IRISH DOCUMENTARY ATOMIC HOPE TO BE RELEASED IN CINEMAS ON 17th FEBRUARY
IRISH DOCUMENTARY ATOMIC HOPE TO BE RELEASED
IN CINEMAS ON 17th FEBRUARY
Wildcard Distribution has announced that the critically acclaimed Irish documentary ATOMIC HOPE – INSIDE THE PRO-NUCLEAR MOVEMENT, will be released in Irish cinemas on 17th February 2023.
Watch / Download the official trailer: YouTube, Vimeo, WeTransfer, Dropbox
Could nuclear energy be the solution to the climate crisis? ATOMIC HOPE, which is directed by the award-winning filmmaker Frankie Fenton (It’s Not Yet Dark) and produced by Kathryn Kennedy for Kennedy Films (My Name is Emily, It’s Not Yet Dark), explores this very question.
The film is an observational documentary which follows a tiny group of highly unpopular “pro-nuclear” activists who controversially believe we now need to urgently re-address our feelings on nuclear power if we are to have any hope of decarbonising our energy systems before the effects of catastrophic climate change wreak havoc.
These advocates have been filmed internationally over a 10-year period, facing clashes and opposition at every juncture. A sordid history of nuclear meltdowns, radiation fears and nuclear waste are just some of the very serious issues traditional environmentalists have with this contentious technology. However, in the face of this pushback and conflict, they argue that, “science and data is all we have”. Their alarming call to action, while in tandem with Greta’s global environmental demand for decarbonisation, is drowned out in the streets. But for better or worse?
ATOMIC HOPE had its world premiere at the prestigious Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and had its Irish premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh where it was nominated for Audience Awards at both festivals.
The film then enjoyed a sellout screening at the IFI Documentary Festival in October. The film was followed with another heated debate hosted by journalist John Gibbons with contributions from the film’s protagonists Jim Smith and Madi Hilly, as well as spokesperson for the Green Party TD Brian Leddin, Sarah Cullen from nonprofit 18for0 and Sadhbh O’Neill (DCU).
The main topic was nuclear power in Ireland and it ended with TD Brian Leddin stating that we must certainly “relook into our anti-nuclear position”. The film has since screened at film festivals all over the world including Spain, Belgium, Estonia, Brazil before its theatrical release in the UK and Ireland.
Frankie Fenton, who wrote and directed ATOMIC HOPE, is a multi-award-winning documentary filmmaker whose debut feature It’s Not Yet Dark garnered critical praise when it had its world premiere at the A-list Sundance Film Festival. The film went on to win numerous awards including the Best Irish Feature Documentary Award at the Galway Film Fleadh in 2016.
ATOMIC HOPE is produced by Kathryn Kennedy for Kennedy Films (My Name Is Emily, It’s Not Yet Dark). Kathryn was the recipient of the Dublin International Film Festival Discovery Award in 2016 and the Bingham Ray New Talent Award at the Galway Film Fleadh in 2015. Kennedy Films’ first feature was the eight-time IFTA nominated, My Name Is Emily. The film was a world-first as director Simon Fitzmaurice was physically paralysed with Motor Neuron Disease (ALS). He wrote and directed the entire film solely with his eyes and Tobii eye gaze technology.
Java Films are handling international sales for ATOMIC HOPE.
Wildcard Distribution will release the film in Irish cinemas on 17th February 2023.
ENDS
PRESS ENQUIRIES
Glenn Hogarty, Limelight Communications
ABOUT WILDCARD DISTRIBUTION
Established in early 2013, Wildcard is currently Ireland’s most successful film distributor having released the biggest Irish titles of the last few years including Black 47, The Young Offenders, Cardboard Gangsters, Deadly Cuts and the Oscar-nominated animation Wolfwalkers. The Wildcard slate includes a wide range of genres including award-winning dramas, horrors, comedies, family films and documentaries.
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