21/04/2023 - The cast of Thaddeus O’Sullivan’s new comedy is spearheaded by a legendary trio of actresses – Maggie Smith, Laura Linney and Kathy Bates

Emmy-nominated, Dublin-born veteran filmmaker Thaddeus O’Sullivan’s new effort, titled The Miracle Club [+see also:
trailer
film profile], is set to world-premiere at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. The US gathering, which will unspool from 7-18 June, will host the film in its Spotlight Narrative section.

O’Sullivan is best known for his body of work across TV and film, which includes the drama series Vera and Call the Midwife, plus features such as December Bride, Nothing Personal, Ordinary Decent Criminal, The Heart of Me, Citzen Lane and Stella Days.

The Miracle Club focuses on three close friends (played by Laura Linney, Maggie Smith and Kathy Bates) who have never left the outskirts of Dublin (much less Ireland) as they get to go on the journey of a lifetime – a visit to Lourdes, the picturesque French town and place of miracles.

The picture is based on a previous screenplay, Pushers Needed, penned by Irish screenwriter Jimmy Smallhorne, and co-written by Joshua D Maurer and Timothy Prager. The main cast also includes Stephen Rea and Agnes O’Case.

Shot on location in Dublin and Wicklow last year, The Miracle Club is a co-production between Ireland and the UK. The film’s producers include Larry Bass, of Ireland’s ShinAwiL, Chris Curling, and Joshua D Maurer, of the UK’s Zephyr Films. The project has received support from Screen Ireland, BCP Asset Management, Ingenious Media, Hianlo and the UK Global Screen Fund. Sony Pictures Classics has recently picked up the rights for the USA, Latin America, and a number of territories in South-East Asia and Eastern Europe. Embankment Films is in charge of its world sales.

In March, pre-sales for a number of territories were announced, including the UK (Lionsgate), the Benelux region (WW Entertainment), the Scandinavian countries (Scanbox), Spain (A Contracorriente), Australia (Transmission), Canada (Level), Greece (Spentzos), Portugal (Lusomundo), South Africa (Filmfinity), Israel (United), the Middle East (Frontrow), Poland (Forum), Hungary (ADS) and airlines (Cinesky).