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Production Starts in Belfast on New TG4 Irish Language Comedy Film - 'Baile'

24.09.26

Production has started this week on Baile, a new film co-commissioned for TG4 and BBC Gaeilge. 
 

Produced by Belfast based Village Films with support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund, this comedy drama follows Bríghid, a fiercely independent woman in the early stages of dementia, played by Marion O’Dwyer (The Quiet Girl), and a young cleaner Naomi played by Hazel Doupe (Say Nothing).
 

When Bríghid hires Naomi to drive her from Belfast to her childhood home in County Donegal, their unlikely friendship takes them on an unexpected adventure.
 

Filmed at locations across Northern Ireland including Belfast, Moira and Tyrella Beach, and in County Donegal, this road trip movie tells the story of two women at the opposite ends of life. It explores friendship, independence, the meaning of home, and what it means to not lose sight of who you are when faced with change.  
 

Máire Ní Chonláin, Commissioning Editor, TG4 says: “TG4 is delighted to support Baile through the Gealán scheme, as part of our continued commitment to ambitious, high quality Irish language drama and to backing distinctive stories with strong creative teams. “Gealán has already demonstrated the potential of this partnership, with Aontas also developed through the scheme now selected as Ireland’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards. “Baile brings together an accomplished cast and production team and further reflects the value of our partnership with the Irish Language Broadcast Fund and BBC Gaeilge in supporting original Irish-language cinema. We look forward to seeing the film reach audiences on TG4 at home and across the globe.”
 

Aideen Hand, Producer, Village Films says: “We’re incredibly proud to be bringing Baile into production. It’s a moving and deeply human story about memory, friendship and the unexpected connections that can transform our lives, told predominantly through the Irish language. “We have assembled a wonderful cast led by Hazel Doupe and Marion O’Dwyer to bring screenwriter Christina Carty’s characters to life, and we’re grateful to BBC Northern Ireland, TG4 and Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund for supporting an ambitious film that feels both distinctly local and genuinely universal.”
 

Eddie Doyle, Head of Commissioning, BBC NI says: “Baile is the third Irish-Language film we have jointly commissioned with TG4 and Northern Ireland Screen through the very successful Gealán scheme. “At its essence, it is a heartwarming and human story about friendship, and we look forward to bringing this adventure to audiences on BBC Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer.”
 
 

Áine Walsh, Chief Language & Cultural Officer and Head of the Irish Language Broadcast Fund at Northern Ireland Screen says: “We are delighted to support Village Films and former ILBF trainee Aideen Hand as they bring Baile to the screen. “Following in the footsteps of acclaimed Gealán projects such as Doineann and Aontas, Ireland’s submission for the Academy Awards Best International Feature Film category, today’s Baile production and casting announcement is another significant milestone for the scheme and a testament to the power of our partnership with BBC Gaeilge and TG4. “Together, we are creating opportunities for producers, writers and creative talent to develop ambitious Irish language content while strengthening the Irish language screen sector and raising the profile of Irish language storytelling internationally.”
 

Baile is commissioned by Máire Ní Chonláin, Commissioning Editor for TG4 and Eddie Doyle, Senior Head of Content Commissioning for BBC Northern Ireland . It is produced and directed by Aideen Hand and co-directed by Paul Kenenedy for Village Films. It has been written by Cristina Carty.
 

Baile is the third project to be commissioned through Gealán – the feature film initiative from TG4, BBC Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund.
 

Doineann, produced by DoubleBand Films was the first project commissioned through this collaborative initiative, and Aontas produced by Púca Pictures was the second.
 
Further details on cast will be announced in due course.