Kildare company's first feature film to have its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh

Prelude Content, a Kildare-based production company, will have its first-ever feature film premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh.

The company was established by Naas film producer Paul FitzSimons in 2021, and he boarded Verdigris last summer, partnering with writer/director Patricia Kelly.

The 90-minute feature film, titled Verdigris, was shot in January 2022, with Kelly co-producing though her company MnáMná Films. 

Commenting on the film, Mr FitzSimons said: "This is a very powerful story about two people on very different paths coming together to give  each other a new strength and purpose."

He added: "Working with Patricia on Verdigris was  an absolute joy, and it is so fitting that it’s premiering at Fleadh — that was our goal from day one."

The film, which aims to raise awareness of coercive domestic abuse, tells the story of Marian and Jewel, two very different women who become unlikely friends on the streets of inner-city Dublin.

Recently retired, middle-class Marian takes a job as a census enumerator, believing it will give her the independence she craves and a breakaway from her abusive and controlling husband.

On her challenging inner-city route, she comes up against Jewel, a teenage girl living on her own and working as a prostitute.

The two eventually strike a deal: Marian won’t report Jewel to the  authorities if Jewel helps Marian with the census.

As they walk the Dublin streets, Jewel finds herself forming a real bond with this most unexpected friend.

Marian comes to admire Jewel’s independence and strength, and realises that life away from her miserable marriage is not just a dream: it’s a real possibility.  

The film is also up for a number of the festival’s awards, including the Rising Star Award for actor Maya O’Shea. 

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FURTHER INFORMATION

Prelude Content have a number of other film and TV drama projects in the works, including a short  film with Patricia Kelly attached to direct.

For more about Prelude, visit them at  www.preludecontent.com. 

Verdigris will screen at Fleadh on Friday, July 14 at 4.30pm in Galway’s iconic Town Hall Theatre,  with a Q&A afterwards with Mr FitzSimons, Ms Kelly, cinematographer Tania Freimuth and the cast.

Tickets are availale from https://www.galwayfilmfleadh.com/project/verdigris/.

For more on Verdigris, visit www.instagram.com/verdigris_film or https://www.preludecontent.com/verdigris.