FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

IFTA AWARDS 2026

Sunphlowers

In rural Ireland, Catherine's world shatters when she finds her husband dead in their glasshouse. Confronting grief, isolation, and betrayal, she unearths hidden strength, transforming despair into resilience. SUNPHLOWERS is a powerful story of loss, courage, and renewal of a woman's journey to reclaim her life and discover freedom anew.

Director: Dave Byrne
Writer: Dave Byrne
Producers: Liz Kenny

Filmmaker Q&A

Q: What was the genesis of this film, and how did it evolve over the course of development to production and completion?

Liz Kenny (Producer): "The genesis of this film began with a single, very human idea from the writer/director Dave Byrne : What happens when someone who has built a life around partnership suddenly finds themselves alone? I was drawn to the emotional depth of telling a contemporary story about a woman in her 60s navigating grief, identity, and rediscovery—especially because we don’t often see complex, older female protagonists at the center of independent films. The concept of the “Pandora’s box” she inherits after her husband’s death gave the project its narrative hook. It allowed us to explore how the past resurfaces in unexpected ways and how secrets, memories, and unresolved questions shape a person’s next chapter.

During development, the story evolved from a straightforward drama into something more layered and introspective. We realized that the box wasn’t just a plot device—it was a catalyst for her emotional journey, prompting a series of revelations that would challenge her assumptions about the life she shared with her husband. The script became more character-driven as we discovered opportunities to explore grief not only as loss.

From a production standpoint, the challenge was presenting a visually, intimate world while staying within our means. We focused on controlled locations, emotive lighting, and a cinematic visual language that mirrored the protagonist’s internal state. Because the story centers on her personal journey, we were able to pour our limited resources into the details that mattered most—performance, texture, and atmosphere.
By the time we finished the film, it had transformed into a deeply personal, contemporary story that feels both intimate and universal. The constraints pushed us to be creative, and the cast and crew’s commitment allowed us to deliver a film with emotional and visual impact far beyond its budget."

Graham Seely (DOP): “We wanted the film’s rhythm to sit between the wide rural silence and the intimate close-ups, where every flicker in the actor’s eye becomes its own story.”

Q: What did you feel was the most fulfilling element of working on this film? 

Dave Byrne (director): “As the director, I’d say the most fulfilling element of working on this film was watching something that lived only in my head for so long, slowly take on a life of its own. It’s incredibly fulfilling when a team of talented people not only understand your vision, but elevate it into something more than you imagined. That transformation—vision and collaboration, especially between me, The DOP, Production Design and Wardrobe—is the most fulfilling part of the process. Also the first time the creative team watch the film, both harrowing and fulfilling all at once."

Q: To what extent was your on-screen talent vital to the success of the film?      

Dave: "It was vital to get the right balance when it came to the cast. I wrote the script with ANNE McCRUDDEN in mind, as not only did I know she would deliver an outstanding performance, but she was unknown in the film landscape, thus providing a level of realism to the film. Balancing that with the need to think commercially resulted in us seeking to bring someone like Patrick Bergin in as the supporting role to add a certain weight to the casting. Patrick brought that old familiar friend feel to the role, so people were able to connect with that familiarity with ease, allowing time for Anne’s performance to connect with the audience. The other peripheral characters all brought exceptional performances allowing us to achieve the authentic feel to the film; which was our sole objective."
 

Q: What does it mean to have your work acknowledged by your peers in the Irish film community and showcased at the IFTA Awards?

Dave: "Sometimes it can be quite emotional when I read a review and the reviewer in question really understood what we were trying to achieve. It’s validation. It means everything to all involved to have our work acknowledged by our peers. It makes all of the challenges and self doubt that come with making a film like this worthwhile. There are so many talented new voices on the Irish filmmaking landscape and for our film to be viewed positively by the film community and showcased at the IFTAs within that landscape feels surreal. We are so happy and proud to be part of it all."