New film starring Jamie Dornan and Catriona Balfe gets first look

The first look image from Kenneth Branagh’s highly anticipated film Belfast starring Jamie Dornan and Catriona Balfe has been released.

The first look image from the film features Dornan and Balfe dancing together in a black and white still. Belfast will premiere at Toronto’s Film Festival in September and is slated for its official release on November 12th 2021.

The World Premiere of Kenneth Branagh’s coming-of-age tale Belfast is set amid the tumult of late-1960s Northern Ireland, and stars Judi Dench, @caitrionambalfe, Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds, and Jude Hill. #TIFF21 https://t.co/6yH0M8WoV7 pic.twitter.com/OIpsI6Ltev

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) July 20, 2021

Branagh’s forthcoming film is a semi-autobiographical drama featuring a number of stars alongside Dornan and Balfe, including Judi Dench, Ciarán Hinds and 10-year old actor Jude Hill. It is set during the turmoil in Northern Ireland during the 1960’s.

The Northern Irish writer-director’s upcoming film has been described as “the humorous, tender and intensely personal story of one boy's childhood during the tumult of the late 1960s.”

"Belfast is my most personal film," said Branagh who was born in Belfast and is also helping to produce the drama.

Focus Features, part of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, will distribute the film in America and Universal Pictures will circulate Belfast throughout the rest of the world.

“Highly personal and passionate, Belfast is a heart-warming piece that is bursting with life, and we look forward to sharing it with audiences worldwide,” said Peter Kujawski, chairman of Focus Features.

Branagh's theatre company, Riverside Studios, recently axed a production of The Browning Version due to Covid. Proceeds from the production were due to be donated to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. The producers axed the show as the actors had been robbed of already-limited rehearsal time.