Hannah Waddingham, Imelda Staunton, Siobhán McSweeney & Eileen Walsh to star in West The Road

Hannah Waddingham

Bankside Films has announced its acquisition of West The Road, written and directed by Ita Fitzgerald. The film is due to commence production later this year in County Kerry, Western Ireland.

Fitzgerald is an Irish writer-director based in London who started her distinguished career writing and directing for the BBC and other UK broadcasters. Ita is also an award-winning shorts and commercials filmmaker. WEST THE ROAD will be Ita’s feature directorial debut.

Cast attached to WEST THE ROAD include Academy Award® nominee and BAFTA award winner Imelda Staunton (The Crown, Vera Drake, Harry Potter), BAFTA Award nominee Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls, Holding, The Wind That Shakes the Barley), Eileen Walsh (Small Things Like These, Catastrophe, Eden, The Magdalene Sisters) and Emmy Award-winning Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso, Tom Jones, The Fall Guy, Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two).

WEST THE ROAD tells the hilarious and heartfelt story of a group of women brought together by the death of their childhood friend, Margaret. When they discover that she was forced to give her daughter up for adoption at the age of fifteen, the group embark on a journey from the West of Ireland up the Wild Atlantic coastline – accompanied by a donkey called Thatcher – in search of the child so that Margaret’s mother, Bridie, can meet the grandchild she never knew she had. What follows is a story about friendship, love and the unstoppable resolve of women as they rediscover the joy of living.

WEST THE ROAD is produced by Matthew James Wilkinson (Yesterday, Seize Them!, Days of the Bagnold Summer) and Patrick Tolan (T.I.M., Daddy’s Head) of Stigma Films (Last Sentinel, Choose or Die, Burial, The Power) and John Wallace and Alan Maher of Cowtown Pictures (LOLA, Phil Lynott: Songs for While I’m Away, Rialto, The 8th). Stephen Kelliher and Sophie Green will serve as Executive Producers for Bankside Films.

WEST THE ROAD is produced with production support from Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland. Niamh Fagan is executive producer for Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland.

Kelly Valentine Hendry and Jessica Mescall both serve as casting directors.

Ita Fitzgerald said “It is a dream come true to work with these amazing and talented women and I’m grateful to Bankside, Stigma and Cowtown for helping me bring this story to the screen.”

Stephen Kelliher of Bankside Films added “WEST THE ROAD is a wonderful celebration of life and the indomitable force of female friendship. We are thrilled to be able tell this story with such a talented cast and crew who will deliver a film that is full of laughter, joy and a great deal of emotion.”

Bankside Films will be introducing the film to buyers in Cannes later this month and represent worldwide rights.