Irish film That They May Face The Rising Sun set to premier at London's BFI Film Festival

That They May Face The Rising Sun, a film by Irish director Pat Collins, will receive its world premier at the 67^th edition of the BFI Film Festival on 8 October.

Detailing a year in the life of a rural lakeside community in 1970s Ireland, the movie is an adaptation of the John McGahern book by the same name.

The film stars Barry Ward, Anna Bederke in the lead roles, alongside Lalor Roddy, Sean McGInley, Ruth McCabe and Philip Dolan.

“I’m delighted that That They May Face the Rising Sun is receiving its world premiere at the London Film Festival. Over the years London has been an exceptionally welcoming festival to me,” said director Pat Collins.

“John McGahern, on whose novel this film is based, said that he believed the novel was only completed by the reader. So too with a film - and reaching our audience is an essential part of film making.  London will hopefully play a vital role in that process.”

Since 1999, writer-director Collins has made over 30 films. His debut feature, Silence, premiered at the London Film Festival in 2012.

Irish distribution outfit Break Out Pictures have acquired the movie’s rights and plan to release the film theatrically in Spring 2024.