Lorne MacFadyen for On The Sea, Louis Flanagan for Flirt and MQFF Festival Director Louise Lever

Obviously, we're here to talk about On The Sea.

So we reviewed the film a couple of weeks ago and we really, really loved this film.

It kind of ticked a lot of boxes for our show as well.

And this kind of storytelling is something that really resonates, obviously, with us as well.

But I'm really interested to know, how did the role of Daniel come to you? And why was it a role that you were so keen to take on?

well I came on fairly early in the project but Barry who plays Jack was already cast and I taped for the project and then had a couple of auditions recalls and then I did a chemistry read with Barry and we just kind of hit off straight away in terms of our taste you know in films and It's very rare, actually, that you, when you read a script, that the film in your head translates to the final product.

Often when you read it, you know, you get surprised.

Sometimes for good, sometimes often for bad.

But this was one of those that just totally came through right to the end.

And Helen's writing was a massive pull.

Helen Walsh, the director and writer, she's a real talent.

And I just felt that...

I loved the sparseness of the dialogue for a start.

And I think it really spoke to that kind of community that I grew up in.

I grew up in a fishing community in the Isle of Skye.

And, you know, there's people there that work very hard jobs and it's a very hyper-masculine setting.

And from growing up in a place like that, I know what it's like.

If you want to live your life in any kind of alternative way, you know, it's more difficult than if you go into the traditional fields, you know, fishing is the main one or trades.

A lot of my mates went into the oil industry and things like that.

So, yeah, I thought it was interesting setting a queer story together.

in that environment and seeing how people navigate that and how people can survive.

A lot of people might think that we're maybe beyond films like this, you know, because they're seemingly sad coming out stories.

Right.

But I think that there's a place for them and, you know, communities like that, when you go there, you do kind of understand why it's difficult still and it's hard for anyone to be being themselves authentically if they're not sort of hemmed in by quite narrow standards.

When we were discussing On The Sea, none of us had seen a film set in Northern Wales.

Obviously, we're here to talk about On The Sea.

So we reviewed the film a couple of weeks ago and we really, really loved this film.

It kind of ticked a lot of boxes for our show as well.

And this kind of storytelling is something that really resonates, obviously, with us as well.

But I'm really interested to know, how did the role of Daniel come to you? And why was it a role that you were so keen to take on?

well I came on fairly early in the project but Barry who plays Jack was already cast and I taped for the project and then had a couple of auditions recalls and then I did a chemistry read with Barry and we just kind of hit off straight away in terms of our taste you know in films and It's very rare, actually, that you, when you read a script, that the film in your head translates to the final product.

Often when you read it, you know, you get surprised.

Sometimes for good, sometimes often for bad.

But this was one of those that just totally came through right to the end.

And Helen's writing was a massive pull.

Helen Walsh, the director and writer, she's a real talent.

And I just felt that...

I loved the sparseness of the dialogue for a start.

And I think it really spoke to that kind of community that I grew up in.

I grew up in a fishing community in the Isle of Skye.

And, you know, there's people there that work very hard jobs and it's a very hyper-masculine setting.

And from growing up in a place like that, I know what it's like.

If you want to live your life in any kind of alternative way, you know, it's more difficult than if you go into the traditional fields, you know, fishing is the main one or trades.

A lot of my mates went into the oil industry and things like that.

So, yeah, I thought it was interesting setting a queer story together.

in that environment and seeing how people navigate that and how people can survive.

A lot of people might think that we're maybe beyond films like this, you know, because they're seemingly sad coming out stories.

Right.

But I think that there's a place for them and, you know, communities like that, when you go there, you do kind of understand why it's difficult still and it's hard for anyone to be being themselves authentically if they're not sort of hemmed in by quite narrow standards.

When we were discussing On The Sea, none of us had seen a film set in Northern Wales.