festival London, 2022

Honourable Mention at Gaze Film Festival 2022

Nominated for the Iris Prize 2022 , (nominated by Gaze Film Festival)

Shortlisted for Mirada Corta, Mexico 2024

Festivals and Screenings

Galway Film Fleadh 2022

Catalyst International Film Festival 2022

Gaze Film Festival 2022

Newport Beach Film Festival 2022

Cinemateca Uruguaya, Montevideo 2022

Queerscreen Sydney 2022

Iris Prize, Cardiff 2022

Discoveries Film Festival, London 2022

Irish Film Festival London 2022

Fastnet Film Festival, Schull 2022

Women in Film and Television Ireland Showcase, Irish Film Institute 2022

St Louis International Film Festival 2022

Indie Cork Film Festival 2022

Still Voices Film Festival 2022

Wicked Queer, Boston, 2023

Toronto Irish Film Festival 2023

Achill Island Film Festival 2023

Irish Short Film Showcase, Contemporary Irish Arts Centre, Los Angeles 2023

Shorelines Arts Festival, Portumna 2023

London Directors Awards, 2023

Immaginaria International Film Festival, Rome 2024

Irish Film Berlin Film Festival 2024

Miranda Corta, Mexico 2024